The invited guest fail to see the importance of attending the feast, the host chose to bring guest from where ever they were found. The chosen of God rejectred Jesus so for a time HJe rejected them. The real question is has you rejected Jesus?

The Biblical standard for witnesses is that no one could be condemned to death on the basis of one witness - there must be a minimum of two. Jesus presented four witness which was twice as many as required; and yet they would not believe Him. The question today is do you believe that He is who He said He was? We are going to look at both the testimony of Jesus and that of the four witnesses. On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.Deut 17:6

The Word of God gives us answers about the needs and questions of our everyday circumstances of life. It not only shows us our need as lost sinners, but explains how we can be reconciled to a Holy God and have our sins forgiven. Then it provides spiritual food for our daily walk with God. It then gives us glimpses into the future and opens our understanding as to events in the years to come as we await the return of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, come along as we explore a few of the verses that meet us where we are in our day to day living.

What would you do this morning if God came to you and pleaded his case for your faithfulness? If he told you of all the times that he came to your rescue and protected you and provided for you, how would you respond? God came to Israel and did that very thing. God presented his argument to Israel, Jer. 2:9 "Therefore I will yet contend with you," declares the LORD, "And with your sons' sons I will contend. God is also pleading with all mankind to come to Him.

It is important for us to remember that the last words Jesus spoke before His death on the cross were, "It is finished." The debt of our sin had been paid in full. Yet, even though the work of redemption was finished, Jesus was not finished. Three days later, Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God. The power of God is greater than any power that exists in the world today. More than any army, more than any weapon, more than any ruler. Jesus Christ is Lord over all and has power over all.

Looking around the world today, you have to look very hard for something to give you real joy. However, from the Christian view point, we have much to be joyful about. As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: “It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians—and I am one of them.”Moody Bible Institute’s, Today In The Word, June, 1988, p. 18Even in the most difficult situations, we as Christians have the Joy of the Lord as our strength. Understanding the Joy of the Lord is the topic of this message.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture as we look forward to the New Year is Revelation 21:4-5: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" That surely is one of the most hopeful texts in all the Bible. Imagine what it will be like when this old order has truly passed away.

According to Gen 6:3 the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." Before the flood, God gave men a hundred and twenty years to repent of their sinfulness, but they ignored Him. They did not realize that God meant what he said, they watched as the one righteous man and his family prepared for the destruction, they probably laughed at him. But Noah listened to God and did as He was instructed, and he and his family was saved. The door was opened and Noah and his family went in, and then it was closed.

F. E. Smith was a capable lawyer with a quick wit who served as the British attorney general from 1915 until 1919. On one occasion he cross-examined a young man claiming damages for an arm injury caused by the negligence of a bus driver. "Will you please show us how high you can lift your arm now?" asked Smith. The young man gingerly raised his arm to shoulder level, his face distorted with pain. "Thank you," said Smith. "And now, could you show us how high you could lift it before the accident?" The young man eagerly shot his arm up above his head. Deception, in this situation it works both ways. In our study Paul wrote to the Galatians about being deceived that carried another gospel.

Has there ever been a time in your life when you needed encouragement? Has a person ever come to you and said exactly the words you needed to give you a boost? There are people that seem to know just what to say and not say to help you get started again. What about you? Before we get started in this study this morning, I would like to take a little survey. How many of you would consider yourself an encourager - someone who has the right words to help a person who is discouraged? You know often times when we attempt to help the discouraged we cause more discouragement. I hope that this study today will give some insight as to how to go about being an encourager.