Christmas Cookies & Coffee – God’s Thumbprint Promise
Pastor Phil Derstine 12-29-24
- A New Birth
- II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
- John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (A Spiritual Transformation)
- John 8:1-12 A Woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus in the Temple
- John 8:10 “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
- John 3:17 “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”
- A New Vision
- Inspiration: A divine influence on a person, believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation.
- II Kings 7:3 “Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, Why stay here until we die?
- Infectious skin disease (Creates nerve deadness, inability to feel)
- Damage to ears, lips, fingers, toes
- Spiritual: Inability to hear, speak, serve, go
- II Kings 7:4 If we say, We’ll go into the city – the famine is there, and we will die. If we stay here, we will die. So, let’s go over to the camp of the Syrians and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.”
- “The Lord caused the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots, horses, and a great army…”
- “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we’re keeping it to ourselves.”
- Hear the Word of the Lord
- Move forward in Faith
- Refocus your life for others
- Do what God tells you to do
- A New Season
- Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season (Gr: Kairos) we shall reap, if we faint not. (10) As we have therefore opportunity, (Gr: Kairos) let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
- Due season (God’s Time) can come at any opportunity (God’s Time) to do good!
- I Kings 17:12 (Elijah asked widow of Zarephath for food) “As surely as the Lord your God lives, she replied, I don’t have any bread –only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I’m gather-ing a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it – and die.”
- I Kings 17:15 “She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. (16) For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
- Take a Leap of Faith! (A New Birth, A New Vision, A New Season)
- Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Prayer of Dedication (4th Day of Hanukkah – Feast of Dedication)
Dear Heavenly Father, I dedicate myself afresh to You today. I confess my deep need for your love, mercy, and forgiveness. I humble myself under your mighty Hand & ask your forgiveness for known and unknown sins, for pride and self-centeredness. I confess You today, as my Lord and Savior. I place my full trust in You and lean not to my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge You and I desire that You direct my paths. I commit my way unto you Lord and thank you for Your grace upon my life. I commit to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. I promise to live a godly, obedient, and growing life of faith through the Spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, community, and personal witness. I ask all this in the Name of Jesus Christ and the Power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
