Today we continue the series, Looking at Questions in God’s Word.

In Genesis 3:1 (NIV) “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Today we are going to look at three questions in the book of Genesis that are still relevant for us today. One question by Satan, one by God, and one by a man. 

1. Did God really say? Genesis 3:1 (NIV)  "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Many believe that Genesis 3 to be the most important chapters in the Bible. If you just read 1-2 and then skip to chapter 4, man goes from being blessed in the garden to being cursed. Something happened. In 1-2 man is innocent and everything seems to be perfection in the garden of God and the moment you read 4 there is jealousy, anger, murder, corruption, lying, rebellion, and judgment. Satan shows up with a question to confuse, deceive, and separate man from God. Did God really say? The question is designed to make them question God and His authority. Satan is still asking the same question confusing so many.

2. Where are you? Genesis 3:8-9 (NKJV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" Where are you? What a powerful question from God to Adam and Eve. It was more than a question about their location but much more about their spiritual condition. Where are you today with Jesus?

3. Am I my brother’s keeper? We know the story how Abel’s gift was accepted by the Lord and Cain’s was not. Does not say why but it matters how we give. Cain was jealous and killed Abel. Genesis 4:9 (NIV) “Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Am I my brother’s keeper? Am I responsible for my brother or my sister? Paul said I am a debtor to all men to preach to them the gospel. Philippians 2:4-5 (NIV) ^“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

Today we continue the series, Looking at Questions in God’s Word,...

... and because we are supposed to be fasting we will talk about that. Isaiah 58:3 (NKJV) 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?' "In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. The first question in God’s Word we will be looking at today is Why Have We Fasted? We have a tendency to look at the what and God looks at the why. 

1. The people’s questions. The hearts of people back then are really no different than people today. The people were frustrated with God because, in their minds, they had fasted and prayed and God had not answered their prayers. Why have we fasted? I personally believe it is okay to ask God questions if we are sincere. My God, my God why have you forsaken Me? They forgot God’s promises are conditional. The children of Israel wanted the blessings of praying and fasting but the failed to meet God’s conditions.

2. God’s Questions. Isaiah 58:4-5 (NLT2) “What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with Me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD?” God says what good is your fasting when you keep fighting with each other. What are you saying, Pastor Rick? Not me, God. The Lord says it matters how you treat each other.

3. God’s questions and sincere answers to true fasting. Isaiah 58:6-7 (NKJV) "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? God wants our fasting and praying to be pro-active. What do you mean, Pastor Rick? Fasting is more than just doing without food, it is how you treat those who are bound, those who are hungry, and to care for your family. Amen.

Happy New Year! May God bless Life Church and help us have the greatest year ever!

Today we start a new series, Looking at Questions in God’s Word. Hear is the first question in Numbers 11:21&23 (NASB) But Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.' The LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not." I preached much of this on a Wednesday night in December and many of you were not there. It started me on a journey. I want us to look with Moses how he saw God send more quail than you can shake a stick at. God asks Moses a question Is the LORD’s power limited? Of course the answer is ‘no’! God is omnipotent which by definition means there is nothing He cannot do.

1. In regard to this question, do you have a low view of God or a high view of God? A.W. Tozer – “A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils, but a high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems.” The truth is; our biggest problem is our small view of God. That is the cause (according to Tozer) of all lesser evils. It is a high view of God that is the solution to all other problems.

2. In regard to this question, the size of your prayers will be proportional to the size of your God. The size of your prayer depends on the size of your God. And if God has no limits because of His omnipotence then neither should our prayers. He is not bound by the laws of man or nature. Is the Lord’s power limited? No!

3. In regard to this question, there is no degree of difficulty with God. This is so difficult for us to comprehend but with God there is no big or small, easy or difficult, possible or impossible. It is hard for our earthly minds to understand this. We are all subject to the natural laws God has instituted but He is not limited to anything or by anything. He is the beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega! To the infinite (God) all finites are equal. Is the LORD’s power limited? The obvious and only answer is “no”. Pray big prayers!

Merry Christmas! So what is the message of Christmas? Glad you asked.

1. God sent. John 3:16-17 (NLT2) “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. Maybe 2020 has been a tough year for you. It has definitely been a tough year for many. The chaos of Covid, the loss of a loved one, health issues, family problems, financial problems, and whatever else. No matter what we have been through we still have much to celebrate! God sent His One and only Son to save us from our sins and ourselves. Matthew 1:21-23 (NKJV) “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Yes, we celebrate God Who sent His Son to save us! Wow! Merry Christmas!

2. Jesus came. I feel so much like the Apostle Paul. God may have gotten a prize when He got you but not me. I was a mess! 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NLT2) “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. If Jesus’ coming is not enough for you to celebrate Christmas, I don’t know what is. Jesus came into the world to save sinners and we were all sinners when He found us. Now we have been washed and saved! PTL!

3. We receive and celebrate. John 1:12-14 (NIV) “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ^- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. God sent, Jesus came, and we receive and celebrate! Will you receive Him today? Merry Christmas!

Today we continue looking at this wonderful Christmas story...

... through the eyes of the shepherds. Luke 2:8‑14 (NKJV) “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" The angel was bringing to them good news and great joy; the Savior is born! Here was the message:

1. Goodwill toward men. We should be desiring good toward those we are around the most. Our family...our friends...our church. It is easy for us as ministers (all of us) to want goodwill for those in the universal church, the community, and even in the world but it can become difficult for us to want good for those closest to us. Our ultimate test is not how we treat and feel about those who are outside our families but how we treat our families and those near and dear.

2. Peace on earth. Luke 2:14 (NKJV) "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Our goal should be peace for Israel and the middle east but also for our own families and our church.

What goodwill and peace we can offer to a lost world? We can help put the Merry back in Christmas!

3. Glory to God! 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do everything for the glory of God...how you love your spouse, your families, your church, the world! Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles...be gentle with your families. Don’t live in an offensive manner. The shepherds spread the word about the glory of God (Jesus Christ). Shouldn’t we do the same?

Today we celebrate Immanuel, God with us.

Matthew 1:23-24 (NKJV) "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.” Immanuel, God with us. Think about the miracle of that. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. They needed a Savior and we need a Savior. Look at this story.

1. God with us, of course, but God with Joseph. I can’t imagine being engaged to someone and being so excited to get married. To be able to take this beautiful young lady as my wife. What joy! Imagine your fiancé sitting you down. Hey Babe, I have something to tell you. Of course, Sweetheart, you can tell me anything, I love you! Well, I am going to have a baby! Say what? Not only am I going to have a baby but this child is from God. Poor God gets blamed for so much. How many of you are glad God was with Joseph? God with Joseph but here is the key…He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife…He obeyed, he trusted, and he submitted to God’s will.

2. God with us, of course, but God with Mary. I am sure Mary had dreamed most of her life about the day she would find her prince charming, have a wedding fit for a princess, and become one with her husband. Then, an angel shows up. Say what? She was not only going to find her prince charming but she was going to find the Prince of Peace! Imagine how this teenage girl must have felt. Her head was spinning and her heart racing. Her response was priceless…God came to be with us but God with Mary made all the difference and how she responded to Him…Luke 1:38 (NKJV) Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." 

3. God with us. Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” There it is…Christ lives in me…Christ in me. Immanuel, God with us wanted to be God in Rick. Today He wants to be God in you. What was the key to God in Rick, I had to surrender my life to Him and make Him Lord and Savior? Today is your day…Christ in you!

 

As we draw closer to Christmas...

... most of us are thinking about what we can give or what we might get. What could we give Jesus that He would like or want from us? The heart of a servant. Psalm 27:1(NKJV)
^“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” What should we give Jesus this Christmas?                                                                                                                                               

1.  A true servant gives Jesus their complete trust. A true servant of God will give Jesus his complete trust because he knows Jesus is the One Who shows him the way. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! A true servant of God gives Jesus his trust because he knows Jesus is his salvation. Not a political party or earthly personality. We do not have to be afraid because we serve an Omnipotent God! All powerful! We quote it so much but it is time that we start living it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In Psalm 27 David is saying…The Lord is my Light, my Salvation, and my Strength. True servants trust completely.

2. A true servant is not independent but dependent on Holy Spirit. Something that has always been burned in my heart for years, probably because of my love of Holy Spirit, has been in the prayer of repentance David did after his adultery and murder, what was his concern? Psalm 51:11 (NKJV) “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” As a servant of the Lord, there is no worse feeling than realizing that you have grieved Holy Spirit and now He is no longer close to you. Oh God, do not take your Holy Spirit from me! If your attitude is such that you say, as long as I make it into heaven I am good, then, you are not a true servant of God. No greater gift can you give Jesus than to walk in the Spirit.

3. A servant of the Lord is highly flammable. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Are we available fuel to be set ablaze for God? Missionary Amy Carmichael prayed, “Make me Your fuel, Flame of God!” If you want to give Jesus the best gift ever this Christmas, let Him baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire! Be combustible for Him!