Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland's Podcast

The Miraculous Virgin Birth is one of the key elements of Christ being born fully God and fully man. The Incarnation, God the Son, becoming fully human so He could reconcile us as sinners to to The Father. Christ had to be born apart from the seed of man as sin came forth through the man, Adam. If Christ was a descendant of Adam, it would not be possible for Him to be our Savior from sin. As in Adam through his one life, sin entered into the world, and all have sinned, Romans 5:12. Christ had to be born as a human through the supernatural means of the virgin birth. For He will save His people from their sins. This Christmas Season is unlike any we have ever encountered as we know more than ever everybody needs Jesus. Don't grow weary regarding telling the message of the Gospel. There are people prepared by God The Holy Spirit to believe after they hear what God's love has done for them. May we bring Jesus to those who are seeking.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Missionary from Macedonia Phillip Jackson.

Throughout my life, I have seen God do big things through prayer. But personally, I have struggled with cynicism , inconsistency, and distraction. Today, we will consider ways that we can apply God's Word and Paul's admonition to "Devote Ourselves To Prayer." I'll share personally how God is helping me in my weakness; believing He wants the same for you. Since the prayers of a righteous man or woman are powerful and effective, there is so much to be gained by growing in this area. God wants you to be powerful and effective as well as simply closer to Him in prayer... so Let's Pray!

The Lord Jesus faces one of the greatest tests apart from the cross showing us He is all powerful. The temptations He endured and overcame were based upon the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life; things we are all tempted by in daily life. The temptations were very similar to what the enemy used in the garden to tempt Adam and Eve. The way out and through temptation is using the Word of God. Jesus used the phrase it is written to push back the deceptions of Satan. We are told in James 4:7 "Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. "Jesus shows us that the Word of God is the weapon used to resist the devil. After Jesus quoted the scripture three times in Matthew 4, it says in verse 11, then the devil left Him.

The beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry began the day He was Baptized. The Holy Trinity is seen participating together: Father, Son and Holy Spirit as Jesus is baptized. The reality of why Christ was born will now be manifest to the entire world and all of human history. That Christ alone fulfills all righteousness by His very life, God being manifest in the flesh, in His human life. Jesus didn't need to repent for any sin, yet He was baptized and being sinless identified with us as sinners. Now He will enter into the reason for why He was born, as John says in his Gospel, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. Because of Christ, we are set free from the power of sin!

Today we are continuing our study through God's Word picking up after 400 years of silence since the book of Malachi. Much was occurring with the nation of Israel, yet God was silent. It is believed Matthew the tax collector was the author of this book. This book was written to the Jewish people prior to the destruction of the temple in AD 70. The main theme is to present Jesus Christ as the Messiah. The desire we have in this study is to become more Christ like in our lives as we listen to His teachings and future plans for us, His people. We will circle back in the first two chapters in a month as we will prepare to celebrate the Birth of Christ in December.

Today we study God's heart regarding sharing the wealth He has given to us. Israel really lost focus with regard to their personal relationship with the God, who miraculously delivered them from bondage. Malachi discusses how God sees and challenges Israel to realize the privilege and responsibility they have to invest in God's Kingdom. God has given the principle of sowing and reaping throughout the scriptures relating to sin as well as blessings. We are taught in the NT that God desires people to share their wealth with Him, not out of constraint, but with a cheerful heart. We get to be blessed by God for being part of the spreading of His Gospel that saved us so that others may know Jesus. God gave us the power to acquire wealth and He challenges us to try the principle of sowing abundantly that we might also reap abundantly.

We know from Bible history the first messenger preparing the way of the Lord was John The Baptist at Christ's first coming. He had a message of Repentance. The second messenger is believed to be Elijah, prior to Christ's Second Coming. When Christ returns prior to His actual Second Coming, the World will experience what is called The Day of The Lord. In this section of scripture, we see the coming judgement upon all who live in habitual sin and do not fear the Lord. Yet in this prophecy, we also see the heart of God crying out to Israel to Return to Me, and His always faithful promise, and I will return to you. May we all come to realize these are the days to get right with God and to surrender to all His Ways.

The Nation of Israel's habitual problem, the further they fell away from God the greater the moral decline. Through intermarriage with pagan foreign women and arbitrarily divorcing the wives of their youth they aligned themselves with the deceptions of the devil. Just like we see the culture today Israel rebelled against God's spiritual foundational divine institution of marriage. Living with indifference to God's ways they wrongfully assumed that God was unconcerned with righteous living. Malachi said that God was coming with imminent judgement to refine and purify. The consequences of sin bring painful chastening judgement that is always the justice of God working to bring repentance to His people.

In the days of Israel's long journey throughout Old Testament History, we have learned from their example. They were rebellious, unyielding, forgot God's judgements, and mercy. They were given help and after God delivered they would forget His mercy presuming upon His Grace. The people, along with the Spiritual leaders and the Priests, would take their relationship with God casually; cutting corners in worship, devotion and personal sacrifices. God speaks in today's message on their need to repent and follow Him with all of their heart - not unlike today's Church.

We continue today to reflect on the offenses the priest's made in not offering to The Lord the best offering. Because of their hearts of spiritual declension and apathy, their ministry was rejected by God. However, The Lord is always merciful as He corrects His people to repent and confess their wrongs so He can restore them to His work and that they would once again have the joy of their salvation. In today's church worldwide, there is correction going on at all levels of His Bride by the convicting work of the Holy Spirit to revive and restore His people to a passionate and holy relationship with Himself. Our church community is part of God's work of spiritual renewal. Pray for one another to be all we can be for His Glory and that our offerings are not polluted by sin and rebellion against God.