“The Day After Christmas “ sermon by Pastor Richard Daughtridge Jan. 1, 2012

Pastor Richard A. Daughtridge

“The Day After Christmas “  sermon by Pastor Richard  Daughtridge Jan. 1, 2012

 Christmas is over. The New Year  begins, and now we all must all return to  Nazareth. Back to the real world filled with the complications of choices, needs, sickness, people and yes even evil.  We are like  soldiers returning from furlough. Now it’s time to get back to the battle. Change will require faith and influence .  Nazareth will never be the same . God’s son is once again growing up in us in our Nazareth. We are now the characters of the real life pageant of Christmas.

Will Washinton, Franklin, Adams, and Frederick Counties, our Nazareth, be changed in 2012 by our faith and influence?

Will we win the battle against evil to make our world a better place?

The choice is ours.

Luke 2:39-40

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. [40] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

•  Foundation 2012

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

•  Action 2012

James 2:18

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Psalm 31:23

O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

James 1:23

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

• Instruction  2012

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

•  Thinking 2012

Philip. 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2 Cor. 10:5

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

•  Hoping     (Evidence of our existence)

2 Kings 7:1-3

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. [2] Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

[3] And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

Father we pray for 2012 to be a year filled with hope and faith. May our Nazareth be a place of influence because of our efforts in 2012..

Join us for a Very Country Christmas, Bluegrass Style and a Christmas Message “God Knows.” by Pastor Richard Daughtridge December 11, 2011

Don't forget ,This Sunday is Blue Grass Sunday.

Pastor Richard Daughtridge

“God Knows.” a Christmas Message by Pastor Richard Daughtridge December 11, 2011

Humanity was spiraling out of control. Law and religion wasn’t working. Destruction loomed over mankind. God said, “I will come to you.” Did he know what he was getting into?  We would be rescued from slavery owned by a thief. He was born to die in this rescue. We were set free from the thief. Is it any wonder the Angel said in the announcement, “I bring you glad tidings of great joy.”?  He knew the price yet he still came. He promised , he came, and he knew.

1. God Knows When to Show Up (the incarnation)

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Luke 9:20  He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

Luke 1:31-32  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Luke 1:31-33 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

2. God Knows when to speak Up (You talking to me?)

Luke 1:35    And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 2:10-14

    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

3. God Knows How to Hold Us Up  (Mary’s song about hope)

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:46-51 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. [49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. [51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

4. God Knows how to  Love.   (the purpose of Jesus’ coming – the cross)

Luke 1:76-77  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; [77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Now you know as well. What will you do with that information?

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Will you place your trust in Him for eternal life?

Hear Believe Receive Indentify Follow

 Sermon Song    Just as I Am

Second Advent Sunday 2011 Sermon Notes “The Stories of Bethlehem, If these Walls could Talk: ”, sermon by Pastor Richard A. Daughtridge Dec. 4, 2011

Pastor Richard A. Daughtridge

“The Stories  of Bethlehem, If these Walls could Talk. ”, sermon by Pastor Richard A. Daughtridge  Dec. 4, 2011

I have always believed  that God wrote the history of Israel to tell the story of salvation for mankind. Over six  thousand years of details  that not only tell the history account but also fit together like a puzzle to paint a picture of God and a road map to Heaven. Bethlehem was chosen as a place of both history and announcement , a stage chosen by God  for the first Christmas. Let’s go back through the  time tunnel of God’s word  1736 years  before the first Christmas and have a look around. Then we will visit several other years in Bethlehem history chronologically.

What does it all mean?

Rachael  gives birth to a final son and names him , “ Son of Sorrow”.

Jacob on the other hand called him, “Son of the Right Hand” 1736 years before the first Christmas.

Genesis 35:18  And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

Genesis 35:19   And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Genesis 48:7  And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

• Ruth and Naomi tell their story of Bethlehem.  A  story of a Kinsman Redeemer. 1260 years before the first  Christmas. 

Ruth 1:22   So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Whoever heard of a king to be feeding sheep.

 Later he longs for the well water from Bethlehem about 1000 years  before the first Christmas.    

1 Samuel 17:15   But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 20:6   If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

2 Samuel 23:16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.

• Micah speaks God’s plan  concerning Bethlehem, about 700 years before the first Christmas.

Micah 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.

Headlines

• “Daniel interpretes dreams from Captivity.” 600 Years before the first Christmas
• “Rome waged war and made conquests everywhere”. 320 Years before  the first Christmas
• “Roman Senate appoints Herod, an Arab, King of Judea 41 Years before the first Christmas”
• “Augustus Caesar was the first Emperor of Rome.  31 Years before the first Christmas.
• And then  it happened and as Paul Harvey said, “We know the rest of the story.”

 

Matthew 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,

Matthew 2:5-6  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, [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.

Matthew 2:8  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Luke 2:4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Luke 2:15    And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

John 7:42   Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

• Notice the last verse ends with a question mark.. The question is now in your heart.

Will you answer Christ’s call?

 

1 John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.