Bible Text: Malachi 1:1-5 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Malachi

Read Malachi 1:1-5… Malachi speaks the word of God to Israel, declaring
God’s sovereign love for them (Malachi 1:1-2a). There was doubt in the hearts of the people concerning God’s love for them; God presents their doubt as a question (the first of about 2 dozen questions in this book), “How have you loved us?”
Malachi wrote early in the fifth century (445-424) B.C. The Israelites, released from their captivity in Babylon, had been back in the land of Palestine for about 100 years, during which: their priests had become corrupt; the people were marrying foreigners; divorce was rampant; social injustices were epidemic; and tithes were being withheld from God.
Israel questions God’s love for them (Malachi 1:2b), but it is their love toward God that has ceased. Malachi reminds the people of God’s unmerited and faithful love for them, it has nothing to do with their present situation; instead, God’s love for them is a result of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God declares (Malachi 1:2c), His favored love for Jacob; this would include the Twelve Tribes of Israel and all heirs of the promise made to Abraham (see Genesis 17:6-8; Romans 9:9-15).
God’s blessing should have gone to Isaac’s firstborn, Esau, but God divinely favored Jacob over Esau to receive the blessing (see Genesis 25:19, 21-34).
Rebekah’s pregnancy (twins) was very uncomfortable and so she asks (Genesis 25:22) “why am I like this,” “what is happening to me?” Basically, there was a wrestling match going on inside her womb, a struggle that symbolized the antagonism that would exist between the two nations to arise from her two sons, as confirmed by God’s answer to her question (see Genesis 25:23).
Notice (Genesis 25:28), Issac favored Esau, while Rebekah favored Jacob. God’s sovereign plan to bless Jacob’s descendants over those of Esau, superseded Isaac’s own favored love for his firstborn son. God’s sovereign hand directs the affairs of men, fulfilling God’s own purpose, plan and promise.
See Genesis 16:1-16; 17:1-7, 15-27… Abraham is 86 when his first son Ishmael [lit. God hears] is born; he is 100 when his second son Isaac [lit. he laughs] is born. It is through Isaac that God makes His covenant with Israel – Abraham to Isaac, to Jacob.
Abram – exalted father; Abraham – father of a multitude. Sarai – my princess; Sarah – princess.
Even though neither Isaac nor Jacob were firstborn sons, they received the blessing and covenant of God.
Maybe this doesn’t excite you the way it does me; but think about it! The Jews’ relationship with God came through Abraham, the patriarch of the Jews; neither you nor I are Jewish, but as Christians, we have received an eternal relationship with God, based on a spiritual birthright not an ancestral one.
No human ancestry or birthright will determine your salvation, it depends solely upon the sovereign will and work of God (see John 1:11-13; 3:3, 6-8; Galatians 3:26-29).
Jacob’s name means “deceitful” or “heel-catcher” [lit. One Who Takes the Heel]. We know that Jacob’s name was later changed to “Israel” (Genesis 32:28), meaning “he struggles with God” or “God’s fighter.”
Jacob’s descendants are the son’s of Israel to whom the Land of Canaan (Palestine) was given, by God.
Read Malachi 1:3-4… Esau means “Hairy.” He became the father of the Edomites (Edom means “red” or “red stuff”), these were a people who were under God’s wrath, i.e., “whom the Lord has cursed.”
Saul fought against the Edomites; David actually conquered them, for a time; but there continued a smoldering hatred between the Jews and the Edomites (see Genesis 27:1-41; 36:8-9).
After the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D, the Edomites disappeared from history, bringing an end to the descendants of Esau.
*Interesting note: All Arabs, following Mohammed’s example, claim descent from
Ishmael the firstborn son of Abraham. And yet the Arabs have fought against the Jews relentlessly for over 4000 years (against their own ancestral brothers).
Read Malachi 1:5… God sovereignly declared His authority to bless whom He chose; even those outside of the boundaries of Israel; this was always God’s plan: Isaiah 42:6, “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.”
Isaiah 49:6, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 13:47, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Acts 26:22-23, “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead,
would proclaim light to His own people and to the Gentiles.”
Read Ephesians 2:11-22… Where Israel failed to worship and honor God as
His obedient children, you and I, along with every true Christian – throughout the world -have the opportunity to bear witness that God’s light has come to the Gentiles, far beyond the boundaries of Israel.
God is sovereign; His will shall be accomplished just as He said it would; and so, we, God’s people, have the divine privilege to live as those who are dearly loved by God our Father, testifying to God’s grace and mercy which has been made effectual through Jesus Christ the Lord, as we serve Him wholeheartedly, steadfastly, in Spirit and in Truth, as He enables and empowers us to do so.
And all God’s people said, Amen!
Pastor Mike

Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Christmas Topical

Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Christmas Topical

About 2700 years ago, two of God’s prophets (Isaiah & Micah) wrote about the future birth of a male child to a virgin, in Bethlehem, in Judea. About 2000 years ago, a young woman named Mary, said to be a virgin, gave birth to a boy in a stable at Bethlehem, in Judea. The baby was named Jesus “Yeshua” [God’s salvation] and He was called Immanuel [God with us].

Mary’s conception by the Holy Spirit is a mystery, and the virgin birth of Jesus would be a sign from the LORD Himself, in order to point men to God’s Salvation: God’s One and Only Son.
Isaiah 7:14, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.”
Micah 5:2, “But as for you, Bethlehem [House of Bread] Ephrathah [Fruitful Land], though you are small among the clans of Judah, our of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

God told the world ahead of time about the coming of His Son, the Messiah/ Christ [Holy One], so that when it happened the world would believe and trust Him for salvation.

Some Rabbis, long before the birth of Jesus, wrote, “The Messiah is to have no earthy father, for his birth will be like that of no other man.” That is exactly how Christ was conceived, apart from any human action or will; this was done by the power of God! (see Matthew 1:18-21).

Mary was pregnant before she and Joseph had a sexual relationship, her virginity protected her moral character and the legitimacy of Jesus’ birth as the divine Son of God.

Joseph and Mary were pledged to be married at the time of the angel’s announcement. Joseph, being a just man, had a problem, Mary was pregnant and he knew it was not his child.

Joseph must have been a kind and loving man, for there is no evidence that he ever felt anger or distrust toward Mary; instead, the Scripture tells us (v. 19) that Joseph didn’t want to disgrace Mary by publicly exposing her
“condition,” [pregnancy] so he planned to “put her away” (divorce her) quietly.

An angel came to Joseph (v. 20) declaring Mary’s pregnancy to be from God. The angel tells Joseph that the child will be a son (v. 21), and although Joseph is not the biological father, he will have the responsibility for naming the baby and serving as His earthly father.

Genealogies in Matthew 1:1-16, Joseph’s ancestry; and Luke 3:23-38, Mary’s ancestry) establish Christ’s legal and blood right to the throne of David.

Jesus was a fully human descendant of David; and He was fully God (see Romans 1:1-4). The incarnation of Christ (God putting on flesh) is the central and foremost fact of Christianity: God became man, yet remained God.

This child would be the only source of salvation for mankind; He would be the fullness of God in human flesh.

Jesus is never called the son of Joseph (cf. Matthew 1:16), Joseph is never directly called the father of Jesus (cf. Luke 3:23); and yet Joseph was divinely chosen to raise God’s Son as a his very own.
Read Matthew 1:22-25. Sovereignly, the virgin birth of Christ was predicted in the Old Testament. “All this” (v.22), refers to the many specific facts about this birth that had been foretold by the prophets (v. 23).

When Joseph awakened from his sleep, he did as the angel had told him. Joseph could now honorably take Mary as his wife, without questioning her virtue; he could also care for God’s Son, as his very own.

Soon after the angel’s announcement (v. 24), Joseph took Mary home as his wife, and (v. 25) he kept her a virgin until after Jesus’ birth, but Mary did not remain a virgin, as some wrongly teach, for clearly Jesus had other brothers and sisters who were conceived naturally through their father Joseph (see Matthew 13:55-56).

The supernatural birth of Jesus validates His divinity; Christ the Savior of all was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit, and this was sovereignly determined by God, just as God had purposed, at just the right time (see Galatians 4:4-5).

Spiritually – The world was more accepting of many religious belief systems at this time; and the Jews had a renewed interest in the OT Scriptures that pointed to God’s Messiah.

Culturally – The world’s people were much more unified and educated, and even common people spoke Koine Greek (NT).

Politically – Rome, as the world Ruler, provided roads and relative safety for travel, therefore the message of Christ could be taken to the rest of the world.

Jesus was not just a male baby born in Bethlehem to a young Jewish virgin, named Mary, whose husband, named Joseph, was as a carpenter from Nazareth.

So, what do people say about who Jesus is?

Some say He was a good teacher, but then good teachers don’t claim to be God. Some say He was a good example, but good examples don’t mingle with thieves and prostitutes. Some say He was a liar, but liars don’t speak the Truth.

Some say He was a lunatic, but lunatics aren’t allowed to hold children nor do they reach out to touch lepers and heal them.

Some say He was a religious phony, but phonies don’t rise from the dead. Some say He was a phantom, but phantoms don’t bleed nor can they give up their lives as payment for the sins of others. Some say He was a myth, but myths don’t determine the calendar date for the world (B.C., before Christ; A.D., Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord), nor do they have a day of the week set apart to honor and worship them, and two major holidays to celebrate them.

This child, born to a virgin through the divine plan, power and providence of God, is God’s One and Only Son Who came from heaven to earth to save us from the penalty for our sins.
2Corinthians 5:21, “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.”

You have to work really hard to believe all of this is some coincidence or an intricately fabricated story put together over a period of 1500 years, in three different languages, on three different continents by 40 different authors, encouraging us to love God and one another.

Mark 12:30-31,“Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself

John 3:16-18, “God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. He who believes in Him is not condemned, he who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s One and Only Son.

Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

In Acts 2:36-38, when the people realized that Jesus, Who they crucified, was both Lord and Savior, they cried out to Peter, pleading with him, “what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent [confess your sins] every one of you, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins [i.e., professing God’s Son as Savior and Lord], and you will receive the Holy Spirit.”

So, who do you say Jesus is? Is He a liar or a lunatic or a phony or a myth, or is He, as the Scriptures proclaim, God’s Son, who came to earth to save us?

Do you believe the Scriptures? Have you called upon Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, that you might receive eternal life?

1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”

Acts 2:21, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

If there is any doubt in your heart today, that you have not received God’s free and divine gift, forgiveness and eternal life, please, as we bow our heads to close in prayer, confess to God that you are a sinner, ask Him to forgive your sins and save your soul, granting you eternal life.

Jesus is the only Savior, He is the only Way to heaven, and He turns no one away who comes to Him for forgiveness; but you must Confess your sins, Believe in Jesus as Savior, and He will Grant you eternal life; your life will be changed for eternity. Only then can you genuinely know and proclaim, “Merry Christmas!”

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Christmas Topical

In two weeks we will celebrate the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, who came to save all who will believe in Him.

There are 196 countries in the world today and about 160 of them celebrate Christmas in some way or another, while the other 36 do not in anyway observe Christmas.

Most of the world, until very recent, used a dating system focused on the birth of Jesus Christ; either looking forward to His coming, i.e., B.C., “before Christ,” or looking back to the point where He entered our world, i.e., A.D., anno Domini, “in the year of our Lord.”

There is an exerted effort today to delete BC and AD, to replace them with BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era), an attempt to remove Christ and Christianity from our calendars; which really is foolish, I mean what is the pivotal date for BCE and CE? The very same as BC and AD – the birth of Christ.

This is yet another feeble attempt by a godless world to try and remove Christ from Christmas, along with renaming it: Merry xmas, Happy Holiday, Seasons Greetings, Winter Celebration, Winter Holiday. Christmas is a compound word made up of two words: Christ [the anointed One], and Mass [an assembly or gathering for religious festivals or observances].

Easter celebrates and honors the sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection of God’s One and Only Son, God’s payment for sin and provision of eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.

Christmas celebrates and honors the coming of God’s One and Only Son, God’s ultimate Christmas gift to us.

But, was Jesus born on December 25? Most likely not, in fact it is not very probable that he was even born in December.

What do the scriptures reveal about this?

In Luke 1:39-41, we are told that, at the time of Mary’s conception through the Holy Spirit, she went to visit her aunt Elizabeth, and upon greeting her, Elizabeth’s baby “leaped in her womb,” for Elizabeth, was six months pregnant with John.

Luke 1:56 tells us that Mary stayed with them for three months. According to the Jewish religious calendar concerning the division of the priests, Mary’s visit with Elizabeth would have been late in the month of Kislev (Nov-Dec), at which time Mary was pregnant.

Kislev is the time of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, which begins on the 25th day of Kislev, close to December 25 when we celebrate Jesus’ birth (Jesus is (John 8:12), “the Light of the world”).

John the baptizer, Jesus’ cousin, was born near or during Passover in the month of Nisan (Mar/April); he was six months older than Jesus, therefore, Jesus would have been born in the month of Tishri (Sept-Oct), at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Our celebration of December 25 doesn’t really line up with the actual birth of Jesus, but it is very probable that it was the time of His conception, when the true life of Jesus began in the womb of Mary.

Luke 2:8 tells us, “there were shepherds living out in the fields watching over their flocks at night” when Jesus was born. A little research on past and present weather patterns in Palestine clearly suggests that there are not any shepherds out in the fields, around Bethlehem, at the end of December, for it is cold and can be very rainy.
Ezra 10:9, 13, “all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month (Kislev), all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed… because of the rain.” Jeremiah 36:22 tells us, in the the ninth month (Kislev) “the king was sitting in [his] winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him,” because of the cold.

The climate of Palestine in December, in Bible times, especially Jerusalem and Bethlehem which are at 2600 ft elevation, could be very cold (dropping to well below freezing at night) and humid, i.e., “it was not the practice of the shepherds of Judea to be out with their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October; it was the custom then (as it is now) to withdraw the flocks from the open fields and house them for the winter.”

Here is something else to think about, Luke 2:1 says there was a decree issued at the time of Jesus’ birth, that a census would be taken, and everyone would have to return to the town of their ancestors.

It wouldn’t be sensible to hold a census in December, more likely, a census would be taken after the harvest season, September or October, when the weather was more moderate and dry, allowing safe and easy travel.

So, why was December 25 chosen to be set apart as the celebration day of the birth of Christ?

The Romans celebrated the Festival of Saturnalia in December, from about the 17th-25th they worshipped the birth of the s-u-n god. Very common customs during that festival were the exchanging of gifts and decorating homes with evergreen boughs and lighted candles.

The decision to celebrate the birth of God’s Son on December 25th, came about during the middle of the fourth century, through the promotion of the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, after his conversion to Christianity.

The celebration of Christ’s birth during the winter solstice, seems to have been an attempt to Christianize the popular pagan celebrations and festivities already in place; what we see today is a bizarre mixture of both pagan and Christian elements.

But regardless of the historic or pagan background of December’s traditions, whether or not Jesus was born on December 25th, our purpose is to turn the eyes of all men toward Jesus Christ, the Savior who has come.

The light of the world has indeed come, and the Christmas season, with all its celebrations and customs, presents the church with a wonderful opportunity to proclaim and live out the good news; peace with God has come, forgiveness and eternal life has been granted, by God, to everyone who trusts and believes in His Son, Jesus Christ.

See John 1:1-4, 14, 18… Christmas is about the Incarnation of God, God the Son putting on flesh and living among us, showing us the Father (cf John 14:6, 9), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins in full (Luke 23:34), “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” (John 19:30), “‘It is finished,’ then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

This same Jesus, fully man yet fully God, was taken down from the cross, placed in a tomb, and three days later He came out of the grave alive. Christmas is about the fulfillment of the promised Messiah, sent by God to save us from eternal condemnation in hell.

Christmas is a time when many people are more open to the gospel message, therefore, we should make the most of this opportunity to be witnesses of the marvelous message of God’s gracious gift, Jesus Christ.

Christmas is a time to honor the Savior’s birth by sharing God’s greatest gift: Jesus the Christ, Immanuel.

The majority of the world today either rejects Jesus Christ outright, is totally confused about Him, or is just indifferent toward Him and has, instead, turned to man-centered traditions and religious rituals that are promoted and supported by network television, public education, secular religion, and the commercial marketplace.

If you are a Christian, the greatest gift you can offer to an unbeliever is the Good News about the Special Child whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas: Jesus [God’s Salvation], Immanuel [God with us], born to a virgin in Bethlehem, put to death on a cross at Calvary, buried in a borrowed tomb, only to come out alive on the third day – and everyone who calls upon Him for the forgiveness of sins will be saved to eternal life – that is the priority message of Christmas!

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Christmas Topical

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”God’s greatest expression of love toward us is the giving of His own Son, who would serve as the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins.

About 2700 years ago, two of God’s prophets wrote about the future birth of a male child to a virgin, in Bethlehem, in Judea.
Isaiah 7:14, “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. ”

About 700 years after these prophecies were made, a young woman, said to be a virgin, gave birth to a male child in Bethlehem, in Judea.

The baby was given the name Jesus and He was called Immanuel [God with us]. This child would be the source of salvation for all mankind, the fullness of God in human flesh, just as God had told the world ahead of time, so it would believe and trust in God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ [Messiah], for salvation.

Some Rabbis, long before the birth of Jesus, wrote,“The Messiah is to have no earthy father. The birth of the Messiah will be like that of no other man.”

Genesis 2:7 says Adam, was formed from the dirt of the ground by the hands of God, life was breathed into him by God. God then formed Eve from Adam’s flesh, and brought her to him as a helpmate, perfect for him.

All humans since Adam and Eve have been born of a man and a woman, that is, all but One!

Matthew 1:18-21… Notice, Mary was pregnant “before [she and Joseph) came together” (before they had a sexual relationship), i.e., Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant with Jesus, her conception by the Holy Spirit is a great and marvelous mystery.

Joseph was a good man and a devout worshipper of God, he clearly did not want to publicly expose Mary in her “sinful condition” [pregnant out of wedlock = adultery = stoning], so Joseph considered how he might “put her away quietly,” i.e., divorce her, and send her away.

While Joseph was struggling with the situation, an angel came to him in a dream (v. 20); the angel declared that Mary’s pregnancy was from God, and in fact Mary would have a son (v. 21), and also that Joseph (although not the biological father) would have the responsibility for naming the baby the name given him by God.

Jesus [Yeshua] means “Jehovah saves” or “God’s salvation,” God’s Son came to be our Savior; Joseph was divinely chosen to raise Him as a his own son; although, Joseph is never directly called the father of Jesus, and Jesus is never directly called the son of Joseph.

Matthew 1:16, “Jacob [was] the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Luke 3:23, “Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was the son, so it was thought [as was supposed], of Joseph, the son of Heli” [Joseph’s father-in-law, Mary’s father].

Matthew 1:22-23… The virgin birth was predicted in the OT “All this” (v. 22) refers to the specific facts spoken through Isaiah and Micah; the greatest being that the mother of God’s Son would be a virgin, the Father is God Himself.

When God made Adam He commanded him (Genesis 2:17), “not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

In Genesis 3:6-19 we are told what happened. Adam and Eve ate fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, bringing sin’s consequences upon them and all of mankind. Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent, and God then (vv. 14-15) curses the serpent, saying He will put enmity [hostility] between the offspring of the serpent and a certain male offspring of the woman, who will crush the serpent’s head.

God makes it clear throughout the OT, that the Savior of the world, the Messiah, would be born to a woman who was an ancestor of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and King David (Joseph, Matthew 1:6, through Solomon; Mary, Luke 3:31, through Nathan).

Isaiah 53:5-8 tells us that God’s punishment for sin would be placed upon Christ, God’s Servant-Son, Who would be pierced for our sins; sovereignly led like a lamb to the slaughter, being put to death in our place.

See Luke 2:19… Mary treasured up all that had happened: the angel’s announcement, Joseph’s response to her pregnancy, Elizabeth’s greeting, the shepherds proclamation of the Savior being born in Bethlehem; quite a bit for a teenage girl to consider, yet there was more (see Luke 2:21-35).

Mary had birthed God’s Son, the consolation of Israel, she would raise Him and love Him, knowing that through Him salvation would come to the whole world; although His own people the Jews would reject Him, and her own soul would be pierced as with a a sword.

In John 1:29, seeing Jesus coming toward him, John said, “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Philippians 2:5-11 tells us, through Jesus Christ, God put on flesh, that He might go to the cross, shedding His own blood, even dying for us.

Hebrews 9:15 tells us that Christ “died as a ransom to set [us] free” from the penalty we deserve for our sin; verse 22 declares, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness,” and for that reason (v. 26), “Christ has appeared once for all to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself,” (v. 28), “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people.” (i.e., most people will not believe in Him).

Hebrews 10:4, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” [therefore] (v.10), “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” (v. 14), “by the one sacrifice [God] has made perfect forever those who are being made holy,” (v. 17), quoting from (Jeremiah 31:34) says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more”.

Romans 4:25, “He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

This child (God’s One and Only Son) was born that He might die for our sins, an innocent lamb sent to slaughter, but He could not be kept in the grave because He is God.

In Revelation 1:8, Jesus, fully God, says, ”I am the Alpha and the Omega,”… …”who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” 18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!.”

There is not a more important message for you and I to share with those we love and care about, then this (1John 5:11-12), “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Jesus Christ is the Savior to Whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Do you have God’s peace about your own salvation? 1John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

What about those you love and care about? Do they know that Christmas celebrates the birth of the Savior, God’s Lamb. Jesus was born that He might die for you, for me, and for all who would believe in Him? Do those you love and care about know that Easter celebrates the victory of God’s Lamb, God’s Son, over sin, death and judgement? He did this so that everyone who repents of their sin and believes in Him, will saved to eternal life.

The greatest thing you or I can give to anyone is the Good News of God’s Lamb. Prophesied in the Old Testament, Born to Mary in Bethlehem, Baptized by John in the Jordan, Commissioned by God the Father (Matthew 3:17), “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased,” (Matthew 17:5), “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Jesus Christ: Crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Again; and that is why we are able celebrate and exclaim, Merry Christmas!

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale

The Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year season is often associated with expressions of gratitude toward God for His many blessings.

God’s gifts come in a variety of forms at various times, often providing or supplementing what we need, and sometimes surprising us with totally unexpected blessings– day by day, year after year.

Last Sunday night after our Soup, Salad and Bread Dinner, several of you openly gave thanks for specific blessings that God had brought into your lives. It was an encouragement to all of us who were there, to be reminded of just a few of God’s magnificent and marvelous blessings.

Have you ever gone to God in prayer, and you begin thanking Him for all the wonderful things He has created for you to enjoy: people, places, sunsets, sunrises, birds, fish, animals, insects, flowers, trees, fruits, vegetables, nuts, clouds, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, the ocean. You can’t help but give glory to God for all you see, hear, touch, taste, smell and experience on earth, not to mention the awesome hope of eternity in heaven with Him and all true believers.

Today, I want to center in on what I consider to be four of God’s major blessings: salvation, truth, struggle, and family.
1. Salvation… Before coming to Christ we were dead spiritually, guilty of sin, condemned to hell, hopeless; but God, in His great mercy and kindness, provides forgiveness for sin and eternal life, to all who believe in and receive His Son (cf Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-10, 13; see Ephesians 2:1-10, 13-14).

We ought to continually thank God for His gracious gift of redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ [GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense].

God reached down to us with His life-giving unconditional love (see John 1:1-5, 14; 3:16-21; cf Romans 5:8; 8:1). Romans 11:29, “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” In other words, once you receive, by faith, the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, you can’t loose, give back, or have it taken from you; it is eternal, for that we can give thanks!

God wants everyone to be saved, He doesn’t want anyone to be banished to hell (1Timothy 2:3-4; 2Peter 3:9). Paul declares (2Corinthians 9:15), ”Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”
2. Truth… When you watch the news, scroll through online blogs, or read op-ed pieces in the paper, you come away with a strong realization that the world we live in is in chaos and people are confused and deluded. Moral, social, economic, national and world problems abound, all of man’s solutions are at best, temporary, and at worst, ineffectual.

The world declares that there are no absolutes concerning good and evil, right and wrong, no ultimate authority by which everything is judged; our culture has abandoned the concept of absolute “truth,” and therefore, common sense, modesty, propriety, all gone; while marriage, family, unborn children, sexuality and religious freedom are under attack, bringing consequences upon all of us.

But thanks to God, all those who trust in Him have His eternal, infallible and incontestable Word of Truth, by which we can evaluate all matters of life and eternity.

The truth is, we can understand the origin, purpose and plan of life better than all the religious educators, philosophers, scientists, politicians, and social gurus.

Jesus reassures us about 80 times in the Gospels, that He is “telling us the truth.” God’s Word tells us how to know and serve Him, how to love our spouses, raise our children, care for the poor and needy, and all this, while sharing God’s message of forgiveness and eternal life through Christ, with anyone who will listen.

God’s Truth provides everything we need to know while living on this earth and trusting Him to bring us into heaven for eternity. Everything conforming to the character, nature, plan and purpose of God is Truth:
Jesus Christ [God’s Son] is the Author of Truth; everything He said and did is Truth (John 14:6).

The Holy Spirit [God’s Spirit] is the Spirit of Truth and He lives in each and every genuine believer and follower of Christ (John 14:16-17, 25-26).
The Bible [God’s Word] is God’s Revealed Truth; but only those who accept and apply it give testimony to it, having been sanctified [set apart for the holy work of God], by His Word (John 17:17).

3. Struggle… It is difficult to be thankful during times of struggle; and our first response is rarely to give thanks to God. Being thankful for or during hard times is never easy, but it is always the right thing to do; for difficult times can lead us to experience God’s presence and power, as He strengthens our weaknesses and comforts our hurts; this often forces us into a greater dependence upon Him (see 2Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 4:12-13, 19).

Struggle is part of the Christian life (cf 2Timothy 3:12), and yet, God will grant us victory in our struggles, if we hold fast, seeking to honor and obey Him (see James 1:2-4; 2Corinthians 4:7-9, 16).

Don’t forget to thank God for the struggles in your life, for it is often during those times that you experience God’s presence like no other. It is often through hard times that we are also prepared to serve God fully, while also becoming more compassionate toward others (see 2Corinthians 1:3-4).
4. Family… Do you receive encouragement and comfort from the people God puts in your life? Do you thank God often, for them? Do you tell them you are thankful for them? Probably not!

I will be the first to admit that I don’t express thankfulness to God or to those I care about, as often as I should; but I am truly thankful for the family and friends God gives me, they are definitely gifts from God.

My best friend is Nancy, my wife of almost 36 years; God has given us four children and four grandchildren, thus far, and through them God blesses and stresses me, causing me to trust Him more.

God is so gracious to give Nancy and I Christian parents who also bless our children and grandchildren.

I am especially thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage and exhort me to live by faith as both a child and a servant of God, a citizen of God’s eternal kingdom.

We all have friends, family, and acquaintances, whom we enjoy; but true Christian family is priceless, this is a gift from God.
Proverbs 18:24, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

Proverbs 27:17, “As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
True friends tell us what we need to hear, not necessarily what we want to hear,

they do this because they love us, even if it temporarily hurts us.
God is so good to provide friends during our life on earth, some with whom we

will share eternity in heaven; but the best friend God provides, is His own Son, Jesus Christ, who, although He is the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, the Master of all, He calls us His friends (cf John 15:15).

During this season of Giving Thanks, that we just entered, we ought to consider our many blessings, and be sure that we thank God for them, especially:

Salvation which is by Grace, through Faith in Jesus Christ who took our punishment, paying our penalty for sin, so that we receive forgiveness and eternal life.

Truth provides all we need to know, and to serve God, that we might enjoy this life, while trusting Him for heaven. God’s Truth is revealed in His Word, by His Spirit, through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the only Way, and the only Truth, and the only Life concerning all things God.

Struggle is a part of life on earth; Christ Himself suffered to the point of death, on our behalf, but God will not allow us more than we can bear and He will always supply what we need during the tough times we will experience on this side of heaven.

Family is used by God to bring both comfort and challenge, to supply our needs, while allowing us to supply the needs of others.

Earthly family and friends are temporary, but Christian family is eternal. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks!

May we especially today, and throughout this whole season, be thankful for God’s marvelous gifts of Salvation, Truth, Struggle, and Family.

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Topical Study | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Basic Christianity

What do you say to someone who hasn’t expressed a belief in God or a need to

be forgiven of their sins?
What are some of the biblical truths a person must know and believe, in order

that they might receive forgiveness and eternal life? (see Romans 1:18-20; 2:12-15; 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 8:1)

What is the Gospel? See 1Corinthians 15:1-4 Is it prudent to speak to people about God’s forgiveness without talking about sin? How about explaining trusting in Christ to someone apart from describing faith?

When we share God’s message of salvation, we must emphasize the need for a person to surrender to the Lordship of Christ, to fully receive Him as Savior.

We must be clear – salvation is not merely believing some facts about Jesus, but is to genuinely repent of sin and turn away from it, turning to God, completely trusting in Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, as total payment for your sins (see John 5:39-40).

Only a genuine heart response to the true gospel of Christ can bring salvation to an unbeliever; any diluted, redacted, or corrupted gospel message can create a false sense of conversion, leaving that person separated from God, without hope and eternally damned.

Can anyone come to Christ apart from confessing that they are a sinner? NO! And so, we must teach the need for repentance; to repent means to do a total about face — to turn away from sin and self and turn toward God; to be born “from above” [born of the Spirit] into God’s family (see John 1:12-13); a genuine change of heart belief will be verified in a person’s life by a change in their behavior (see Mark 1:4-8, 14-20).

True repentance is the work of God’s Spirit convicting us of our sin (see John 16:8-9; also 12:32; 6:44; 3:14-16). The cure for sin is to respond to God’s gift by confessing and following Christ (see 1John 1:5-10).

It takes “faith” to believe God (see Hebrews 11:1-3, 6). Faith is a gift from God (see Ephesians 2:8-9). Never forget this – God’s desire is to save us, to spiritually heal us granting us eternal life (see 1Timothy 2:3-4; 2Peter 3:9).

Faith in Jesus means to believe in and receive Him, confessing Him as Savior and yielding to Him as Lord; true repentance and belief take place in your heart not in the head (see Romans 10:9-10, 13).

True belief will produce clear evidence of salvation, there must be a demonstrable change in one’s life. To say that a person can be genuinely saved and yet not desire to obey God’s Word, is absurd, a lie from hell!

There are many contemporary preachers who take the position that it is possible for a true believer to turn from Christ to unbelief, to deny God, and to become an atheist – yet still possess eternal life. B-a-l-o-n y!

That kind of apostasy proves a person was never saved (see 1John 2:18-19).

Scripture is very clear that a saved person can never become unsaved or fall back into total unbelief; a Christian cannot lose, have taken away, or give back, their salvation (Romans 11:29).

God is sovereign in salvation, and salvation cannot be revoked, i.e., once saved always saved. When you repent and believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in you, and you become completely and eternally God’s possession.

Ephesians 1:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of His glory.” (You see, we are marked, sealed, redeemed)

1Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

In John 18:37 Jesus said, “for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.”

Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), everything He said and did is Truth; the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), lives in each and every genuine believer and follower of Christ. The Bible is the Word of Truth (John 17:17), by which God’s people are set apart, protected, directed, and provided for.

As you study and apply God’s Word to your life, you are spiritually transformed by a desire and propensity to serve, honor, and obey your Father in heaven, and the greatest thing you and I can do is to introduce someone to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

We become spiritual children of God.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

We are to serve and honor God.

John 8:32-33, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

We are bond slaves, we have been given our freedom, yet we serve God.

1John 2:4, “We know that we have come to know Him [Jesus] if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’”

We are to obey God’s Word.

Christians are free from sin’s penalty, commissioned to proclaim the gospel [the good news] of Christ. We are commanded (Matthew 28:19-20a), to go and make disciples of all nations [i.e., proclaiming Christ], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit [immersing them into all that the Bible says about the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit], teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded [i.e., about Sin, Salvation, Life, Death, Prayer, Service, Marriage, Parenting, Helping the Poor, Protecting the Weak, Hating Evil, Holding up the Truth, Rebuking False Doctrine, Exposing False Teachers, etc.].

Jesus’ first command was (Mark 1:15), “Repent and believe the good news,” then (v. 17), “Come, follow Me!”

The message you and I are to proclaim must be God’s plan, purpose, and provision of Jesus Christ, He is (John 14:6), “the [only] way, the [only] truth, the [only] life [concerning God]. No one comes to the Father [goes to heaven or receives eternal life] except through Jesus Christ (crucified, resurrected, coming again).”

Salvation is free through Jesus, that is the message we must share;, for there is no salvation apart from forgiveness, and no forgiveness apart from repentance for sin and confession of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Acts 2:21 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they must be saved.” And in Acts 16:30 the jailer asked Paul and Silas, ”Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They responded (v. 31), “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

The most important Truth of all time is this, Jesus Saves!

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Basic Christianity |

November 13, 2016
The Fundamentals of Spiritual Gifts: Part Two

Last week we studied the temporary gifts of the Spirit that were given to the church during that 1st century, prior to the completion of the New Testament: signs & wonders, miracles, healings, speaking in tongues, etc.

Today I’m going teach about the permanent gifts of the Spirit, present in the church until the return of Christ, when He will call all true believers to Himself, first those who have already died and then those who are still alive.

The gifts of the Spirit that are still active today are in two major categories, speaking gifts and serving gifts, and these are listed in Romans 12. But before we look at those, I want to share with you some thoughts about the recognition, distribution, and use of these spiritual gifts.

1Corinthians 13:1-7 tells us that no matter what our gift is, if we don’t offer and exercise it in love, we are like “a noisy gong or clanging symbol,” i.e., we are not a pleasant benefit to the body of Christ, but instead we are out of tune, out of step with the plan and purpose of God.

Every believer is meant to be a unique blessing to the body of Christ, living in harmony with other believers, single minded and unified in purpose, as we individually, yet corporately, serve the Lord as one people, through the bond of peace, in one body, through one baptism, with one faith, one hope, one God and Father Who is over all (Ephesians 4:3-6).

The unique giftedness God grants to every believer is similar to an artist who takes a pallet, with small amounts of many different colors on it, dips a brush into one of the colors, and then another, and perhaps another, creating a unique color, different from all the others.

Each member of the body of Christ is a unique gift to the other members, with various talents, attributes, experiences, weaknesses and strengths.
1Corinthians 12:18, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be,” 27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” [placed where you are by God, in order to serve Go. Romans 12:6a… Paul begins by stating the different gifts in the body of believers are provided by the grace of God; for it is God alone Who determines what gifts His children will have and exercise (1Corinthians 12:7), “for the common good,” and (v. 11) “[God] gives them to each one just as He determines.”

1Peter 4:10 tells us that God gives us spiritual gifts in order that we might “serve one another.” John MacArthur says it this way, “God gives His gifts to us for others.”
Romans 12:6b… prophecy – to speak forth, proclaiming publicly God’s Word by revelation (prior to the completion of the Bible), and reiteration [repeating, explaining, re-emphasizing], after the completion of the Bible.

1Corinthians 14:3, “Everyone who prophecies speaks to men for their strengthening [instruction, edification], encouragement [exhortation], and comfort [consolation, support].”
Romans 12:7a… service – This is every kind of practical service, [like table waiters and dishwashers], this same Greek word gives us the term “deacon” [lit. servant] i.e., wherever there is a need among the body of believers.

In 1Corinthians 12:28 it is called the gift of “helps,” i.e., helping in the church (social committee, buildings & grounds, music, slides, janitorial, visiting the sick and shut-ins, giving to the poor, helping those in need, ushering, greeting, arranging flowers, paying the bills, preparing and serving communion, making refreshments, serving in Sunday School and the nursery, etc., etc.).

Romans 12:7b… teaching – This is the ability to interpret, expose, clarify, systematically explain God’s Word in public proclamation, “house to house,” or more privately, i.e., individually, person to person.
Acts 20:20-21, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

This is pastoral teaching from the pulpit, at Bible College or Seminary, in Sunday School, at VBA, i.e., wherever God’s truth is taught, as well as proclaiming the Good News to individuals; as Jesus commanded.
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Romans 12:8a… encourage [exhortation]– This is the ability to come alongside other believers, exhorting (strongly encouraging) them to obey and follow God’s Word; warning and reproving them concerning sin in their lives, and also consoling and strengthening those who are struggling or injured, in order to bring comfort and counsel from the Word of God.

1Corinthians 4:14, “I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn [counsel] you as my dear children.”
1Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage one another and build each other up.”
Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds…,” “let us encourage one another.”

Romans 12:8b… giving – This is not giving out of your abundance, but sacrificially sharing your resources with those who are in need; with openhearted generosity, not looking for recognition, but giving quietly, out of a genuine concern and compassionate response to needs.
Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

Romans 12:8c… leading – Literally “to stand before,” to steer, pilot, guide or govern, with dilligence. This describes leadership in the home and church. 1Timothy 3:1, 4-5, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” He must manage [lead] his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?).”

Romans 12:8d… showing mercy – This is to express sympathy and sensitivity to those who are suffering, in a way that helps lessen their afflictions or sorrows. James 2:15-16, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”

1John 3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Showing mercy is expressed when we visit those in the hospital, or those confined to their home, those in jail, those who are homeless and perhaps friendless, those who have or are suffering loss, those with special needs that aren’t commonly met or fulfilled by others.
Proverbs 14:31, “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors God.”

Showing mercy is most exemplary of Christ Himself, and if it were up to me to pick a gift from God that all believers would have in abundance and would use with great frequency, it would be showing mercy.
Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

What a different world it would be, if Christians would exercise mercy frequently and cheerfully; there would be fewer needy, especially among the Family of God; and perhaps more would come to salvation through the mercy shown them by those who have received God’s mercy.

All spiritual gifts (and natural talents ) are given by God, to be used for the edification of the whole Church, through which we are to honor and serve God by loving and encouraging one another.

The Bible does not tell us exactly how to determine our or anybody else’s spiritual giftedness; nor does it instruct us to take some type of spiritual gift inventory, go to a spiritual gift seminar, or waste our time seeking out what our giftedness is to the church.

What it tells us to do is to prayerfully study and apply God’s Word to our lives, while also actively participating in fellowship and serving in the local church, as we serve, our giftedness becomes quite clear; for we are many members, in one body, with a diversity of gifts seeking a unity of purpose — caring for one another, while sharing the message of Christ with anyone who will listen, so they might receive forgiveness for sins and eternal life.
Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Ephesians 2:8-10, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

The greatest work we can do is to love one another, serving God, telling others about God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Who was put to death in order to make full payment for all our sins, according to the scriptures, He was then buried, and raised from the dead on the third day, according to the scriptures, in order to grant forgiveness for sins and eternal life to all who believe in Him.

At the moment of genuine repentance (Romans 10:9-10) confessing Christ as Lord, believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved.

1Corinthians 12:13 says, that at that moment, God’s Spirit fills us, so that we are equipped to serve, and places us in the body of Christ, of which He is the head, where we are to serve.
1Peter 4:10-11, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Preacher: Pastor Mike | Series: Basic Christianity

November 6, 2016,
“The Fundamentals about Spiritual Gifts: Part One”

As Christians, if it were not for the gift of God’s Spirit we would have nothing, we would be nothing, and we could do nothing pleasing to God.

God gives spiritual gifts to believers, so that we might serve in God’s church. (1Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, 11), “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.”

And so, we see that the gifts are given by the God’s Spirit, and that they are given for the “common good,” and (1Peter 4:10-11) they are given to every believer, for the purpose of serving one another.

Just as there are many different organs and parts in a single physical body, there are also many diverse gifts and functions among the members of Christ’s body.
1Corinthians 12:12, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” 27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Some of our physical body parts are more obvious and seemingly more important to the function of the body (eyes, ears, mouths, hands, feet, brains); but there are organs and parts of our body that are hidden(kidneys, liver, bones, muscles, blood vessels); that is, until those less noticeable parts begin to fail or not function properly.

Just as all of our physical body parts work together and are contained in one body, connected together and created to work in unity; so it is with the spiritual body of Christ, the church, and with the use of spiritual gifts.

There are two major passages where spiritual gifts during the church age are listed, 1Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. Romans was written after 1Corinthians, and it is worth mentioning that none of the sign gifts mentioned in 1Corinthians 12:9-10 (the gifts of healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, etc.) are found in Romans 12; nor are they found in other books written later, but instead these later books mention only the speaking and serving gifts.

There are two major categories of spiritual gifts, those that were temporary, during the 1st century church, and those that are permanent, until the church is taken to be with the Lord.

Before the New Testament was completed, there was no standard or authority by which to judge the preaching or teaching of someone, as to whether or not they spoke the truth of God; and so, God gave sign gifts to the apostles and prophets, to verify that they were proclaiming God’s message.

2Corinthians 12:12, “The things that mark an apostle — signs, wonders and miracles — were done among you with great perseverance.”

Hebrews 2:3b-4, “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.”

Ephesians 4:11-14, “It was He [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful

scheming.”

The signs and wonders gifts were used by the Apostles in the New Testament; but these gifts came to an end when the apostles passed from the scene and the New Testament was completed; signs and wonders were given to the apostles to validate their authority, since there was no way, apart from the written Word of God, to test their teachings or approve their authority from God.

The next time “signs and wonders” appear, will be after the church is caught up to be with Christ; the Antichrist, along with false christ and false prophets, will perform signs and wonders empowered by Satan himself.

Matthew 24:24, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if it were possible.”

2Thessalonians 2:9-10, “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

Revelation 13:13-14, “And he [the False Prophet] performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast [the

Antichrist], he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.”

On another note, the gift of “speaking in different kinds of tongues” (cf 1Corinthians 12:10) allowed a person to speak a language unknown to him, but known to his hearers in their own native language, proclaiming the works of God.

Tongues [lit. languages], was never intended to be permanently effectual in the work and function of the church.

1Corinthians 14:22, “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.”

The Book of Acts (the History of the Church), has 28 chapters; but chapter 19 (which takes place around 60 A.D.) is the last time the gift of tongues is recorded as happening, this “gift” ceased to be operative by 100 A.D., after the completion of the New Testament.

Paul said that tongues-speaking would cease (1Corinthians 13:8).

Therefore, it is very significant that of the seven gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8, there is no mention of the gifts of healing, miracles, or speaking in tongues; but instead, all the gifts listed there fall into the two categories of speaking gifts and serving gifts. Any idea why that might be so? Perhaps because it is the speaking and serving gifts that are used

Ephesians 4:12-14, “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and

craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”

Next week I want to spend the time looking at the importance of these permanent gifts, and how you are to know your gift and to use it to bring honor, glory and praise to God and benefits to God’s people.

Pastor Mike <‘(((><

Bible Text: Topical Study | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Basic Christianity

Fundamentals of the Church