Our Worthy Lamb

Revelation 5 (January 10, 2021)

John was in a stuck mindset when he heard and saw that there was no one worthy to open the book sealed with seven seals. As followers of Christ, we need to have a growth mindset and see the possibilities in every situation because God can use every position in life for good.

Jesus, taking his rightful position as judge, took the book from the Father who sat on the throne.

Jesus purchased our redemption to God through his blood, shed for our sins.

We are a kingdom, destined to “reign upon the earth”.

The main purpose of Jesus’ death on the cross was for Him to “receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing”.

When Jesus returns, He will be worshipped by all creation. Please be part of worshipping Him now, while you have the chance to make your own decision.

Faithful Servants: Simeon and Anna

Luke 2:21-38 (January 3, 2021)

Jesus was named and circumcised on the 8^th day, according to the law of Moses.

Mary had to spend 33 days of purification before Jesus could be presented at the temple.

The turtledoves or pigeons indicated that Mary and Joseph could not afford the more expensive sacrifice.

The Holy Spirit being “upon Simeon” was not a common occurrence in those days.

Mary had to continually learn the significance of the life of Christ.

Anna was a prophetess, so she would have also been filled with the Spirit.

Jesus means “Yaweh is salvation”.

Israel was looking for redemption from its enemies. Gentiles needed a way to be redeemed from their sins. God provided a way for both.

Are You Going to Worry or Work?

Luke 10:38-42 (December 27, 2020)

What are some things about which you worry?

Of course, Jesus had compassion for Martha and did not take joy in seeing her needlessly toil.

Jesus may have known that Martha was doing extra things which were not necessary to prepare for serving the meal.

The main idea of the passage is this: If we are not careful, we will find ourselves anxious to greet Jesus and welcome Him into our lives but then become preoccupied with other activities and not choose to spend our lives for Him.

Jesus taught us to work for the food that is unperishable and eternal, not for the temporal and perishable. ALL things of this world are temporal. God’s Kingdom is eternal. Our time is best spent working for God and less for ourselves.

Pure Joy!

Luke 2:1-20 (December 20, 2020)

“Good news of great joy which will be for all the people”

Gospel = Good news

In what do you try to find joy?

Joy = the experience of gladness

Joy is not an emotion. Joy is a state of being manifested through the Fruit of the Spirit, part of the attributes of Christ we received when we were saved.

Has something happened this year which made you feel as if you have no joy?

You are the only person who can steal your joy. Joy is yours to access at any time and should be an ongoing experience of every believer.

“Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart”.

The Second Advent of Christ

Micah 5:1-5 (December 13, 2020)

When the Babylonians captured Judah, Nebuchadnezzar captured Zedekiah and tortured him.
Bethlehem is not mentioned among the clans of Judah in Joshua or Nehemiah.
Israel is in spiritual pain now. But, during the Millennium, she will return to Jerusalem and Christ will be their leader.
There will be judgments against the nations who are hostile against Israel during the Tribulation.
Christ will rule the earth during the Millennium, but all will not be perfect.
Christ is our peace now, but He is the coming Peace for his people of Israel.

Prophesying the Birth of Christ

Isaiah 9:1-7 (December 6, 2020)

Isaiah is the oldest prophetic text in the OT, dating to about 700 years before the birth of Christ.

God had dealt harshly with the Northern Kingdom just before the prophesy was written. Isaiah’s writing confirmed that the Jewish people would have a Messiah. Isaiah means “Yaweh is salvation”.

It appears from this prophesy that the Jewish people would largely accept Christ as the Messiah and their years would be prosperous. As it was at the Advent of Christ, Jews largely did not recognize Christ as the Messiah. Many more will in the Millennium.

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

The Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace                                                                      

The rule and reign of Christ here on earth will begin in the Millennium and continue into eternity! Hallelujah and praise his glorious Name!

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Providence Baptist Church

More Worried about the Showroom Than the Back Room?

Revelation 3:1-6 (November 8, 2020)

There are a couple of separate ways to be alive, yet dead.

• Being concerned about outward appearances more than the important aspects.
  • Teaching and preaching the truths of Scripture
  • Making disciples
• Deliberately misleading people into believing all is well when there are deep-rooted problems.
  • Church needs to operate with well-defined motives
    • Clear expressions of beliefs and doctrine
    • Dedicated service toward purpose, not pleasing
  • Churches need to be candid about their conditions

Steps for repairing a dead church:

• Remember the purpose for which the church exists
• Dedicate to the purpose of the church
• Repent

Once our names are in the Book of Life they cannot be erase. John was using litotes, a literary device which expresses a thought to an extreme. Example: A parent may say, “Do what I said this minute and I won’t kill you this time!” Contrast with hyperbole, “Do what I said this minute or I’m going to kill you!”

Don’t be concerned about the showroom more than the back room. God cares more about the condition of our hearts than He does about our outward appearances, especially when our outward actions are not genuine.