The book of Joshua is about the people of God getting what the Lord has for them. It is about moving out of the past and past difficulties into peace and blessings. It is about battles and victory. It is about the battles Israel faced in order to claim that promise from God. It is about warfare, painful defeats, suffering, and great victories. It has much to teach us about obtaining spiritual victory in our lives. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel was about to take possession of the land God had promised to Abraham. VICTORY! Many seem to have the idea that entering Canaan refers to Heaven. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Entering Canaan is a picture of the victorious Christian life that is available to every child of God, and every church today! It is a picture of victory in the midst of struggle -- Hebrews 4:8-9,11: “For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” As the book opens, Moses is dead, and God has called Joshua to lead the nation into the Promised Land. Vv. 1-9 deal with God’s assurance to Joshua that He will be with him to lead him and to bless him. Every child of God needs to be reminded of God’s promise to Joshua found in vs. 9: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” In vs. 5 He said, “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” In fact, 3 times in this first chapter God tells Joshua to “be strong” and to have courage. But beginning in vs. 10 the focus turns from Joshua to the nation as a whole. Those God has chosen to lead His people and His churches certainly need to be strong and of a good courage, but all of His children need the same instruction. So God speaks through Joshua to people who are ready to receive the land He had promised Abraham and tells them to get ready to move forward and take the land. It had taken them about two years to come to Kadesh-Barnea. They could have made the journey in a few days. But God led them through the wilderness so they could not return to Egypt when they got discouraged. Exodus 13:17-18: “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt . . . (18) But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” When they arrived at Kadesh-Barnea, they sent spies into the land, and we know how that went. They wanted to return to Egypt, but because of their refusal to follow Him by faith, God condemned them to wander in the wilderness until that faithless generation died off. That generation is like many who are living in our day. They stood in the way of everything God was doing. Now that the old generation is gone, and God is about to lead the nest generation into the Promised Land. Sometimes God has to infuse us with “new blood” to get us off of our pews of “do nothing” and get us to serving Him. The addition of “new blood” brings excitement, energy, and hope to a church. When God is blessing, and the church is growing, it should thrill us. What Joshua said to Israel and how they responded have some lessons for us today. Like Israel, we are standing on the doorstep of the unknown - a new year. But like Israel, we, too, have been promised victory and blessing -- Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ . . . ” And like Israel, we must be properly prepared to claim the victory that is ours. Notice the lessons we find in these verses. We see:

I. THERE IS A CHALLENGE THAT MUST BE MET -- VV. 10-15.

II. THERE IS THE COMMITMENT WE WON’T REGRET -- VV. 16-18.

There are many kinds of gift givers this time of year. There are those for whom “just anything will do, as long as I get them something.” There are those who are the “askers.” They ask, “What do you want for Christmas?” then get it. There are those who give thought and search high and low for the “perfect” Christmas gift. If you are in that third category, you can stop searching for the “perfect” gift. It has already been given. God, as to His character and nature is love -- I John 4:7-8: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” And it is the nature of love to give. First John 3:16-17 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down (gave) his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Our declaration of love must be accompanied by a demonstration of love. James illustrates what John is talking about when it comes to this love in James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” God gave the first and perfect gift when He came into this world in the form of God, the Son. What does James 1:17 say? “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights . . . ” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In I John 4:9-10 we read, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” In giving His Son, God was right on time. “When the fulness of the time was come . . .” Fulness means completeness; filling. “ When time had been fully filled.” “At just the right time.” Jesus was born at just the right time. Note 4 great events of this time. It was the time God had ordained (in keeping with Daniel’s prophecy of 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem.) The Mosaic law had done its work. What was the work of the Law? Galatians 3:24 says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The law had reached its limit. Rome ruled the world. The Roman empire maintained peace. Roman roads made travel easy. The Greek language was universally spoken and made the spread of the Gospel easier. And, the Roman means of execution was crucifixion (“hanging on a tree”). Under these conditions God used a Roman ruler to move a young man and woman to a place that was prophesied in order to accomplish His purpose (Micah 5:2). In this message we will see:

I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE MESSIAH.

II. THE PRESENTATION OF THE MESSIAH.

III. THE PURPOSE OF THE MESSIAH.

This morning I want to share what I call "The Christmas Story As You Have Never Heard It." Often, when we think of the “Christmas story” we start somewhere in the middle or near the end. However, the story has its roots and its beginnings long before what we call the traditional story. The “Christmas story” does not begin in the city of Bethlehem, nor does it begin in with a couple named Joseph and Mary. The “Christmas story” actually begins before the creation of the universe. I Peter 1:18-20 says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . . . ” The “Christmas story” has its “beginning” in a garden, the garden of God which was “planted . . . eastward in Eden.” And we know the names of the couple in this garden. They were Adam and Eve. In this brief message we will see:

I. THE PRELUDE.

II. THE PRESENTATION (OF THE STORY)

III. THE POSTLUDE.

The book of II Corinthians is a book of encouragement. Paul certainly had reason to get discouraged. In II Corinthians 11:23-28 he tells us: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” If you want to get discouraged, try pastoring a church (At least I don’t have “the care of ALL the churches” upon me, just this one.) As we get closer to the Lord’s return, we are going to need more and more encouragement. But I have good news for you. Our God is the God of ALL encouragement. II Corinthians 1:3 says. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort . . . ” COMFORT (paraklesis) speaks of imploration, solace, (ex)hortation (encouragement). The theme of chapter 4 is “We faint not.” (It is repeated in vs. 16.) Trials in Asia had brought Paul almost to the point of despair, but he didn’t quit. Listen to II Corinthians 1:8: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life . . . ” The picture of "Out of MEASURE" (from huperballo) is "to surpass, or to throw beyond the usual mark." ABOVE STRENGTH speaks of beyond one's ability. (Did you ever feel that what was going on was beyond your ability to handle it?) And DISPAIRED means "to despond; to be utterly at a loss." Have you ever felt that way? Paul is experiencing it due to his stand for Christ. But look at what he says in 4:8-10: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” It’s too easy for people to quit serving God today. Many are like Demas, they love this present world -- II Timothy 4:10. Some get angry with and out of fellowship with a brother/sister in Christ and refuse to follow the Biblical instructions to get it settled quickly and in love. (They like to hold a grudge.) Still others get offended (usually by some small matter) or get their feelings hurt. As we set about to serve the Lord we especially need the encouragement that is offered here, for it is:

I. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WORK -- VS. 1.

II. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WALK -- VS. 2.

III. ENCOURAGMENT IN OUR WITNESS -- VV. 3-6.

The term “day of the Lord” is used several different ways in the Scriptures. It can refer to the Lord’s day -- Sunday. Or, it can speak of the time of the rapture, the Millenial Reign of Christ, etc. Or, it may speak of that time of God’s great and terrible wrath upon the earth and all that live on it. Here Peter uses it to refer to just that. In light of present persecutions, he reminds believers that God’s judgment is yet to come upon this earth. Vs. 10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” In I Thessalonians 5:2 we read,“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” I Peter 4:17: reminds us, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” What could be his purpose in reminding believers of this event? Vs. 1 – “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds . . . ” "Pure minds" refers to that saved part  of us. "Stir up" means to arouse; fully awaken (from inactivity); excite; incite. And vs. 2, “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken” – by the prophets, by the apostles, and by the Lord Jesus. If anything should excite and incite believers to a greater dedication to and service of Christ, it should be realizing the fact and nearness of the day of the Lord. II Peter 3:11 challenges us, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be . . . ” and Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” In these verses of our text Peter tells us of the day of the Lord, and we see . . .

I. THE DENIAL OF THAT DAY -- VV. 3-7.

II. THE DECISIVENESS OF THAT DAY -- VV. 8-10a.

III. THE DECLARATION OF THAT DAY -- VS. 10b.

IV. THE DIRECTION FOR THAT DAY -- VV. 11-12.

In scrolling around on several internet sites I saw the question, “Is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday?” George Washington’s first Thanksgiving proclamation was issued on October 3, 1789 acknowledged God and His provision, providence, and protection of this nation. The Bible is full of examples of and admonitions to God’s people to offer thanksgiving to Him. This is the theme of many of the psalms. Psalm 50:14: “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High . . . ” Psalm 69:30: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” (MAGNIFY = to make large; to honor; to boast of.) Psalm 100:4: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 147:7: “Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God . . . ” This instruction to offer thanks to God is also found in the New Testament. Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Colossians 2:6-7: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving . . . ” I Timothy 4:4: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving . . . ” In Revelation 7, after the sealing of the 144,000 John says in vv. 9-12: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (10) And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (11) And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, (12) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” As we consider these verses of Scripture, we must ask ourselves, “Am I truly thankful to God?” I am afraid that too often we may take the many blessings of God for granted. I also fear that many times we must admit our indifference to God, His church, and His will in our lives. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae in Colossians 3:15 he instructed them, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” This is an urgent appeal to the believers in Colossae to let the attitude of thankfulness reign in their lives. It is also an eye opener for us as we read it, for the question is not, “Do we have that for which we should be thankful?” but simply, “Are we thankful?”

I. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE LORD JESUS AND HIS OFFERING FOR SIN.

II. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S WORD, THE BIBLE.

III. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER.

IV. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THIS NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

V. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE LIBERTY WE HAVE IN CHRIST . . . AND IN THIS NATION!

Finish this sentence for me. “Jesus is _____________.” This morning we are going to consider the lordship of Jesus. Back in the 1970s and 80s at what I believe was the height of the Charismatic Movement in America you could hear and see all over the place signs and stickers that said “Jesus is Lord!” Jesus would love to be truly recognized and followed as Lord over this city or that city, but just repeating those words will not make it so. Have you ever encountered those people who may refer to Him as “my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Once again, if there is no life, no living to confirm that claim those are just empty words. It is my belief that, first, most people, even saved people, do not realize what they are saying when they refer to Jesus as “Lord.” Secondly, if we were to use that phrase AND REALLY MEAN IT, there would be a massive change in the lives of God’s people today. Before we get too deeply into this message we need to understand the meaning of the term “Lord.” LORD refers to the one who has absolute power, absolute authority, the one who is the master. Many so-called “Christians,” “believers” do not understand this. We understand that during the days that the New Testament was written Rome ruled the known world. The ruler of the Romans was Caesar. Caesar was a title, and there were many Caesars. However, one thing was held in common. Caesar was not just to be considered “ruler,” but he was to be considered as a god. In fact those under his rule were required to declare their allegiance to him by saying, “Caesar is Lord.” Refusal to do so could result in death! So, it was serious business, a life altering claim for a believer to declare JESUS IS LORD! (Sadly, it does not appear to be so serious a claim today.) Today it does not seem to bother professed believers to declare “Jesus is Lord” on Sunday and live for the world, the flesh, and the devil the rest of the week. When we come to Jesus for salvation, we come as we are, trusting Him alone to save us. When you were saved, you probably didn’t “understand it all,” but you didn’t have to. What one needs to understand is that he/she is a lost sinner, bound for hell, and deservedly so, and that the only way to escape eternal condemnation is to “throw” himself/herself on the mercy of God by applying Christ’s payment for sin through faith. However, after one is saved, (I repeat, after one is saved) they need to realize that they are “under new management” - self and sin are to no longer be in control, and they have a new Lord. You are not your own -- I Corinthians 6:19-20: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” When you trusted Christ as Savior, that was the last decision you made with “self” as lord of your life. Beginning in Luke 6:19 through the end of the chapter we see Luke’s record of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. We are studying this sermon on Sunday evenings, and we have already seen that it is indeed a guide to practical Christian living. We have seen and will continue to see that in this Sermon Jesus has given us some very direct commands. For example, He has taught us that we must be forgiving, that we are to love our enemies, that we are to love God more than material wealth, and more. At the end of the Sermon He showed us the difference between merely hearing His words and hearing them and doing them. At the end of the sermon He asked in Luke 6:46 He asked, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” How can we today call Him LORD Jesus Christ when we fail or refuse to follow His commands and practice His lifestyle? But regardless of what we do He is Lord!

I. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WAS THE INITIAL CONFESSION OF THE LORD’S CHURCH.

II. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST IS THE AUTHENTIC CONFESSION OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN.

III. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WILL BE THE ULTIMATE CONFESSION OF CREATION.

I want to center my thoughts today on vs. 16: “. . . yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” We spend a lot of time “dressing up” the outward man which Paul says is perishing. Many have special diets, go to gymns, don't eat meat, etc. But regardless of all of that, the outward man, the flesh, is dying and will eventually die. In the meantime, many, if not most, who profess Christ as Savior today are living “get by” lives. They are not actively working against the Lord. But they are not actively living for Him either. They may consider themselves to have what I call a “negative righteousness.” “Negative righteousness” says, “I am right with God because of what I do not do (referring to the sins they avoid). Some may compare themselves to other professed believers and consider that they do more good things or fewer “bad” things than others. Quite often they find that they are like the church at Laodicea, neither hot nor cold. If we are to go forward and be effective as one of the Lord’s churches, we must reveal to others the changed life of a child of God. Here are 5 activities that, if practiced daily, will make a great change in our lives for the Lord. We might refer to them as “habits,” but they should never be merely habitual. A habit is “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” It is something we do without giving thought to it. We should consciously strive to make these things a part of our everyday lives. If we will consistently do these things, we (and others) will see the change they can make in our lives in “the inward man.”

I. CONSUME THE WORD OF GOD DAILY.

II. COMMUNICATE CONTINUALLY WITH GOD -- I THESSALONIANS 5:17.

III. CONDUCT OURSELVES IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD -- GALATIANS 5:16.

IV. COMMIT TO GOD AND CARING FOR OTHERS -- MATTHEW 22:37-40.

V. SHARE JESUS WITH OTHERS -- LUKE 24:46-49 ; ACTS 1:8.

For four hundred years there was silence, with no word from God from Malachi to Matthew. In Amos 8:11 God had warned them of this time: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord . . . ” I believe we are facing a similar famine today from preachers who won’t preach the Word and believers who won’t share the Word. But then Jesus came, not as the spoken Word but as the Living Word of God - John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He walked among men for about 33 ½ years, then He became the sacrifice for our sin. These verses give us the final words of Jesus to His disciples before His ascension into Heaven. They are, “. . . ye shall be witnesses of me . . . ” He did not tell us to promote the preacher, or our “good fellowship,” but to proclaim Him. The word "witness" is “martus” or “marturion.” It literally means “martyr.” But the question is, “Are the Lord’s churches, which are made up is His people, fully obeying that command today?” First let’s examine:

I. THE QUESTION (CONCERN) OF THE SERVANTS - VS. 6.

II. THE COMMAND OF THE SAVIOR - VV. 7-8.

III. THE CONDUCT OF THE SAVED.

The tabernacle was the Israelites’ place of worship in the wilderness as they were leaving Egypt and heading for the Promise Land. It was a temporary place of worship. When they settled in the land that God gave them, under King Solomon they built a permanent place of worship called the Temple. In I Corinthians 3:16 God said to the church at Corinth (and every true New Testament church) through Paul, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” In the Old Testament God had a temple for His people, but in the New Testament God has a people for His temple. The New Testament teaches us of the priesthood of the believer, and the High Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In I Peter 2:5 Peter said to believers who, I believe, made up assemblies in the areas named, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” You don’t have to go through a priest, or a pastor, or a preacher to talk to God, you go directly to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . ” Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” The tabernacle had several pieces of furniture in and around it. It had: (1)The Brazen Altar - which speaks to us of Christ’s sacrifice and our salvation; (2) The Table of Shewbread which speaks of Christ Who is our sustenance (3) The Altar of Incense which speaks of prayer and Christ our supplication. But between the Brazen Altar and the Tabernacle of the Congregation was the laver, which speaks of our sanctification. The Tabernacle of the Congregation was the place of service and of worship. Before the priest could enter that tabernacle, he had to stop by the laver and wash his feet and his hands. There were dire consequences if he did not. This carries a wonderful picture and wonderful instruction for us today. And (I will mention this again in a moment) this tells us, I believe, why that may be so much dead “worship” and so little witnessing and working for the Lord in His churches today. So, first let’s look at:

I. THE PICTURE OF THE LAVER.

II. THE PLACEMENT OF THE LAVER.