Enter His Courts with Praise to Jesus.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Ps 100:4–5., ESV)

Look to the Cross of Jesus.

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. (1 Co 1:18., NLT)

Present your bodies to Jesus

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him (Ro 12:1, NLT)

Receive the Spirit of Jesus. 

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Co 3:17., ESV)

Feast on the Word of Jesus. 

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Ti 3:16–17, ESV)

Offer Your prayers to Jesus. 

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Re 5:8, ESV)

Remember God made a covenant with Jesus' blood. 

20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Lk 22:20, ESV)

When we engage in Spiritual activities, the Spirit can move in our hearts to reveal God's Truth

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Heb 12:11, ESV)

Everything must be grounded in the Grace revealed in the Gospel

God is attracted to weakness.

We must learn the difference between condemnation and conviction.

Make Yourself availible

3 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, (2 Th 3:1, ESV)

Be Consistant

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Mt 7:7–8, ESV)

How to fast

Keep your mouth closed.

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Mt 4:2, ESV)

Keep it between you and God.

17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Mt 6:17–18, ESV)

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ...6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ...(who) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.  (Ac 13:1–12, ESV)

The word time was used 717 times in Scripture.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour

has come for you to wake from sleep. (Ro 13:11, ESV)

The word remember was used 234 times in Scripture.

45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.” (Le 26:45, ESV)

There are 3 Ways People Spend their Time

Creating, Wasting, & Destroying

Ways to invest in and move forward in your relationship with God.

A.) Spend time God

(21 Days of Prayer)

B.)Spend time People

(Small Groups)

The Coming of Christ: How Jesus came into our world.

Bethlehem—house of bread.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.  (Lk 2:4–7.)

Song: Silent Night

The Campaign of Christ: Why Jesus came into our world.

35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again... 40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”  (Jn 6:35 &40., CSB)

Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The Communion of Christ: Celebrating Jesus in our lives.

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”  (Jn 6:51, CSB)

54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, 55 because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me....The one who eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6:53–58, CSB)

Song: O Holy Night

The Commission of Christ: Carrying Jesus into our world.

You give them something to eat.

16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children (Mt 14:16–21, ESV)

Closing: Go Light your World

Song: Joy to the World A Christmas Eve Celebration

Where is Jesus today? How is He operating as a Life-Giving Spirit?

At the Right Hand of the Father  Mark 16:19-20

With Y'all Matt 28:18-20

In Small Groups Matt 18:20

In His Church 1 Cor 14:20-40

Let’s look at the small groups in the birth of Christ.--Luke 2 & Matt 2

Mary and Joesph..in a group

The Shepperds... in a group

The Angels...in a group

The Magi... a group

Herod..was alone

Notes:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jesus was born during a time of:

Political Discontent Prophetic Discontent Family Conflict

14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.  16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. (Heb 2:14–18, ESV)

Since we are human, God became Human.  Jesus could not die, unless He became a man. Jesus came to destroy the devil, the one with the power of death.

SIN DEBT

I realize that my debts against God have been forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ______

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

I understand that Jesus is my Personal Representative. He sits at the right hand of God. He intercedes for me, and He placed His Spirit in me who also intercedes for me. ______

CONCERNING MY PERSON

I devise and bequeath my time, talents, and treasure, both real and personal and wherever situated, as follows:

I will develop my relationship with Jesus by: ______________________________ I will grow in my knowledge of Scripture by:_______________________________ I will serve my family by: ______________________________________________ I will support my local church by praying:_______________ per _______________ I will serve my local church by committing to:_______________________________ I will love my neighbor(s) by committing to:________________________________

SINS of OMISSION

To the extent that I am able in both body, spirit, and mind, I will not neglect the good works which I was created according to the purpose of God for my life. _______

SINS of COMISSION

To the extent to which I am washed of my sin, made a new creation in Christ, and empowered by His Spirit, I will avoid the sins which so easily beset me. ______

AFFIRMATION

______________________________                  ______________________________
Signature                                         

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Php 4:13, NLT)

2.I have been Formed

17 [This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun]! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (2 Co 5:16–19, NLT)

3.I have been Filled

4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.  (Tt 3:4–6, NLT)

4.I have been Sealed (Secured and Labeled)

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  (Eph 1:3–14, NLT)

5.I have been Sent

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. (John 20:21, NLT)

6.I must be poured out

6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. (2 Ti 4:6–8, NLT)

Can Dry Bones Live?

1. God  Brings the Dead to Life

2. God brings the body together together.

3. God makes it strong.

4. He fills it with His Spirit

5. He turns it into an Army

21 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming on the Atharim road, he fought against Israel and captured some prisoners. 2 Then Israel made a vow to the Lord, “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will completely destroy their cities.”  3 The Lord listened to Israel’s request, the Canaanites were defeated, and Israel completely destroyed them and their cities. So they named the place Hormah.  4 Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people  became impatient because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died. 7 The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede with the Lord so that He will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.”  9 So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered. (Nu 21:1–9, ESV)

You need Someone Praying for you.

God’s faithfulness is revealedin what Jesus did and what He is doing now.

Jesus paid for our sins on the cross.

Jesus is praying for us right now.

Look to Jesus and be restored.

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Ps 40:11, ESV)

JESUS WALKS ON WATER

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, (Mk 6:45–51, ESV)

God is never Surprised or Outmatched

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

God  reveals His Glory in our Struggle

48 …And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them….

God desires to be in your boat. 

50…But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, (Dt 7:8–9, ESV)

15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Ps 86:15, ESV)

God is DEPENDABLE.

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Ps 40:11, ESV)

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Ps 100:1–5, ESV)

God is WORTHY OF OUR TRUST.

This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is (2 Ti 2:11–13, NLT)

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Heb 10:19–23, ESV)

 If God always speaks and He wants me to Hear Him, what is He saying?

Listen to what He’s ______________________________.

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.  (Jn 15:26–27, ESV)

God speaks so you’ll  ______________________________.

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ( Ac 22:6–9, ESV)

God speaks so you’ll  ______________________________.

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”  34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. (Ac 8:26–35, ESV)

Other Verses Where God Speaks:

Gen 12:1-3 Told Abraham to Go and become a blessing to the world

Ex 3:16 Told Moses to Go and gather the elders of Israel

Josh 1:2 Told Joshua to Go and take the Land

Ac 5:17–21. Told the Apostles to Go and share the Words of Life in the Temple

Ac 9:11–17. Told Ananias to Go and pray for Paul and fill Him with the Spirit

Ac 13:2–3. Told Paul and Barnabas to start their missionary journeys

Ac 16:9–10. Told Paul and Timothy to Go to Macedonia and share the Gospel

Ac 18:9–10. Told Paul to keep speaking and not be afraid

Ac 20:22–24. Told Paul about what awaited him when he got to Jerusalem

Ac 22:20–21. Told Paul to Go to the work he was appointed to do

Ac 23:11 Told Paul to take courage and that he’d testify in Rome also

Ac 27:21–25. Told Paul he’d survive a ship wreck and preach to Cesar

If God always speaks and He wants me to Hear Him, How can I hear Him?

 Position your heart in the center of …

__________________, ________________, & _____________________

4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Lk 4:4.)

God’s Word is ______________________.

Everything He says _________________ with what He’s said.

17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” ( Lk 4:17–21, ESV)

Jesus chooses to_________________________ in community.

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector…20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Mt 18:51-17,20, ESV)

Prayer is our side of the _______________________.

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mk 1:35–39, ESV)

Can God Speak? Does God Speak? How can I hear Him?

God __________________________.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:1–3, ESV)

See also Genesis, 1 John 1, and 2 Tim 3:16

God wants us to __________________________.

4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Lk 8:4–8, ESV)

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Lk 8:11–15.)

We ________ Him with our ________.

Jesus speaks of His Word falling on 4 Types of Hearts

The _______________________ Heart

The _______________________ Heart

The _______________________ Heart

The _______________________ Heart