As the Denton's wedding was on a Saturday evening, I was able to stay the night to catch up with friends and attend Crosspoint in the morning. God has greatly used Crosspoint in my life for several years now. He continues to do so despite my having moved away. I have been able to attend a service in the Christmas series for the past couple of years and very much enjoyed these. I really love Christmas so reminders of its true meaning are always a joy.
As I've found to be a repeated blessing of visits "home", God had laid a message on Pastor Ken's heart that, by the end, I thought should have begun with: "Dear T," and ended with: "I love you, God". The message is posted at Crosspoint's website, Dec 12, "Visions of One to Come-Messiah King" referencing Isaiah 7:10-17. Definitely worth the time to listen!
In the time of Isaiah's prophecy of a coming Messiah, hearts were shaking from fear of an impending invasion. (7:1-2) This made the promise of a coming Savior all the more an answer to the prayers of a desperate people. Into shaking hearts, God spoke! He spoke a comforting word (v 4-9) and a confirming sign (v 10-14).
Pastor Ken asked three questions in application of the sermon:
1. Who are you trusting in? Idols? yourself? unfaithful leaders? human strategies of self-rescue?
2. Why should we trust in God? (Is 7:7-9, 15-17; 40:21-24)
He is the great judge, holy ruler, the only one who can bring deliverance
There are consequences for not trusting God (Is 30:15-17)
3. How do we fight fear?
1. Fight fear with FAITH (Is 7:9; 26:3-4)
2. Fight fear with the FEAR OF GOD (Is 8:12-13)
3. Fight fear with the WORD OF GOD (Is 41:10, 13-14)
4. Fight fear with PRAYER (Is 37: 16-20)
5. Fight fear with GOD'S SON (Matt 1:23, 28:20; Heb 13:5)
We need a King we can trust and depend on (Is 9:6)
We need a Savior who will save us from our sins (Is 53)
We need an Anointed Preacher who speaks to us the gospel (Is 61)
We need One who will vindicate us from our enemies (Is 63)
His name is Jesus and we celebrate His birth today
Thank you Lord for the greatest present ever given to humanity!
In the time of Isaiah's prophecy of a coming Messiah, hearts were shaking from fear of an impending invasion. (7:1-2) This made the promise of a coming Savior all the more an answer to the prayers of a desperate people. Into shaking hearts, God spoke! He spoke a comforting word (v 4-9) and a confirming sign (v 10-14).
Pastor Ken asked three questions in application of the sermon:
1. Who are you trusting in? Idols? yourself? unfaithful leaders? human strategies of self-rescue?
2. Why should we trust in God? (Is 7:7-9, 15-17; 40:21-24)
He is the great judge, holy ruler, the only one who can bring deliverance
There are consequences for not trusting God (Is 30:15-17)
3. How do we fight fear?
1. Fight fear with FAITH (Is 7:9; 26:3-4)
2. Fight fear with the FEAR OF GOD (Is 8:12-13)
3. Fight fear with the WORD OF GOD (Is 41:10, 13-14)
4. Fight fear with PRAYER (Is 37: 16-20)
5. Fight fear with GOD'S SON (Matt 1:23, 28:20; Heb 13:5)
We need a King we can trust and depend on (Is 9:6)
We need a Savior who will save us from our sins (Is 53)
We need an Anointed Preacher who speaks to us the gospel (Is 61)
We need One who will vindicate us from our enemies (Is 63)
His name is Jesus and we celebrate His birth today
Thank you Lord for the greatest present ever given to humanity!
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