Are we recognizing the "signs of the times," which include things from past, present and future? Pastor Dodge explores three specific and important signs that are apparent, visible and happening today! They remind us that as believers, we need to recognize the "signs of the times" and to be awake (i.e. ready for Christ's return)!

Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20

The Christmas Story is familiar to most of us - a story we've heard over and over, year after year. When something becomes so familiar we can easily be deceived into treating it too casually without the awe and gratitude this story should cause in our hearts. Familiarity can cause us to forget this is a REAL story, with REAL people and our REAL Savior.

So let's look at this very familiar story in Luke 2:1-20 with new eyes and new ears and new hearts. May we experience and receive THE GREAT GOOD NEWS as the best gift ever given.

As Pastor reads the Christmas Story he shares insights about the location of where Jesus was born, and other interesting historical information, even specific insights into the shepherds in the fields and the intended use of their lambs.

Mary and Jospeph arrive in Bethlehem for a census, Jesus is born, and then the angels announce the Great Good News to the shepherds. When the angels broke through the skies the shepherds went from experiencing great fear at the appearance of the angels to great joy because of the Great Good News they were told.

"You will find the Babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." The Shepherds hurried off to find Jesus - an encouragement for us, too! Have you found Him? That is our prayer, that you find and know Jesus for The Great Good News has come, Jesus the Messiah!

The host of angels fills the sky above the shepherds singing, "Glory to God in the Highest!" Praising God in this Christmas season is a calling to us as well.

Let us hurry to find Him, seek Him and adore Him. The shepherds' desire to find Jesus is to be our attitude too. Let this familiar story touch your heart in new ways this Christmas.

After seeing baby Jesus in the manger the shepherds spread the story about what the angels had told them and about the baby they met. May we also, like them, share the Great Good News of a Savior.

The Great Good News is:
⁃ Real - this really happened, this is true. There is overwhelming evidence from both believers and skeptics that the Messiah is real.
⁃ Risen - He is risen and this victory is ours.
⁃ Returning - the reality is that He is returning. He is coming back - we have a forever life ahead of us!
⁃ Response - God loved us so much He was willing to take on human flesh, live the perfect life we could not, willingly give Himself for us on the cross in a most inhumane way as the sacrifice for our sins. Then He rose victorious from the grave….THAT demands a response! One of repentance and belief. A response of receiving the Great Good News by walking with Him, following Him, surrendering to Him and watching what He will do.

Receive Him today as your Savior!

The Christmas story is not simply a story of our culture - it is the story of God's love to each one of us.

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Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Micah 6:8

Being in the Scripture is a great place to be because God DOES speak in His Word, both 2,000 years ago and today!

Today's text from the Bible is a powerful Word, a life-changing Word…

Matthew tells the Christmas story from the vantage point of Joseph, who after finding out about Mary being pregnant decided to divorce her quietly, but…

Joseph receives a visit by an angel in a dream and the angel tells him that he is not to divorce Mary, that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and that he is to name the child Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. Following the dream, Joseph stays engaged to Mary, doesn't consummate the marriage until after Jesus' birth, and he names the baby, Jesus.

A virgin birth is implausible if there is no god. But there IS a god! He is the God who reveals Himself in the Scripture and through His Holy Spirit and like in today's reading, through angelic beings.

What prophets predicted, is fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Immanuel: God with us.
Fully human: suffers as our substitute for our sin
Fully God: eternal redemption by His blood

Apart from Christ our lives hold no hope. No matter how good we are it's not good enough. We cannot save ourselves for we have all sinned and we need the Perfect One to save us. Apart from Jesus - nice guys finish last. With Jesus there is life, forgiveness, peace, strength, joy, hope and the assurance we will live forever with Him.

Today's Bible story still speaks powerfully to us today. God revealed the identity of Jesus to Joseph - and for us God is still speaking and revealing His identity to each of us through Joseph's story.

In Joseph we see an example of what a godly person ought to be:
⁃ Our faith is based on the truth that God has revealed to us in His Word
⁃ Our faith is more than head knowledge
⁃ Our faith informs our behavior

Joseph's example:
⁃ Faithful to God's Word and wanted to live for God. He knew God is to be trusted, honored and obeyed.
⁃ Merciful in a culture that looked at Mary's pregnancy as a disgrace, that recommended a public divorce, Joseph did not want to humiliate Mary.
⁃ Obedient to what God revealed in his dream and also obedient to the Word in the Bible of "the virgin will conceive and bare a son" and so he took her as his wife.
⁃ Courageous individual who put family first and God over all. An individual who did what God told him to do despite pushback and persecution. He understood that it is more important to follow God than to worry about public opinion.

Joseph wasn't saved because he was a good man.
He was a good man because He was saved.

So we too are encouraged to live lives as a response to the incredible gift of the grace and goodness of God in Christ.

Micah 6:8 says:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

May we exhibit that kind of a life-style in response to the revelation of who our Lord Jesus Christ is.

Lord Jesus help us live courageous lives for You!

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First Sunday in Advent - The Great Awakening
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25 and Malachi 4:5-6a

The season of Advent is a time we prepare to celebrate that Jesus came, but it is also a time we eagerly anticipate that He will return!

When asked about the Great Awakening, people most often mention the The Great Awakening of the 1700s, an awakening that fundamentally changed what would become the United States of America, and imparted America's destiny and the make up of our country.

But THE Great Awakening Pastor refers to today is the one that far out strips the awakening in the 1700s.

This is THE Great Awakening that started just over 2000 years ago! And it has completely changed the world! Pastor suggests that it began in Luke chapter 1 verse 5, that THE Great Awakening began with Zechariah and Elizabeth's story.

In the Gospel of Luke chapter 1 verses 5-25 we read the story of the coming one who would prepare the way for the Promised One, the Savior, the Messiah.

The Great Awakening
1. Started with Zechariah - the priest
2. His son, John, would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus
3. Jesus Christ - the Messiah, our Savior who is coming back and the One who sent out disciples to the nations is the message of THE Great Awakening.
4. The message of Jesus spread throughout all Israel
5. Then the message of Jesus went to the Gentile world
6. And then all of Israel - the final step of the Great Awakening - is when the Jewish people return to faith in Jesus the Messiah.

Zechariah doubted what the angel was telling him, and yet, God came through with everything the angel announced and in Christ, God fulfilled every promise of a Savior. Zechariah's story serves as a reminder of the faithfulness of God even amidst doubt.

During this season of Advent we joyfully prepare for Christmas and celebrating Jesus' birth and we also focus our hearts and minds on the anticipation of His return.

Let us also be encouraged to pray by the power of the Holy Spirit for THE Great Awakening to overwhelm the Jewish people in coming to a knowledge of Jesus the Messiah, their Savior, the Promised One.

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Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king. He did evil in God's eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story. He destroys everything good his father had done.

King Manasseh
⁃ Apostasy and Idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:33
⁃ Sacrificed his children - 2 Chronicles 33:6
⁃ Innocent blood shed including the blood of prophets - 2 Kings 21:16. (Hebrews 11:37 - ancient Jewish tradition that says it was during Manasseh's reign that Isaiah was sawn in half by Manasseh)
⁃ Captivity in Babylon - Manasseh was taken prisoner by Assyria and taken to Babylon - 2 Chronicles 33:11
⁃ Repentance and return to Judah- while in prison Manasseh had a change of heart, humbling himself greatly before God and praying. The Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, proving to Manasseh that He is the true God - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

What we learn: God is a gracious God and hears the cries of those who humble themselves before Him. He responds to a repentant heart.

In the final years of his life, Manasseh worked to redo things but to no avail as his son, King Amon takes the throne. Amon reigned from 642-640 B.C. and his story is found in 2 Kings 21:19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21-25. Amon did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

King Amon
⁃ Return to idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:22-23
⁃ Conspiracy and Assassination - 2 Chronicles 33:24-25 - Josiah, Amon's son was then made king.

King Josiah
Josiah is just a boy when he begins his 31 year reign and in Pastor's opinion, the greatest king of Judah. Josiah reigned from 640-609 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 and 2 Chronicles 34-35.

During his reign there were many prophets: Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Huldah. God is working to bring the nation back to Himself.

During King Josiah's reign, Judah experienced three of its happiest decades: peace, prosperity and revival.

King Josiah
⁃ Young King seeks the God of David - he followed in the ways of David - 2 Kings 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 34:3
⁃ Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem - 2 Chronicles 34:4-5
⁃ Book of the Law of God written by Moses (possibly the original Torah) is discovered - 2 Chronicles 34:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14, 2 Chronicles 34:19, 2 Chronicles 34:22. In 2 Chronicles 34:27 we read of Huldah who tells the king that God says that judgment is coming, but because he (Josiah) had humbled himself before God, wept and torn his robes, that Josiah will not live to see the destruction. Josiah recognizes the Lord's graciousness and he sets forth to bring revival.
⁃ Revival happens 2 Kings 23:2-3 - God's people pledge themselves to the covenant of God.
⁃ Revival and reform go beyond Judah - 2 Kings 23:15, 17

Josiah was a bright, brilliant, incredible and godly leader, a man bold in his faith and one who trusted God. May we learn from his example.

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Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:14, 1 Samuel 16:7

In today's Scripture, we look at an incredible and great announcement from the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus. In this season of Advent we also look with anticipation to the incredible and great announcement of Christ's return. This will not be a quiet visit to just one person, this will be an announcement the whole world will see and hear!

As we look at today's reading, the question for us is how will we react to the announcement of the Savior's birth? We can learn from Mary…

The angel Gabriel came to Mary, saying, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" (Hold onto that word favored - we're coming back to that!) She was pretty shocked, but the angel said to not be afraid and he announces to her that she will conceive (even though she is a virgin) and have a son. She is to name Him Jesus and he will be the Son of the Most High - His kingdom will never end. This child being announced is the long awaited Messiah! He is the fulfillment of the prophetic word all through the Old Testament.

Call Him Jesus
1. Jesus = God Saves
2. Son of the Most High - God with us
3. Reign on David's throne
4. Kingdom will never end!!

As the story continues, Mary asks how this could be as she is a virgin. The angel tells her that the Holy Spirit will come on her and the power of the Most High will over come her and that the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. The angel concludes with, "No word from God will ever fail!!"

What a great line! Sometimes that seems hard to believe, especially if we are going through a difficult time, but we have a clear word from God that His word never fails, that in the end all who trust in Jesus will share in His victory! In the end WE WIN! GOD KEEPS HIS WORD - no word from God will ever fail!

But there's a word here that speaks directly to us today as we walk by faith in our Savior - "Why was Mary CHOSEN (favored) to be the Mother of Jesus?

Highly Favored
1. 1 Samuel 16:7 we learn that "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the HEART." God is concerned about the heart and that's the heart of the reason He chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. We want to have her heart. People look from the outside in, God looks from the inside out.
2. Devout (see Luke 1:46-47) - She knew God and His faithfulness
3. Humble (see Luke 1:48) The Lord noticed her humble state - she understood she deserved nothing from God, but she also knew God is good and everything good comes from Him.
4. Obedient (see Luke 1:38) Her reply to the announcement was, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled." She was willing to go along with the divine plan. She takes this Great Announcement as God's truth! Our Savior is coming to earth!

We want the Lord to look at our hearts and we want Him to see hearts that are faithful before Him: devout, humble and obedient.

Our reaction to this Great Announcement is to respond in joy and thanksgiving and praise to the goodness and grace of God in Christ. This is a "WOW" gift!

What an incredible announcement and living in response to it is an incredible way to live!!

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Acts 1:6-11, Psalm 22, Luke 21:28, Matthew 24:6-8, 14

Our story today, the ascension of Jesus on the Mount of Olives, takes place 40 days after His resurrection.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus has shared what the end times will be like:
Disasters
Wars
Rumors of wars
Earthquakes
Famine
Pestilence

Jesus said that these events are like birth pains - meaning they start slow and they increase in strength and frequency. These show us the end is coming nearer. Pastor shares evidence of the ramp up to the events that lead to Jesus' return as these signs grow closer and closer together and get more and more severe.

Though Jesus had often talked about the end times, the disciples with Him that day of His ascension, ask Him yet again, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They were anticipating that Israel's freedom would be restored when Messiah came, that with the resurrection would come all that God had planned. And their anticipation that it must be now that it will happen, after all He's alive, He triumphed over the grave - so now "are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" And Jesus replies, "It is not for you to know the dates the Father has set by His own authority."

Then Jesus goes on and what He says next becomes one of the biggest signs of all regarding the end, that the good news would reach the ends of the earth. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

In Jesus' words found in Matthew 24:14 He says, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Jesus made it clear that we do not know the day of His return but we can look at the signs and the signs are very clear.

We are living in remarkable times: disasters, war, persecution increasing, like birth pains, Israel restored (1948), but also the message of Jesus to every nation and peoples across the globe. These are unsettling times, but they are also exciting times.

Our scripture story ends with a word from the angels that appeared with the disciples after Jesus went up into the clouds of heavens, "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Yes! He IS coming back as the song says, "Riding on the clouds!" Jesus tells us "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28) When we see the signs that He laid out being fulfilled, look up, be awake, watch! Because our Redeemer's return is drawing near!

Let's eagerly anticipate the final appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! No matter what happens, we know our Savior is coming back and that gives us confidence and hope even in uncertain times. God is faithful! Jesus IS alive and He's coming back!

What are we waiting for? HIS RETURN!
Amen!, Come Lord Jesus!

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