Mary, who is pregnant with the Messiah and Joseph live in Nazareth. The Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem. So God makes sure they arrive in Bethlehem by having Augustus Caesar require everyone to go to their ancestral home to register for the census. While in Bethlehem Mary delivers her baby. God’s plan is accomplished whether His people know the plan or not. Then an angel announces to some shepherds that the Messiah has been born that day and how to find Him. An angelic host praises God for what He is doing. Next we are told that Jesus’ parents follow the law by circumcising Him and offering the appropriate offering for a first born male. Jesus, the Messiah, is under the law of Moses. While there a man, who was previously told he would not see death until he sees the Messiah, holds Jesus and praises God, acknowledging that he has seen the Messiah and now may die. He Praises God. Also while at the temple a 84 year old woman sees the Messiah and praises God and speaks of Him. In all of this, everyone who knows that this baby is the Messiah, praises God for what He is doing, not only for the Jews, but for everyone else as well. Should we not praise God for what he has done. These people praise God for His faithfulness in the birth of the Messiah, we have the knowledge of not just who this Messiah is, but what He has done for us.

Mary, a virgin, is told by the Angel Gabriel, who is sent by God, that she would bear a son who will be called “the Son of God”. Mary was a thoughtful person. She “ponders” the type of greeting she receives from Gabriel. When told that she would bear a son, she asks a reasonable question, how, since she is and will continue to be until the birth of the “Son of God” a virgin. Gabriel explains how. What we should take from this narrative is that Mary is submissive to the will of God even if it may cause her the loss of respect and judgment of her community. The next person who comes in contact with Mary is her cousin, Elizabeth a woman pass child bearing age, who is pregnant herself. The child in her womb jumps for joy and Elizabeth immediately praises God. The third person we will look at in this message is Joseph, the espoused husband of Mary. He had planned to secretly to “put her away” (divorce her). However, an angel comes to him in a dream to let Joseph know that the child Mary is carrying is from the Holy Spirit and the child is a Son who will take away the sins of his people. The angle also makes a reference to the Scriptures which predict that a virgin would bear a son. Joseph’s response is faith. He accepts the message of the angel and conducted himself in the light of the message. Three people and three responses, each of which should be our response to the message of God: Submission, praise and faith.

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First Baptist Church of Westminster

During Biblical times people believed, wrongly, that if you were rich God favored you. Also having children was a sign of God’s blessing. However, being poor or unable to bear children was a sign that God abandoned you or you were a sinner. However, an angel comes to a righteous man whose wife was barren while he is tending the Altar of Incense, which was a symbol of the prayers of God’s people, to inform him that his prayers have been answered and his wife will not only bear a son, but that son will be the forerunner to the Messiah. He is told to name the boy John. Zechariah doubts the angelic messenger. As a result he is left mute. However, the message, regardless of the doubt comes to pass and his wife, Elizabeth becomes pregnant. Her perceived disgrace has been removed.

December 30, 2018

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”

SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 89:1

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

“Only King Forever”

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

MESSAGE Pastor Joe

“THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH”

“Doubt After Hearing Good News”

Time of Reflection

PRAYER TIME –

“Never Once”

GIVING OF SELVES AND OUR OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY PRAYER

SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

“One Step Away”

“Your Promises”

“The Stand”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Benediction “Only Jesus”

SERMON NOTES

Luke 1:5 – 7 The couple described

Luke 1:8 – 17 Angelic announcement of the birth of the forerunner to the Messiah

Malachi 4:5 & 6 Prophesy of the coming of Elijah

Luke 1:18 – 20 Zacharias doubts the message

Luke 1:21 – 23 People wonder about the delay

Luke 1:24 & 25 The message comes to pass, Elizabeth pregnant

View more at https://www.fbcwest.net/Service/00911026-6238-40e0-ab4b-5359f95c6ee0/Doubt-After-Hearing-Good-News

316 FBCWest | The Resurrection of the Dead by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

He gives us through the word of the Lord Prophecy of things that will happen in the future as far as his future. Daniel is going to tell has told us about the various kingdoms coming in his future.

There will be pain and there will be suffering, deceived, worship things that aren't good, worship this end time Messiah, and people will take his mark so that they might buy and sell and their lives’.

And those who are God's people will suffer. And God, has set as far as he can do and no further and next week will take a look to God is even determine how many days he gets to be successful and just as just hang on a few more days.

I'm still going to praise God for who He is.

Find out more here at https://www.fbcwest.net/Service/6a99a90b-3e3e-4f16-afac-fb4526e40202/Living-as-Strangers-in-a-Foreign-Land%3A-God-Is-Still-Sovereign

The world is going to do with the world's going to do. It's going to seek its own power going to seek its own glory. Especially those who take a stand against God. It doesn't mean that God is not in control. It doesn't mean that God is not sovereign in this matter. When you're persecuted. Even Jesus has counted all joy when they persecuted. You are blessed. And yet the scripture seem to see those who are persecuted for His Name will receive honor and blessings.

Find out more at https://fbcwest.net/Service/4aafa88f-6bd4-4cbd-ba28-712c74dd0de9/God-Is-Still-Sovereign

On the side of one who says well when I tell God what to do God does it.The Santa Claus God or give him my list of things that he supposed to do for me.Then answer me pronto.Or you one who says.I am simply a servant of the most high God.He can tell me what to do, and I will do that, and even when he tells me what to do and I do that. So maybe what we need is to continue the fight and part of their fight is prayer and part of that fight is acknowledging that we need to be prepared.God.By being prepared.And not getting our eyes on people on the spiritual forces of darkness that we might fight them.It is so sad.I don't know about other denominations, but it seems that there have been more Baptist denominated church is formed by church splits than intentional.How sad?And a group of people start another church 'cause. It should be intentional, and it should be with the desire of spreading his word, not getting rid of the people, you don't like.So the next time you pray which maybe this afternoon.Or, a year from now.If God doesn't answer right away.Think of Daniel.And think maybe something's happening.That you just don't see yet.But continue to seek the word of God, Lord speak send me someone.Give me understanding of what's happening so I can trust you more than I can have peace that I could have understanding and I could have courage.'cause the space it. We need that there is a group of people with Daniel who didn't know what they were afraid of the ran away. Daniel knew why he was afraid.But the word of God gave him strength. Seek His word siecus peace seek his strength and all god's People said.

311 FBCWest | Daniel Seeks God Through Prayer by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

310 FBCWest | Daniel’s Second Vision by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

309 FBCWest by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California