West Lynchburg

Live as a worshipper

Our Process is to Live, Love, and Lead like Jesus

Live as a worshipper

· by walking with God personally through Scripture and prayer

· by worshipping God corporately with the church

· by giving to God cheerfully and regularly through the church

Love as a community

· by encouraging the people of the church

· by serving the ministry of the church

· by protecting the unity of the church

Lead as a servant

· by establishing the gospel in the household

· by sharing the gospel in the community

· by spreading the gospel around the world

Live as a worshipper by walking w/God personally through Scripture & prayer

What is worship? – Worship is more than an event

worship is honor and admiration directed to God

3 Dimensions of Worship

Upward - Matthew 6:33

Inwards - Mark 8:34

Outward - Phil 1:21-24

3 Postures of Worship

Sit, Walk, Stand (Eph 1-6)

3 Models of Worship

Able (Heb 12:4)

Enoch (Hebrew 12:6)

Noah (Hebrews 12:8)

Brandon Roger

Refuge: The Place of Protection (v1-3)

Refreshment: The Place of Permanence (v4-5)

Reassurance: The Place of Power (v6-9)

Rest: The Place of Praise (v10-11)

Everlasting - What lasts forever? The things you buy, places you go, and the services you use will not last!

There are only 3 things that will last: God, God’s Word, and People

Notice that in Isaiah 9:6, the Child is a Son and is Father… Everlasting Father

The title “Father” is normally associated with the 1st person of the Godhead, BUT “Everlasting Father” doesn’t suggest that the Son is also the Father. That is Modalism, the belief that the members of the Trinity are not 3 distinct persons but rather three modes or forms of activity.

Each Person in the Godhead is distinct. Father-Son-Spirit

Westminster Catechism - How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are 3 persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

1) Jesus is called EVERLASTING - Hebrews 7:3, Eph 1:4, Col 1:16, Hebrews 1:8 

He has no expiration date - He never gets old - He is forever - Jesus always was, always is, and will always be!

He is not lost... he is not dead... He is not absent...He is alive and very present!

Heb 7:25 'He always lives to make intercession for them.” 

Rest in your relationship with Jesus! Tell Him your troubles, confess your sins, though the eyes of faith see beyond your current circumstances.

2) Jesus is called FATHER - 3 ways Jesus is our father

A. FATHER - As a Representative - for those who follow Him

“Adam, our father and our head” by Isaac Watts

1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Under the covenant of works, Adam is our father & under Adam we sin and die.

Under the covenant of grace, Christ is our Father, & in Christ we are made alive.

Being born, we are the next generation as a child Adam;

Being born again, we experience regeneration as a child of Christ!!

B. FATHER - As a Founder

C. FATHER - As a Life Giver - 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 4:14, 1 John 5:12, Romans 6:23

3) Jesus is called EVERLASTING FATHER

● Jesus does not die nor vacate His position nor become childless.

● Jesus loves His family and serves as the Head of His family!

* Today, you may have worries & troubles, but Christ is your Everlasting Father who cares for you.

* In 2021, you may have had a loss or a disappointment... but Jesus is the Everlasting Father that knows what you need

* You may be depressed or full of doubts & fears; but Christ, as the Father of your faith never ceases to be with you, pray for you, & love for you

You can trust Him, count on Him, rest in Him!

Rev 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."

Recognize Him, Respond to Him, and Receive from Him!

Thomas Schreiner - The King in His Beauty

Isaiah 7:14 

Hymn written by Charles H. Gabriel

I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene. And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean.

How marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Saviour’s love for me!

God has done many wonderful things for us in and through Jesus Christ.

Ex 3:20, “I will stretch out my hand & strike Egypt w/all the wonders that I will do in it

Ps 9:1 “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”

Is 25:1 “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”

Is 28:29 “This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom”

Mt 21:15 “...the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did”

Ps 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things out of your law.”

Three WONDERFUL aspects of Christ

1. Wonderful is His greatness that grants grace to us

Consider what He gives to us

a. Greatness is seen in His incarnation (His presence) - John 1:14 & Luke 2:11 

b. Greatness is seen in His communication (His promises) Hebrews 1:1-2 & John 14:25-26 

2. Wonderful is His majesty that extends mercy to us 

Consider what He takes from us

We live in an age when people seek miracles. And expect blessings constantly.

a. Majesty is seen in His taking of sin and sorrow

I stand amazed in the presence —Charles H. Gabriel

He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own;

He bore the burden to Calv’ry, And suffered and died alone.

Jesus was sinless AND took your sins and place it on Himself!

With a majestic march toward the cross & the tomb He took your sins to the grave

What do you need God to take away this Christmas: Anger, depression, doubt, addictions, procrastination, pride, distractions

b. Majesty is seen in His taking us to Heaven

John 14:3 

[Verse 1] Majesty - Worship His Majesty, Unto Jesus - Be all glory, honour, and praise

[Verse 2] - Majesty - Kingdom authority, Flow from His throne - Unto His own - His anthem raise

[Chorus] - So exalt, lift up on high - The name of Jesus, Magnify, come glorify - Christ Jesus the King

[Verse 3] - Majesty - Worship His majesty, Jesus, who died, now glorified - King of all kings

3. Wonderful is His power that shows patience to us 

2 Peter 3:9 and Romans 2:4

Is He wonderful to you?

How wonderful is this Christ-mas to you?

A beautiful Christmas worship celebration led by Dr. Tad Hardin along with the WLBC Choir and Orchastra.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The greatest gift to be received this Christmas isn’t found in a store.

The greatest gift is from God Himself, the gift of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son.

Unfortunately, even during Christmas, Jesus is merely God’s only forgotten Son.

Who is this Child? Who is this Son that God has given?

4 truths about the Gift of Jesus

1) God has given us a Son who is supernatural.

● He was given supernaturally through the Virgin Mary.

● Those who reject the virgin birth, also explain away Christ’s miracles and deny His resurrection... leaving only a pale, powerless, and pathetic Christ who has no power to save a sinful race.

2) God has given us a Son who is sinless.

Heb. 4:15 

● Christ refrained from all willful transgression.

● He was the very essence of personal purity

● Even the verdict of the Roman governor Pilate Luke 23:14, You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.

● At the time of Jesus’ baptism, a voice from heaven expressing complete, divine approval of Christ (Matt. 3:17).

● This divine approval happened again at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:5).

3) God has given us a Son who is a suffering substitute.

When Jesus rose from the grave, it was a public demonstration of the divine acceptance of His substitutionary death on the cross.

● The prophet Isaiah foretold the substitutionary death of the suffering servant of God (Isa. 53:5–6). 

● The angel told Joseph that the unborn child of Mary was divine (Matt. 1:21) 

● When John the Baptist introduced Jesus to his disciples and declared (John 1:29) "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Jesus defined his objective for coming into the world (Mark 10:45). 

● Jesus described Himself (John 10:11).

● Paul declared that while we were still rebel sinners against God, God loved us (Rom. 5:6).

● Peter believed (1 Peter 3:18). 

● God revealed to us as unrighteous people (2 Cor. 5:21).

4) God has given us a Son who is a satisfying Savior.

● He pardons your PAST forgiving every sin Psalm 103:12

● He provides your PRESENT with every need

● He prepares your FUTURE with an eternal home with God John 14:1-3

1 Thess 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

3 Reasons Gratitude Matters

1) Gratitude Eliminates Arrogance (Romans 1:21)

Luke 17 - the ten lepers

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...

2) Gratitude Encourages Action (Colossians 3:17)

3) Gratitude Expands Adoration (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Psalm 7:17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Count Your Blessings (1897)

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

  Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done!

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by.

  Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done!

Max Anders, “Self-control is the ability to resist immediate gratification for the sake of a higher goal.”

Stephen Alford “We will manifest the fruit of self-control, in the God-given ability to harness natural passions for redemptive purposes.”

2 Timothy 3:2-5

Self-Control is Expressed in 3 Ways

• Elimination - What you abstain from 

• Moderation - What you do with caution (entertainment, work, leisure, “the Devil never takes a day off”)

• Sanctification - What you do to grow

2 Peter 1:4-7

How to Live a Life of Self-Control - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1) Live with Desire (9:24)

2) Live with Discipline (disciple) (9:25) - Proverbs 13:4

3) Live with Direction (9:26) - Joshua 1:7

4) Live with Determination (9:27) - Hebrews 12:1-3

3 ways to be disqualified: False start – cheat - quit

My football coach used to say – “Keep running until the whistle is blown.”

Psalm 60:12 (NIV), “With God we will gain the victory…”