Brother Gary Sunday morning 12/9/12

Brother Gary Sunday morning 12/9/12

Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

From eternity to Bethlehem!  Jesus came to visit Bethlehem from eternity.  This was the beginning of His earthly pilgrimage.  He was to come to be the ruler of Israel.  He was to be a governor.

Mat 2:4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Mat 2:6  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

This text shows us Christ as the governor.  He is a king with the heart of a shepherd.  I am happy to know the true God, His Son, and the heart that God and His Son have toward the redeemed and also toward the lost. 

He is the king, the governor, the son of God, the Immanuel, and He came from eternity.

Mat 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Mat 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 1:22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Mat 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

God’s plans in eternity are not the way that humans think.  God had a plan to send His only begotten son to us by a virgin.  The World did not think that or accept that.  Yet God had a plan. 

Num 24:17  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

We see that God had a plan.  It is important this morning that we know that God has a plan.  He has a plan for us as an individual.  As Sister Sue gave her testimony this morning, we see that God had a plan that a young girl be rescued from a life of sin. 

At least two of you have family members that are in the armed forces and you never know how long it will take them, where it will leave them, or how long it will take them while there are there.

Joseph had his plan, “Probably the thing to do would be to put this woman away privily.”  In the midst of his human thoughts, God spoke to him.  The toughest thing is when we have our thoughts and God comes and says, “Son or daughter, your thoughts are not my thoughts.”

God has a definite plan for everyone in this audience.  He has a plan for each individual that has ever been prayed for since the saints first met in Sister Betty Davis’ house.

God had a plan that this virgin would conceive and bear a child that was the only begotten son of God.  It was amazing that God had in His mind in eternity to bring forth one whose going forth was from eternity.  God knew before the world was spoken into existence the need of a savior. 

Joseph was a part of the plan, Mary was a part of the plan, and John the Baptist’s father was a part of the plan. 

Everyone thought that John the Baptist would be named after the father.  Each of us has thoughts this morning.  Our attitude needs to be toward God, “I’m not asking you to bless my thoughts, my plans, and my ideas; I’m asking you to show yourself strong as you did with Joseph and Mary.”

They didn’t understand about the star or scepter of Bethlehem, but God had a plan.  We have little minds in thinking of how big God is and the greatness of His plan.  We read of the birth of Jesus and how God spoke to Joseph, “Yes, it is ok, I have a plan.  You are a part of the plan, go ahead and marry her.  She will have a son and his name will be Jesus.”

I believe that this God is the same miracle working God this morning.  He has things for us to meditate on that will never come from our natural mind.  Our mind gathers things from our surroundings, but this eternal God is from eternity.  He spoke, “His name will not only be Jesus, but Immanuel, God with us.”

Mat 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Mat 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

It is alright and good for you to be filled with expectation of good things coming from God.  We spoke recently of the shadow of darkness and it is a very sad thing to be there.  There were those that were under the shadow of darkness in the days that Jesus was born.  There were also those that were from the East. 

God knew what He was doing when He placed this certain star in the sky.  God had a plan.  Men may doubt, but God had a plan. 

May God help you and me in our mind to not limit what God can do.  Sister Dorothy is praying for someone west of here.  Brother Bill Hayen is praying for his mother that is east of here.  I have no question that this God can speak to someone on the Atlantic Ocean and on the Pacific Ocean at the same time.  He is God.

These men knew about the scripture and they knew that there would be a star arise and lead them in the opposite direction that stars usually do.  God may move you in the opposite direction that your natural mind may think.  God didn’t ask you to move the stars; if you try then you are out of your capacity.  He wants you to follow His leading.

God always knows what He is doing.  We often ignorantly pray, “God I don’t know how you could do this or that.”  Stop right there, God didn’t ask you to coach Him how to get souls to get saved.  He isn’t asking you to come up with a plan. 

You say, “I have made myself sick worrying about...”  If you are sick because of worry then you need to repent.  God knows how to work.  Those wisemen didn’t see Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and then decide to get everything together.  No, God knew what He was doing.  God always has known and always will know.

God created the stars also.  Moses wrote it in Genesis as just a little bit at the end of the verse.  Don’t underestimate what God can do.  Men cannot even see to the end of the stars.  This God that I know can create and will create whatever is needed to accomplish whatever is His purpose.

Jesus was born of a virgin and came to Bethlehem from eternity.  I don’t know where the wisemen were, but God created the star and I have no problem believing that it led them in an opposite direction.  I am traveling a total opposite direction of the world and I am happy on the journey.

From eternity God was creating His perfect plan.  There are 22 days left in December and then we come to 2013.  May we live so that we can ensure that God has created the perfect plan for each one of us.  May we not say, “God had a plan and I messed it up here or there.” 

God is God and He has a perfect plan.  I’m not encouraging any to fail, I’m encouraging you that God is God and He has a perfect plan for you.  We know people that have lives that are messed up and are only headed to be more messed up unless someone finds the star.  Unless someone gets a hold of them and says, “Listen, God has a plan for your life.”

I thought of Herod.  This great king, imagine how a group of guys showing up on camels could cause him to be upset so bad.   They asked him, “Where is he.”  God knew all about it.

The star was designed to give us many lessons and to lead many to Christ.  God planned for Mary and Joseph to be in Bethlehem.  This is a little part of God setting everything up. 

God changed Joseph’s mind.  If God asked you to change your mind, then you need to.  Joseph had his thought, but God had His thought and said, “Don’t put her away.”

Refuse human reasoning.  God may be working completely contrary to what we are thinking.  A human mind will argue against God.  God may bring a thought to you and we say, “I don’t know how I could, I’m busy and have little money.”  If God says to do it then He is right.  Everything will fall into its rightful place.

From eternity to Bethlehem to the Isle of Patmos: 

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

He is the bright and morning star.  He shines in full strength today, December 9^th, 2012.  You may feel under a shadow, have a headache, or feel lonely but that doesn’t change God one bit.  Wherever your children are, whether they care or not, Jesus Christ loves you.  

He is the bright and morning star.  Those that we love and consider to be bright things in our life may fail us, but Jesus won’t.  He is the bright and morning star and He is shining brightly today.

The wisemen allowed the star to lead them.

As the morning brings a new day, there is a new day.  Everyday, God in His great mercy gives us a new day with the bright and morning star.  He gives light and purpose to life.  We are here to fulfill a purpose beyond a shadow of a doubt. 

In Malachi it speaks of those that spoke often one to another.  God said that He would write a book of remembrance about them in the day that he would make up His jewels.  Those jewels are individuals that have been saved from all sin and their life is a reflection of the work that He came to do in the heart and in the life. 

We were sold out to sin.  When he redeemed us and we serve Him, then we become that beautiful treasure. 

Jesus told John that He was the bright and morning star.  You may realize that you need direction and strength in your life.  In this day and time, the Devil is here to oppress and depress.  The design of God is that you live a life of expectation of good things. 

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

It is a wonderful thing to be invited by the bright and morning star to come.  He called you and He wants you to tell others to come.  If you are thirsty, then come.  I wake up just about every morning physically and spiritually hungry.  Spiritual hunger is something that identifies with eternity. 

Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.  Jesus invited us to come and then let us know:

Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Jesus came from eternity, spent 33 years in this time world and is back with the Father, but He left us with infallible proofs.  His prophesy has been fulfilled. 

About 2000 years ago He led the wisemen to Christ and then directed them to go back another way.  God tells us where to go in our conduct and in our mind.  He did this to the wisemen, he said, “Don’t go back that direction.”

The star led the wisemen to Christ and is now shining to lead men and women to Christ so they can be forever with Him in eternity.  May the Holy Spirit of God refresh our hunger for God. 

The Christmas season out in the world is to many a time of stress and tests and they miss the message of Christmas.  I specifically tell people, “May you have a merry Christmas.”  Jesus came and I know what He has done for me. 

May the Holy Spirit of God refresh the hunger for God in the lives of all present.  There is a lot of wind in the world that dries us out.  If you haven’t been drinking freely of the good things of God then you will be dehydrated in your spiritual man.  Your spiritual man will not go where it needs to go because of this dehydration. 

Jesus came that you could be saved.  He came to not only do miracles, but to do the biggest miracle and that is to save.  That is the greatest miracle.