Carter Conlon | Sermons

This Christmas, let the light of Christ come into your heart and give you courage to live in a world that at times can feel dark. This is a message of hope and light in a time of darkness. Remember this holiday season that nothing is ordinary if Christ is in it. Every promise He made will be fulfilled. It all started, two thousand years ago, with the birth of a child.

God did not send His son Jesus for the righteous; Jesus came down for the sinners. He didn’t come down for the strong; He came down for those who know they need a Savior. God sent His Holy Spirit so that He can dwell inside of us. He’s not offended by our failures, weaknesses, or struggles. He came down for the weakest.

Some people are in situations that seem hopeless. They see and know the promises of God, and for years they try to stir up their faith to believe the promises of God, but they don’t see any change. They are living in a desperate time in their life, and they are asking God what’s their hope for the future. God gives hope to the hopeless. Call out for the breath of God to breathe life into your hopeless situation.

The Bible clearly describes what’s good and what’s evil. As a nation, we have removed those boundaries and now what is good is evil and what is evil is good. There is a callous disregard for human life, especially for innocent babies in the womb. Fathers have a band in the God-given roles in our country. We need to pray for a deep sorrow and a spiritual awakening in our country. Fathers need to humble themselves and turn back to God and take the role God designed them for. We need deep repentance in front of a Holy God.

There are many people who find themselves in a wilderness.

They find themselves in a confusing and dry place. Sometimes people don’t even know how they got there, and don’t know how to get out. You try to find a formula to get out, but you can’t.

The only way to get out is through Jesus Christ. When you call out to Him, He comes to meet you right where you are, He will bring you out, and take you where He needs you to go.

A lot of people have an impression of what would make them happy.

However, no matter what impression they might have the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, As it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

God has something unique for you, and only He can do it through your life.

Trust God with the plans He has for you.

What is causing you to fear? At some point, we have to make a conscious decision to trust God and not be afraid of what others or circumstances can do to us. Fear comes into our lives when we look at our calling and see its enormity, and dismay comes when we see the lack of resources we have within us to succeed. The Bible tells us not to fear or be dismayed because although we are ordinary people, an extraordinary God is living inside us. Faith looks away from the enemy and self and grabs hold of God and His promises. The devil says you cannot, but God says you can! The devil says you can only go this far, but God says, “If you put your trust in me, there is no limit to what I can do in your life.” The righteous are as bold as a lion!

There is a false revival on the rise. It is the rise of the angry watchman who will cast stones at those who have gone astray from the Lord. This false revival consists of ministers who have led people away from the truth through legalism and misguided prosperity gospel. They will forbid and command prodigals not to come into the presence of God until they work their way back into His favor through human effort and religion. We must not remove the veil from the bride of Christ. We have a righteousness that can not be taken away from us because Jesus is our veil.

Some Christians are called to be the only representative of Jesus Christ in their family, schools, community, or career. They go through seasons of loneliness and hardships and try to be faithful when difficulties, opposition, and loneliness come. And they know that the only way they can continue being the only gospel light in the position they are called to be is if the Holy Spirit empowers them to do so. If God has sent you to this place in your family, community, or in your career, you are sent to this place to represent Jesus Christ, and He will sustain you. If God has appointed you to this difficult place, He will anoint you to be an ambassador of an incredible kingdom. You are called to be a frontline worker for God and He will equip you. Trust Him to empower you to stand and be a light in the midst of darkness.

Have you ever wondered how the joy of the Lord can be your strength in times of difficulties, depression, failure, and hopelessness? Some people might read that passage in scripture and wonder if they have to pretend to have joy, and they never come to understand how it can be possible. It becomes possible when you realize how much God loves you and how it brings Him joy to bring you into right standing before Him. It gives him joy to heal you, to restore you, to set you free. When you understand it brings him joy to do these things for you, it will encourage your heart. It's first God's joy, and then it becomes yours. Rejoice in knowing how delighted the Lord is to set you free and allow it to strengthen you today.