Beacon Light Community Church

Advent is here. The world longs and needs to hear messages of hope. May the church proclaim those messages. During this Advent season, Beacon Light will bring messages that focus on Jesus. We will look at how Jesus Christ is involved in all of creation, from its formation to its consummation. Four great themes will be addressed- Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation -or Restoration-. Today we will hear part one of what I feel is really a four-part sermon. Today's message is titled, -The King of Creation-. As a pastor and missionary, I have preached many Christmas messages. I have nothing new to bring you today. You most likely have heard it all. But that's Ok. During this season we don't need to hear anything new. We need to hear what is eternal. The world's hope lies in the eternal gospel.

Pastor John asks the question, -How can we as God's people not be a thankful people--

During the Advent season, we think of peace. The angelic host announced, -Peace on earth...- Our present-day world, convulsed in conflict and division, says that it longs for peace. God will give peace. But it is only on God's terms that true peace comes to our world. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, speaking to his disciples, said, -Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.-

The times are crazy.--But the heavenly perspective from the throne room of God that John gets a glimpse of -which should be our perspective- grants us insight into the sovereignty of God over all things, and how God is to be worshiped because he is sovereign. And this is where we derive true comfort today- the sovereignty of God.

In our sin, we think we can be self-sufficient in everything, to the exclusion of Christ's provision for us. But in the words of the faithful one, to us unfaithful ones, we learn that he is everything we need. In Christ's rebuke to the church of Laodicea, we learn that we are insufficient. In Christ's counsel to them, we learn that he is all-sufficient. This is the final letter to the seven churches.---He who has an ear, let him hear ...-

Pastor John preaches on the second last letter to the churches- the Church of Philadelphia

Jesus, the one who has the seven spirits -the Holy Spirit- strongly rebukes the church of Sardis- they have a reputation for being alive, but, in reality, they are dead. John's letter, written nearly 2000 years ago, is meant to be read by all of us in the year 2020. As it was long ago, so it is today...many American churches look like they have life, but they are dead. What constitutes a church that is truly alive- And, having begun with life, how does a church remain alive- The Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Christ is the key.

Christ knows your coming and your going. He knows your good commendable works and your sinful works. He knows the church's good works. And because we live in a darkened age, the church is not exempt from capitulating to the things of the flesh at times. And because of that, he knows - he sees - the church's compromising works. But he doesn't leave us in the dark. He reminds us of it ... and gives time to repent.--Thus, the letter to the church of Thyatira in Revelation 2-18-29.

In the face of strong Jewish opposition and Roman domination, including the fearful presence of emperor worship, Jesus called for the church in Smyrna to remain -faithful unto death.- Jesus Christ is the world's only Lord and Savior. Fast forward to 2020. In the face of present-day atheistic governments and false religions or the even more pervasive, insidious, and satanic presence of secular humanism, Jesus Christ calls the church today to stand as a faithful witness to his Lordship and his saving power. Preach the gospel. Hold fast to Jesus. To the death.