Hello Everyone,

What Immanuel does for us.

He saves us. He became a partaker of our flesh and blood that He might die for us.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

NKJV

As both Divine and human, He qualifies to serve as a sacrifice for the sins of every person, and as a high priest to intercede for all who come to God.

That is why He was named Jesus.

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." NKJV

He sustains us.

Because He was able to go through the same experiences we have in this life, He is able to help and comfort us when we need it.

Hebrews 2:17-18 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. NKJV

He strengthens us.

The Greek word “with” used here (God with us) has the strongest possible force. It does not mean “in company with.” It means “together with,” “sharing with.”

It implies close fellowship.

God is united with us. His POWER is our POWER. His ABILITY is our ABILITY.

That is why Paul could say: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV

Because the Lord was with Him!!!! GLORY!!!!!

God always had Greater Things In store.

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

What IS the Reason for this Season?

Isaiah 7:14-15

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. NKJV

One of the greatest lines concerning Jesus’ birth is found in the song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” And it goes like this.

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th’ incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man t’ appear, Jesus our Immanuel here.”

What Immanuel means.

The meaning of the word that Isaiah used in this text was understood by the Jews but not by the Gentiles. We are given the interpretation in Matt. 1:23.

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." NKJV

The importance of the Virgin Birth cannot be overemphasized.

In order for our redeemer to qualify to pay for our sins and bring salvation, He must be in one person, fully human, sinless and fully Divine.

The virgin birth satisfies all three of these requirements.

· The only way Jesus could be born a human being was to be born of a woman.

· The only way He could be sinless was to be conceived by the Holy Spirit.

· The only way He could be Divine was to have God as His Father.

So His conception was not by natural but by supernatural means.

God is with us – He was Deity manifested in the flesh.

1Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory”.

NKJV

As the Divine Son of God, He has the POWER to deliver us from sin’s bondage and Satan’s power.

God with us – He lived among men, revealing God the Father to them.

John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? NKJV

In living and suffering as a human person, Jesus sympathized with our weaknesses.

God with us – He is still with us today.

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. NKJV

Another translation says it this way:

“I am with you always, day by day, even to the close of the age.”

Greater Things Are Still To Come

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

And now the people and thanksgiving.

3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

We must recognize God.

We must have faith in Him.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We must have faith that He is God, and that He made us.

We must know that He created us in His image.

Gen. 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,

We must communicate with Him because we are Spirit. (Prayer)

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

We are His children.

John1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

And then there is the pattern of thanksgiving.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

Notice the praise in vs. 1&2.

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Thank Him in song, praise, and worship.

Thank Him by living for Him.

Enter His presence with praise.

All earth and heaven should praise Him.

Psalms 69:34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,

We should bless His name.

His name is above all names.

Through His name is the only way to be saved.

And then we see the person in thanksgiving.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

God is GOOD!

His mercies keep us from destruction.

Lamentations 3:22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Thanksgiving needs to be a vital part of our life.

Thanking God for our blessings extends the blessings.

Failing to thank God for our blessings may end them.

Count your blessings and you will have reason to be thankful to God every day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Phil 4

Hello Everyone,

Today lets look at The practice of thanksgiving.

Ps100:2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Have you ever noticed that people who are consistently ungrateful are strangers to happiness?

One of my favorite Illustrations: One day a TV reporter asked a mason, "How do you like your job? I hate it, he said. It’s this most boring job in the world." That same reporter asked another mason on the other side of the building the same question. "Oh it’s great because I see myself building an architectural masterpiece." Same situation, two different perspectives.

One of the greatest privileges of being a believer is to have the capacity to give thanks regardless of what happens.

It is easy to be thankful when things are going our way, but a believer can rise above any situation to thank God for causing all things to work together for good.

That word good means completion. God will use what we are going through to complete us.

There is enjoyment in serving God and being in His presence.

Psalms 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

It is impossible to praise and complain at the same time you are either doing one or the other.

Paul and Silas sang praises to God at midnight.

Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Somebody is always listening! (LITTLE PIGS HAVE BIG EARS)

Paul wrote about singing and praising God.

Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Singing is a great way of praising and worshipping God.

Greater Things Are Still To Come.

Pastor Phil