I often remind people that we live in the greatest country

We live in a country that gives freedom to it’s people

Unfortunately, some people confuse this freedom….

With real freedom

^"31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free."

Americans think we are free because we are Americans;

Sin doesn’t care about heritage or government

Sin enslaves every sinner.

Once sin is committed, the penalty is locked on

^"23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

^"6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me."

Jesus is the Truth, but sin is a liar!

Sin says you don’t need Jesus

We live in a world today that loves sin and even glamorizes it

Sin looks beautiful and is popular

Jesus has paid your debt allowing you to be free

But you still have to accept it

Are you ready to be free, free indeed?

President Biden this past week called for Unity

Many politicians have used the word without really meaning it

Regardless of your feelings about our new administration,

Unity is something we should strive for in this world

How is that really possible, you ask?

God is God of ALL

"4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

Vs 1 says walk in a manner worthy of your calling

In other words, don’t do things to draw people away from God

What we need to do is show God’s love in all we do.

I know that sometimes we let the world’s ugliness get to us,

It is speaking of being tolerant of our human failures, tolerant in love

Meaning, we are to be united with God, and by doing so, walk worthy of Him

Knowing this, we must be unified in our walk with Christ, worthy of our calling

This unity, this oneness, means stop trying to be about you

Satan is the prince of this world, and, because of that, tribulation abounds

We get caught up in worldly things and act all kind of crazy

We don’t understand how some of the leaders of this country got there

Let me remind you that no one gains power without God giving it to them

"13 Every [a]person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except [b]from God, and those which exist are established by God."

^"6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

God and Father of ALL

Over ALL, through ALL, and in ALL

ALL means…….

ALL

So, if God is God of ALL, and He told us to walk in a manner worthy of Him,

We need to do exactly what He called us to do

Live our life reflecting the love of Christ so others can see Jesus in us.

Are you ready to walk worthy for the God of ALL today?

Are you ready to be Unified in the Spirit?

Sin has been a problem since Adam and Eve

"4 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord.” ² And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. ³ So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. ⁴ Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; ⁵ but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? ⁷ If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” ⁸ Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him."

Sin is crouching at the door

And it’s desire is for YOU!

This is true for everyone, even today.

How do we keep sin away?

Cain tried to do it half way and that is never good

Unfortunately, for many Believers today, we do the same thing

We know what we are supposed to do, but we don’t

Think about this if God was not pleased with Cain is He pleased with us?

Cain gave, but not of the first fruits

Today we call that deflection.

God asked Cain, "Why are you angry?"

Instead of changing our failures, we dwell and anger burns

When we dwell, we draw sin closer

You see, sin may be crouching at the door

But we are the ones that let it in!

Cain let his anger burn until he opened the door

This anger led to the sin of murder of his brother

You never know how fully the sin will consume you

Therefore do not open the door, don’t even dwell on it

In our world today it’s all about ME

Life was created to be all about Him!

When we don’t put God first, sin is crouching

But if we do well, we can keep sin away through God

Are you a sinner that needs a savior?

Do well and call on Christ today!

Today we gather together in a solemn assembly

Prayerfully, many of you have prepared by fasting and praying together

The purpose is to begin this New Year by re-committing ourselves to God

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory."

Paul says to Timothy, suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ

We are called to be soldiers of the cross; advancing God’s word across the world

Christ suffered for us and we are called to suffer for Him

The suffering we are talking about here is from the lost world who rejects Christ

Paul also compares this to being an athlete

In order to do that you must compete! You must get in the game!

Just as a farmer toils, he takes of the first fruits but does feed others

We, who are believers, are called by God to do His work

So that others may follow Christ

Are you a soldier for Christ? Are you in the fight? Are you plowing the fields?

Vs 10
Paul says I suffer so that others may receive salvation

Today, we have become so comfortable that we forget this

God wants us to be in the battle where, sometimes, we get hurt

But how can we win the war if we don’t ever get in the battle?

Vs 15 says study to show yourself approved

If we are not studying God’s word, how can we follow it and share it?

God is not interested in how well you can make something sound

You speak the truth and God will make sure it does not return void

We want to be useful to the Master

We desire to flee from sin and pursue righteousness

The only way that any of this is possible is if you give your heart to God

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber. Let the priests, the LORD'S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a reproach, A byword among the nations.

Why should they among the peoples say, `Where is their God?'"

HOPE

Without hope people give up

In sports, in love, in life; hope is the driving force

No matter how bad things get, if you have hope, you can persevere

In Isaiah’s day, times were bad for the Jews

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,

On the throne of David and over his kingdom,

To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this."

Suddenly, there is hope and hope for all eternity

This sign was passed on and the people looked for the future hope

Because the birth was a lowly one, many people did not believe

Luke 2:6-14 NASB

"While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

The birth of the Hope of the world was announced

Because of the sin in the world, mankind was destined to Hell

That is what this Savior is about; saving us from our own destiny

He would pay the debt we couldn’t pay to reconcile us with God

Without our Savior, Jesus, there would be no hope.

Perhaps some did not believe the shepherds

"And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;

and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And he came in the Spirit into the temple;

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."

How about Simeon; can you believe him? He was led by the Holy Spirit

Simeon shared a great hope for us

He proclaimed a light of revelation to the Gentiles

This gives hope to all people; Jews and Gentiles

"And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.

She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God,

and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna, the prophetess, told everyone that this child was the redemption of Israel

The hope, that over 400 years earlier had been prophesied, was here

He was born, the hope of the world

Romans 3:23 tells us that we have all sinned

Romans 6:23
Says the wages of sin are death

BUT the free gift of God is eternal life

This is the Hope that we have, and His name is Jesus

He lived, was crucified, buried, and rose again on the 3rd day.

Romans 10:9 says WHOEVER believes in Him

Will not perish but have eternal life

This is the Hope that gets us through every challenge of life

Do you know that hope or are you still looking for it?

If you have ever attended church, you probably heard "just trust God"

Sometimes, that seems very easy

Sometimes, not so easy

Sometimes, trusting God is downright hard!

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph,

before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son;

and he called His name Jesus."

Joseph had a hard decision to make

He obviously loved Mary

What if you were in that situation today?

Joseph was chosen by God also

Now, after hearing from the angel, Joseph still had to make a decision

Most of the time, in our lives we know what we should do, but it is hard

Our friends and families sometimes make it harder

If Joseph trusted God, he would be mocked and shamed

Perhaps, those who were the closest to him would reject him

But if he didn’t trust God ……..

This is a situation we often find ourselves in, and it is hard

Trusting God doesn’t mean there won’t be struggles

You may still go through some very hard times

We know, from scripture, that Joseph and Mary did go through hard times

Ultimately, it is how God brings you through these times

So, do you really trust God? He is the one that already knows the outcome.

We know that this year has been like no other in our lifetimes

But GOD!!

Do you trust Him even when it is hard?

Today is the day to solidly put your trust in Him for all eternity.

Will you receive Him today?