• King Ahasuerus has chosen Esther as Queen after he divorced Vashti.
• Showed the contrast of the King with much authority vs a little Jewish virgin girl.

 
MORDECAI SAVES THE KING
19 When the virgins were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate.

• Evidently the reassembling of the virgins was part of a procession that the king designed to show off Esther's beauty, compared with the other contestants in his beauty contest.
• The context suggests that this was a part of the gala that celebrated the king's wedding to Esther.
• Mordecai had evidently received an appointment to a governmental position as a magistrate or judge earlier, perhaps because of Esther's influence.
• The "king's gate" was where people settled some legal matters in the capital.

20 Esther still did not reveal her family background or her ethnicity, as Mordecai had directed. She obeyed Mordecai’s orders, as she always had while he raised her.

• The impression remains that Esther's Jewishness was more a fact of birth than of religious conviction.
• She was more faithful to Mordecai than she was to God.

21 During those days while Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, became infuriated and planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 22 When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she told the king on Mordecai’s behalf.

• We do know that 14 years later Ahasuerus did die at the hand of an assassin.

23 When the report was investigated and verified, both men were hanged on the gallows (tree). This event was recorded in the Historical Record in the king’s presence.[1]

• Impalement was not the method of execution, but the disgracing of the person, through the public display of his body after death or execution.

 
HAMAN’S PLAN TO KILL THE JEWS
ESTHER 3
1 After all this took place, King Ahasuerus honored Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He promoted him in rank and gave him a higher position than all the other officials. 2 The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

• Mordecai refused to bow down because Haman was a known enemy of the Jews.

3 The members of the royal staff at the King’s Gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 When they had warned him day after day and he still would not listen to them, they told Haman in order to see if Mordecai’s actions would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage. 6 And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.

• How many times has this been attempted?
• Pharoh, Hitler, Nasser

7 In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year, the pur—that is, the lot—was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month, the month Adar.

• In Ahasuerus' twelfth year (474 B.C.) Haman cast "the lot"--pur is the Persian word for "lot"—to determine the day most favorable to wipe out the Jews.
• However, God controlled the lot-casting (Proverbs 16:33 – “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”[2]) and gave the Jews almost a year to prepare for conflict with their enemies.
• As a result, they had time to prepare to defend themselves.
• Evidently, the Jews named their feast "Purim" in honor of the lots that Haman cast, but which God controlled, as a tribute to God's sovereign protection of them.

8 Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

• What Haman is really saying, then, is that the Jews do not acknowledge the sovereignty of the king; and this constitutes treason.

9 If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.”
10 The king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 Then the king told Haman, “The money and people are given to you to do with as you see fit.”
12 The royal scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded. It was intended for the royal satraps, the governors of each of the provinces, and the officials of each ethnic group and written for each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces telling the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people—young and old, women and children—and plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.
14 A copy of the text, issued as law throughout every province, was distributed to all the peoples so that they might get ready for that day. 15 The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion. [3]
 
MORDECAI APPEALS TO ESTHER
ESTHER 4 
1 When Mordecai learned all that had occurred, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly.

• Grieving for his people, the Jews.
• But also struck with guilt since he did not bow to Hamon.

2 He went only as far as the King’s Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate. 3 There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict reached. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 Esther’s female servants and her eunuchs came and reported the news to her, and the queen was overcome with fear. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear so that he would take off his sackcloth, but he did not accept them. 5 Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who attended her, and dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what he was doing and why. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the King’s Gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened as well as the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews.
8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and command her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people. 9 Hathach came and repeated Mordecai’s response to Esther.

• The facts that Mordecai knew the exact amount of money that Haman had promised Ahasuerus, and that he had a copy of the text of Ahasuerus' edict, supports the conclusion that Mordecai occupied an official position in the government at this time

10 Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to tell Mordecai, 11 “All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty—unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last thirty days.” 12 Esther’s response was reported to Mordecai.

• Herodotus wrote that from earliest times, Median kings had refused entrance to their throne rooms to unannounced persons, in order to enhance their dignity, and to protect themselves.
• But anyone who desired an audience with the king might ask to be announced.
• Evidently the Persians also observed this custom.

13 Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. 14 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”

• Mordecai saw that this was Esther's moment of destiny, though he made no mention of God's providence,

15 Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him. [4]
 
ESTHER APPROACHES THE KING
ESTHER 5
1 On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance. 2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor with him. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”
4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for them.”
5 The king said, “Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
6 While drinking the wine, the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”
7 Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: 8 If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do what the king has asked.”

• A clever move on Esther's part to disarm Haman and make him think he was the center of attention.
• This plays to Haman's personal weakness and also to Esther's plan.
• It was crucial, after all, that Haman attend the next party, where he would indeed be the center of attention; the party to come was, then, as much for Haman as for the king.

9 That day Haman left full of joy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. 10 Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh to join him. 11 Then Haman described for them his glorious wealth and his many sons. He told them all how the king had honored him and promoted him in rank over the other officials and the royal staff. 12 “What’s more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am invited again tomorrow to join her with the king. 13 Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.”

• A person of good character overlooks slights against himself or herself, but a man or woman of inferior character magnifies them.

14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet tall. Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.[5]

• Charles Swindoll – “First: When preparing for an unprecedented event, wait on the Lord before getting involved. …
• Second: When dealing with an unpredictable person, count on the Lord to open doors and hearts. …
• Third: When working through an unpleasant situation, trust the Lord for enduring patience. …

Fourth: When standing against an unprincipled enemy, ask the Lord for invincible courage.”

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Es 2:19–23.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Pr 16:33.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Es 3:1–15.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Es 4:1–17.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Es 5:1–14.

Review:

• Abraham and Sarah
• Isaac (& Ishmael) and Rebekah (Laban’s sister)
• Jacob (& Esau)
• Map

 
GENESIS 28:6-9

• Jacob was instructed not to marry a Canaanite woman.
• Esau went to Jordan area and married Ishamel’s daughter.

GENESIS 28:10-22
10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. 13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”
18 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it 19 and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.[1]
 
GENESIS 29:1-30

• Jacob goes to Haran and comes to a well in the field.
• Men who know Laban speak to Jacob and point to Rachel who is coming to feed Laban’s sheep.
• Jacob rolls the stone away from the well and waters Laban’s sheep for Rachel and then kisses her.
• Jacob weeps loudly and shares with Rachel that he is Rebekah’s son. (Laban’s nephew).
• Laban runs to greet Jacob.
• Jacob lives and works there for a month.
• Laban has two daughters, Leah and Rebekah.
• “Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.”[2] (Genesis 29:17)
• Jacob offered to work for Laban for 7 years to be able to marry Rachel.
• 7 years seemed like days to Jacob.
• Jacob requested to sleep with Rachel.
• A wedding feast was had… wine served.
• Laban led Leah into the bed of Jacob.
• When he awoke, he realized it was Leah.
• Laban told him if he stayed and worked another 7 years, he would give Rachel to him that week.
• Jacob agreed and also married Rachel.
• Laban gave both Leah and Rachel slaves as their own.

GENESIS 29:31-35
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. 32 Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.
34 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi.
35 And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.[3]
 
GENESIS 30:1-24

• This similar scene unfolds for years to come.

Here's the count:

• Jacob & Leah – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah
• Jacob & Bilhah (Rachel’s slave) – Dan, Naphtali
• Jacob & Zipah (Leah’s slave) – Gad, Asher
• Jacob & Leah (after mandrakes) – Issachar, Zebulun & Dinah

22 Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph and said, “May the Lord add another son to me.” [4]
GENESIS 30:25-43

• Jacob negotiated with Laban to split the flock that Jacob had grown and made Laban wealthy.
• After years, Jacob ended up with the healthier flock.

GENESIS 31:1-21

• Jacob’s flocks have multiplied over and over and Laban’s have decreased.
• Laban began to look at Jacob with “attitude”.
• Jacob, Rachel, and Leah flee to Canaan while Laban is out shearing his sheep.
• Rachel even steals his household idols.

GENESIS 31:22-35

• Laban comes after Jacob and the crew.
• He overtakes them in Gilead (west of Jordan River)
• He was told by God the night before not to say anything or harm Jacob.
• He accuses Jacob of stealing his idols.
• He searches all the tents.
• Jacob doesn’t know Rachel stole idols.
• Rachel is sitting on her camel with the idols in the saddlebags.
• She tells her father she can’t get up because she is on her period.

GENESIS 31:36-55

• Laban never discovers idols.
• Jacob and Laban discuss and agree to mark this place where neither man will cross to hurt the other man.
• Laban kisses and blesses his family and returns to his home.

 
GENESIS 32:1-24

• Jacob travels south towards Esau and plans to meet with him.
• He devises this plan that splits his possessions into two camps.
• He sends servants ahead with a portion of his flock to appease Esau before they meet.
• At night, he crossed the river Jabbock with his wives.

 
GENESIS 32:24-32
24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
“Jacob,” he replied.
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”
But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.
30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel,—limping because of his hip. 32 That is why, still today, the Israelites don’t eat the thigh muscle that is at the hip socket: because he struck Jacob’s hip socket at the thigh muscle.[5]
 
GENESIS 33:1-19
1 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. 2 He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. 5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?”
He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. 7 Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
8 So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?”
“To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered.
9 “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”
10 But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. 11 Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.
12 Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.” [6]

• Jacob and his crew slowly made their way to Succoth and built a temporary compound.
• By the end of the chapter, he has relocated to Canaan.
• Throughout Jacob’s story, he communicates with God, and God communicates with him.
• God made a promise to Jacob, and He always keeps His promises.
• Jacob keeps moving ahead with some fear, some doubt, some preparation… but he always trusts that God will keep His promises.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 28:10–22.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 29:17.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 29:31–35.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 30:22–24.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 32:24–32.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 33:1–12.

67 AD

• Peter knows that his time on Earth is also ending.
• He is burdened to write one last letter to the churches in the Diaspora (the Jews who are dispersed into Gentile nations).
• He has it on his heart to remind them of the things of Christ that have been deposited in them, to encourage them to continue to walk steadfastly in the Lord and to warn them of coming false teachers.
• The differences between these two epistles are also significant.
• The first epistle ends, "Stand firm in it [grace]" (5:12).
• Its theme is the sufficiency of God's grace.
• We need to stand fast in grace as Christians.
• The second epistle ends, "grow in … grace" (3:18).
• Its theme is the responsibility of grace.
• We need to keep growing in God's grace.
• This second letter builds on the first: We do not only need to stand fast in grace, but we also need to keep growing in it.
• PETER WRITES 2 PETER
• Year: A.D. 67
• From: Rome
• To: The churches in northwest Asia: Pontus, North Galatia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia.
• Provocation: Peter reminds the churches of the true apostolic message, which is being threatened.
• He also encourages the believers to cultivate their spiritual lives.
• Peter warns the church about the coming of false teachers and their destructive heresies, exposing their motives and teachings in detail.
• He also informs the churches that his time on this earth is closing.
• Peter ends the letter by commending to them Paul’s letters, which he calls “Scripture.”

 
GREETING
2 PETER 1
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ:

• Simon was Peter's Hebrew name, and Peter is the Greek translation of the nickname Cephas (Rocky, cf. Matt. 16:18).
• There is only one Peter mentioned in the New Testament
• Peter establishes his identity as an apostle to establish his authority and encourage the church to guard against false doctrines that violate the true faith.
• Peter was not a newcomer onto the Christian scene.
• He had walked with Jesus, learned from Jesus, and knew the Gospel very well.
• Therefore, he was able to speak with such authority.

To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

• Peter encourages the church not with a different message but with the same Gospel that he has always taught.
• This Gospel involves the righteousness of God given to all through faith in Jesus.

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

• All believers understand the Gospel on some fundamental level.
• However, every Christian is also maturing in their knowledge, not of religious rules and customs, but of this grace of God.
• The more we understand the Gospel, the more grace and peace will multiply in our lives experientially.
• This will allow for general stability in Christ despite individual struggles we may encounter.

 
GROWTH IN THE FAITH
3 His divine power has given us everything required for life

• Through the true knowledge of God, the Gospel of grace, we have been equipped fully with everything we need for life and godliness.
• This is because Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, is alive within us.
• This startling reality means that we do not need rules and regulations for the Christian life.
• Furthermore, we do not need to perfect ourselves or equip ourselves somehow.
• What we need to do is learn all that we already have in Christ.
• We have total forgiveness for sins and an entirely new nature.
• When you proclaim the Gospel, don’t give me a website… give me the Scripture reference.

and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

• If the God we know is not excellent then we need to rethink the God in whom we believe.
• We don’t need to try to be thankful or try to celebrate God.
• We must recognize his awesomeness and allow natural thankfulness to arise.
• His excellence is manifested fully in the Gospel of Grace and the person of Jesus.
• As we focus on everything Jesus has done, we will truly understand God's nature.
• If the Gospel we believe is anything but magnificent, then we believe a false Gospel.
• "Each man must make a choice. Either he becomes freed from sin or further enslaved to sin."

4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

• Believers have escaped their previous way of life in which they were enslaved to sin.
• We now have God’s very nature within us.
• God is so fused to us that we participate in His godly nature.
• This is the heart of the true Gospel.
• We are not only perfectly forgiven but righteous to the core of our beings.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

• Because we are partakers of the divine nature, and because we have everything we need for life and godliness, we can mature into our salvation through new behavior and mindsets.
• Each of these characteristics listed come from the very nature of the Spirit.
• These traits are His traits produced within His children.
• So, we don’t need to work on conjuring attributes such as self-control.
• We simply let God produce self-control and all of His fruit within us.
• We receive it and transmit it to others.
• Power steering in the car has progressed over the years.
• Model T > Tesla

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

• The one who lacks: Those believers who lack these characteristics or commit sins have forgotten their identity.
• As we think about Christ and our purification from sins, these qualities will increase in our behavior.
• As we understand grace better, we will see God’s amazing fruit coming through as we enjoy rest in Him.

10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.

• This is not an encouragement for Christians to doubt whether or not they are true believers.
• This is a behavior verse.
• Peter wants Christians to embody their identity through behavior consistent with their righteousness in Christ.

11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

• Peter, while potentially referencing Heaven, is more likely speaking about the kingdom being actively supplied to us in the present.
• God’s kingdom has come in Christ, and we can participate in it through behavior fitting with our identity in Christ.

12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, 14 since I know that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me. 15 And I will also make every effort so that you are able to recall these things at any time after my departure.

• Believers know the truth of the Gospel, but we need to be continuously reminded of God's grace.
• We need to be reminded of our forgiveness, newness, and closeness to God.
• Peter made it his mission to remind the church of the Gospel so they could recall the truth whenever needed, even after his death.
• This is especially pertinent in the midst of the false teachings they were encountering.

 
THE TRUSTWORTHY PROPHETIC WORD
16 For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

• Peter is speaking of the first coming of Jesus Christ.
• Because he and the other apostles saw Jesus and learned from Him directly, they had an authoritative message from God.
• This message was the pure Gospel of grace, free from odd theology or cleverly devised tales.

17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!”

• Jesus’ identity as God’s Son was validated visibly during His earthly ministry.
• Thus, we must believe in Jesus’ true identity to be saved.
• This is the message that the apostles brought to the world.
• The gate to God is narrow, not because being a true believer is so hard, but because of the exclusivity of Jesus.
• He is the one path to God, and this is a difficult message for the world to hear.

18 We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it,

• The prophetic word is the identity of Jesus as God’s one and only Son.
• This is the message spoken by the Holy Spirit.
• The Spirit is forever perpetually communicating to the world about Jesus.
• If we hear something that contradicts the Gospel, then it is not from the Spirit.

as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

• Jesus, the lamp shining in the dark, wants to save everyone.
• When we agree with the prophetic word about Jesus’ identity, we are given God’s light in a dark world.
• According to Peter, the key to Christianity is not moralism or ethics but knowing the person of Jesus, who is life itself.[1]

20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.[2]

[1] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. 2 Peter 1
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Pe 1:1–21.

• Living together as one body

LIVING THE NEW LIFE
EPHESIANS 4:17-24
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.

• Obviously the Lord was in agreement with Paul's teaching.
• Walk = conduct your life
• Gentiles -
     1) Nation of people other than the Jews.
     2) Heathen, ungodly, unregenerate pagan
             persons.
     (1 Thessalonians 4:5‎ - not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.[1])
• Ephesus was a Gentile city famous for temple of Diana (Roman name) or Artemis (Greek).
• - Diana was a sex/fertility goddess.
• Futility = vanity, folly or emptiness
• Striving after wind... for what?
• ‎A.W. Tozer – “Israel did not reject the Lord because of philosophical reasons. Israel’s rejection was for moral reasons.…
• ’m telling you this, and it’s a statement that I need not modify. I do not believe there is anybody that ever rejects Jesus Christ on philosophical grounds.

The man who continues in his rejection of Christ has a pet sin somewhere--he’s in love with iniquity.
He rejects Jesus on moral grounds, and then hides behind false philosophy—philosophical grounds.…
I believe that every one of these who are having intellectual difficulties is hiding because he is morally reprobate. When we fall in love with our sin, we can imagine and manufacture 10,000 syllogisms to keep us away from the cross.”
18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.

• Darkened = the spiritual condition before Christ.
• Excluded = alienated, stranger or separated
• Ignorance = not with the intellectual matters of the world but the things of God.
• Hardness of their heart = sin nature inherited from Adam.
• Ephesians 2:3‎ - We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.[2]
• The sin nature is eradicated when a person receives Jesus.
• Romans 6:6 - ‎For we know that our old self was crucified with him ...[3]
• Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.[4]
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come![5]

 

• A.W. Tozer – “It may shock some readers to suggest that there is a difference between being “Bible taught” and “Spirit taught.”

Nevertheless, it is so!
It is altogether possible to be instructed in the rudiments of the faith and still have no real understanding of the whole thing. And it is possible to go on to become expert in Bible doctrine and not have spiritual illumination, with the result that a veil remains over the mind, preventing it from apprehending the truth in its spiritual essence.
Most of us are acquainted with churches that teach the Bible to their children, reinforce it with catechism classes, and still never produce in them a living Christianity nor an energized godliness.
Their members show no evidence of having passed from death unto life. None of the earmarks of salvation so plainly indicated in the Scriptures are found among them. Their religious lives are correct and reasonably moral, but wholly mechanical and altogether lacking in radiance.
Many of them are pathetically serious about it all, but they are spiritually blind, getting along with the outward shell of faith while all the time their deep hearts are starving for spiritual reality.
It has been said that “The Scriptures, to be understood, must be read with the same Spirit that originally inspired them.” No one denies this, but even such a statement will go over the heads of those who hear it unless the Holy Spirit inflames the heart!”

• This has nothing to do with salvation
• It is a matter of experiencing the abundant life.

19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.

• Callous = cease to care.
• Particularly about the things they do or how they are perceived by those around them.
• Openly committing sin.
• They have desensitized themselves and can no longer pursue the things of God.

20 But that is not how you came to know (learn) Christ,

• Probably in reference to salvation.
• Paul is indicating at some point you became separated from those who did not know Christ.

21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,

• “Assuming” = makes reference to the fulfilled condition.
• 03/25/19 - In a live appearance at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Oprah explains why it’s important for all of us to find our own truth.
• “What is the truth of me? Why am I here? And what do I have to offer?”
• Oprah asks. “The answer,” she says, “is yourself.”
• Oprah shares why you are enough, just as you are…
• There is no “your truth”
• There is “your opinions” and “your experiences”.
• But there is only one truth.
• John 18:37-38 - “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

• 38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.[6]
• Absolute Truth - Absolute truth is true regardless of how a person thinks or feels about it.
• Relative Truth - Relative truth is the belief truth changes based on the individual’s understanding of it.
• The problem with relative truth it is a contradiction in terms.
• If truth is factual and indisputable then you cannot have different truths for different people.
• Relative truth is a rejection of absolute truth.
• The Truth comes from Jesus. (John 14:6)
• It is constant (never changes)
• It is objective (no favorites)
• It will prevail

22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,

• former way of life = before Christ.
• Paul makes reference to his former manner and days before Christ to better identify with his audience.
• But we have to be careful not to use our past mistakes as an opportunity to glorify the flesh.
• old self = sin nature inherited by Adam
• lay aside = aorist infinitive (tense is not defined).‎ laid aside, lay aside, laying aside, put, put aside, putting aside.
• If this verse is teaching that the old self remains after transformation then it contradicts Romans 6:6 & Colossians 3:9-10‎ - Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.[7]
• John Murray and HCSB say that past tense is indicated here.
• It is the only way all of these verses can be filtered together.
• There is a battle. But it is not between the Old Self and New Self.
  Romans 7:23 – but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.[8]
• This verse explains it as the warring of the New Self and the power of sin that dwells in our flesh.
• Who is it that sins?
• It is the New Man who needs to mature in knowledge of Christ and their behavior will naturally begin to line up with what they know and believe.
• The old self is easily corrupted by deceit.
• The desires/lust are being intensified.

23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

• Not only does God renew the spirit of the believer's mind at salvation, but continues the process throughout the believer's lifetime.
• Spirit of your mind = attitude, thoughts, purpose or bent.
• How is this possible if you still have the Old Self attached?
•  It is impossible for the Old Self to understand spiritual truth.

24 and to put on, the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.[9]

• Past tense is indicated here.
• Paul is encouraging his readers to realize they are already the new self (new man).
• The believer is not a lowly sinner saved by grace, but a saint who sometimes sins.
• The result is that the Christian is to discern and prove the will of God [10]
• A.W. Tozer – “The answer is that we are too comfortable, too rich, too contented. We hold the faith of our fathers, but it does not hold us. We are suffering from judicial blindness visited upon us because of our sins. To us has been committed the most precious of all treasures, but we are not committed to it. We insist upon making our religion a form of amusement and will have fun whether or not. We are afflicted with religious myopia and see only things near at hand.

God has set eternity in our hearts and we have chosen time instead. He is trying to interest us in a glorious tomorrow and we are settling for an inglorious today. We are bogged down in local interests and have lost sight of eternal purposes. We improvise and muddle along, hoping for heaven at last but showing no eagerness to get there, correct in doctrine but weary of prayer and bored with God.”[11]

• Golf lesson
     - Non golfer
     - Teaching you the correct way
     - Trust – Dr. Rob Bell
     - Scared to play

[1] Christian Standard Bible (1 Th 4:5). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 2:3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 6:6–7). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Ga 2:20). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 5:17). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Jn 18:37–38). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Col 3:9–10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 7:23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 4:17–24). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Olford, S. F., & Olford, D. L. (1998). Anointed Expository Preaching (348). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] Tozer, A. W., & Eggert, R. (1998). Vol. 2: The Tozer Topical Reader (273–274). Camp Hill, PA.: WingSpread.

• We left off with Paul before King Agrippa, but he had already appealed to Caesar in order to save his life.
• Map from Jerusalem to Caesarea
• Slides of Herod’s Palace

SAILING FOR ROME
ACTS 27 - 60 AD
1 When it was decided that we were to sail to Italy,

• Luke had not included himself since Acts 21:18
• Paul was facing his Jewish counterparts in Jerusalem
• Luke was Paul’s personal physician

they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial Regiment.

• Unlike “other prisoners”, Paul was not being sent to Rome to die but to go to trial.
• Imagine Paul sharing Jesus with these prisoners before they were to die.

2 When we had boarded a ship of Adramyttium (audra-me-tium), we put to sea, intending to sail to ports along the coast of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. (Paul’s personal attendant) (Colossians 4:10 – fellow prisoner) 3 The next day we put in at Sidon (see-done) (80 miles in one day), and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive their care. 4 When we had put out to sea from there, we sailed along the northern coast of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 After sailing through the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we reached Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.

• Julius abandoned the slower coastal ship and put Paul and the others on board this large grain ship from Egypt that carried 276 passengers (Acts 27:37–38).
• Rome depended on Egypt for much of its grain supply, and the Roman government gave special consideration to those who ran these ships.[1]

7 Sailing slowly for many days, with difficulty we arrived off Cnidus (ny-dus) (130 miles). Since the wind did not allow us to approach it, we sailed along the south side of Crete off Salmone (sal mo-nee). 8 With still more difficulty we sailed along the coast and came to a place called Fair Havens near the city of Lasea.

• Map from Caesarea to Fair Havens

 
PAUL’S ADVICE IGNORED
9 By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the Day of Atonement, was already over, Paul gave his advice 10 and told them, “Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward disaster and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.”

• The Day of Atonement, which fell in September/October; and every sailor knew that sailing was difficult from mid-September to mid-November, and impossible from mid-November to February.[2]
• God had given wisdom and direction to Paul.
• 2 Corinthians 11:25 – Paul had already experienced 3 shipwrecks.
• But he was viewed as a back-seat driver.
• So naturally they chose to go against God’s will.

11 But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to set sail from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor on Crete facing the southwest and northwest, and to winter there.

• What were the factors that governed Julius’ decision?
• To begin with, Fair Havens was not a comfortable place to settle down because it was too open to the winter storms.
• Phoenix had a more sheltered harbor.
• Julius also listened to the “expert advice” of the pilot and captain (“master and owner”) of the ship.
• They advised that the ship head for Phoenix as fast as possible.
• Surely they could cover forty miles safely, and already they had lost too much time.
• When Julius added up the votes, it was three to one that the ship set sail.
• After all, the majority cannot be wrong, especially when it includes the experts![3]

 
STORM-TOSSED SHIP
13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose.

• Julius and the captain probably smiled at Paul.

They weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 But before long, a fierce wind called the “northeaster” rushed down from the island.

• The actual Greek word translates to “typhoon”.

15 Since the ship was caught and unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.

• Drifted, because they couldn’t steer, 23 miles to the south.

16 After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda, we were barely able to get control of the skiff (the little boat was towed behind the bigger ship).

• Map of Fair Havens to Malta

17 After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship.

• Literally, wrapped the ship in chains and ropes to keep it from falling apart.

Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis,

• Body of water that was full of sand bars.

they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along. 18 Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging.

• They would typically sail based upon the sun, moon and stars.
• They had no direction.

Finally, all hope was fading that we would be saved.
21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. 22 Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. 23 For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me 24 and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. 26 But we have to run aground on some island.”

• A crisis does not make a person.
• A crisis shows what a person is made of, and it tends to bring true leadership to the fore.
• Paul gently rebuked the centurion, pilot, and captain for ignoring his warning.
• Soon they would discover that God had spared all of them only because of Paul.[4]
• V. 22-26 – Paul shared God’s Word with them

27 When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and about midnight the sailors thought they were approaching land.

• During the two weeks they had been at sea, the ship had been driven over 500 miles off course and was now adrift in the Adrian Sea.
• (It is now called the Ionian Sea and must not be confused with the Adriatic Sea.) As[5]

28 They took soundings and found it to be a hundred twenty feet deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be ninety feet deep. 29 Then, fearing we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come. 30 Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow. 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.

• V. 27-32 – Paul warned them

33 When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing. 34 So I urge you to take some food. For this is for your survival, since none of you will lose a hair from your head.” 35 After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all of them, and after he broke it, he began to eat. 36 They all were encouraged and took food themselves. 37 In all there were 276 of us on the ship. 38 When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.

• V33-38 – Paul set a good example for them.
• Caring for one’s health is an important part of the Christian life, and even an apostle must not abuse his body.
• There are times when one dedicated believer can change the whole atmosphere of a situation simply by trusting God and making that faith visible.[6]

 
SHIPWRECK
39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could. 40 After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach. 41 But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up by the pounding of the waves.
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that no one could swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, everyone safely reached the shore. [7]

• V. 39-44 – Paul rescued them
• First of all, storms often come when we disobey the will of God. (Jonah is a good example of this truth.)
• However, it was not Paul who was at fault, but the centurion in charge of the ship.
• We sometimes suffer because of the unbelief of others.
• Second, storms have a way of revealing character.
• Some of the sailors selfishly tried to escape, others could only hope for the best; but Paul trusted God and obeyed His will.
• Third, even the worst storms cannot hide the face of God or hinder the purposes of God.
• Paul received the word of assurance that they needed, and God overruled so that His servant arrived safely in Rome.
• Finally, storms can give us opportunities to serve others and bear witness to Jesus Christ.
• Paul was the most valuable man on that ship!

He knew how to pray, he had faith in God, and he was in touch with the Almighty.[8]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 508). Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 508). Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 508). Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 509). Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 509). Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 509). Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 27:1–44). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 510). Victor Books.

-Today, in this room, we have many situations, many feelings and emotions and much truth.
- I pray that God will give you faith enough to hear His message for you today.
CHRISTMAS STORY
LUKE 2:1-20
1 At that time a decree was issued by Augustus Caesar: a census was to be taken of the whole world. 2(This was the first census, before the one when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3So everyone set off to be registered, each to their own town. 4Joseph too, who belonged to the house and family of David, went from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judaea, David’s city, 5to be registered with his fiancée Mary, who was pregnant.
6So that’s where they were when the time came for her to give birth; 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

• Think about this… who is the only person in the whole world that absolutely knows that Mary was a virgin… Mary.
• Sounds like a great story… but come on…
• Mary was a teenager… was she questioning there was another way to become pregnant? Drinking the water… just time together… ha… even the power sin probably messed with Mary.
• But she knew! She knew Jesus was special.
• Mark 3:20-21 - Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”[1]

She wrapped him up and put him to rest in a feeding-trough, because there was no room for them in the normal living quarters.
8There were shepherds in that region, out in the open, keeping a night watch around their flock. 9An angel of the Lord stood in front of them. The glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10‘Don’t be afraid,’ the angel said to them.

• Fear: is projecting into the future something negative that has not occurred yet.
• Fear (the idea of fear) is a real thing.
• Fear is a feeling/emotion.
• Feelings and emotions aren’t always true.
• Think about past fears:
• Cold War – Nuclear Bombs – Bomb Shelters
• UFO’s & Aliens
• NASA’s Space Station crashing to earth
• Killer bees – Murder Hornets
• Y2K – Computers
• 911 – TSA Changes – More paperwork - Time
• Think about McDonald’s commercials in the past few years… Where is Ronald? Clowns – The great clown purge
• Drone Armies
• Phobias - A phobia is an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm. The word itself comes from the Greek word phobos, which means fear or horror.
• Some phobias…
• Alektorophobia, fear of chickens
• Onomatophobia, fear of names
• Pogonophobia, fear of beards
• Nephophobia, fear of clouds
• Cryophobia, fear of ice or cold
• Octophobia, fear of the figure 8
• Ephebiphobia, fear of teenagers
• Panaphobia? Fear of pandemics
  
  
• There was no fear in creation
• Fear immediately occurred in Genesis 3
• It was never intended here on earth
• Bible verses about fear:
• Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.[2]+

• Matthew 14:25-27 -  Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.
• Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”[3]
• Mark 5:36 – When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”[4]
• Luke 12:6-7 - Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. [5]
• John 14:27-29 - “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe.[6]
• Romans 8:37-39 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.[7]
• Fear is not going away
• How do you deal with fear?
• If fear is not going away, how do you deal with it?
• This is the real Christmas gift.

‘Look: I’ve got good news for you, news which will make everybody very happy. 11Today a saviour has been born for you—the Messiah, the Lord!—in David’s town. 12This will be the sign for you: you’ll find the baby wrapped up, and lying in a feeding-trough.’
13Suddenly, with the angel, there was a crowd of the heavenly armies. They were praising God, saying,
14‘Glory to God in the highest,
and peace upon earth among those in his favour.’
15So when the angels had gone away again into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Well then; let’s go to Bethlehem and see what it’s all about, all this that the Lord has told us.’
16So they hurried off, and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the feeding-trough. 17When they saw it, they told them what had been said to them about this child. 18And all the people who heard it were amazed at the things the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured all these things and mused over them in her heart.
20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.[8]

• 17When they saw it, they told them what had been said to them about this child.
• Think about the transition of emotions at this point.
• The angel said “do not fear” – yah… right
• The whole journey there was full of fear and doubt.
• But that moment… the shepherds laid on eyes on baby Jesus, the Savior of the World… all fear was gone.
• Their emotions immediately changed from fear to complete joy.
• How do you deal with fear… if it is not going away?
• Fear is met head on in the head.
• Set your feelings to the side and trust what you know.
• Let your knowledge impact your feelings.
• Don’t let your feelings impact your knowledge.
• Knowing > Feelings
• Think about it this week… I am not asking you to dismiss your feelings… because you can’t.
• But think about it this week when you catch yourself saying, “I feel like…”
• Can you actually say, “I know…”

 
Believe

• We teach our kids from an early age to believe in a man that can fly through the sky with 8 tiny reindeer and packages enough for all the kids in the world.
• Then this man makes it to every home all over the world in one night, shimming down chimneys and eating cookies and milk at every stop.

 

• What if we teach them to believe in a man who came to save the whole world but he was born outside in a feeding trough.
• This same man walked on water, healed the sick, turned water into wine and raised people from the dead.
• This same man became a sacrifice for all of our sins so that we might have an abundant life in world of chaos.
• The same man who died and rose again so the Spirit could come here and reside within our mortal bodies.

 
 Residence

• On Facebook, I share about this building… how it has basically been given to us for the last 12.5 years.
• God provided a place for us to gather… free of charge.
• That night in Bethlehem, God provided a feeding trough for the Savior of the World to be born… His very own Son… assuming it was free of charge.
• Today, God has provided a place for His Spirit to dwell. It didn’t cost you a dime… but it cost Him His only Son.
• You my friend, have become the dwelling place for the Spirit of God here on earth.
• There is no greater gift this Christmas.

 

• Today we celebrate Christmas and Easter as we do every day.

 
Lord’s Supper
Jesus said something like this, “When you gather… remember what I did for you.”

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mk 3:20–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Is 41:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mt 14:24–27). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Mk 5:36). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 12:5–7). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Jn 14:27–29). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 8:37–39). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Goldingay, J., & Wright, T. (2018). The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation (Lk 2:1–20). London: SPCK.