John 1:10-12 King James Version (KJV) 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
SERMON NOTES
originally posted (March 10, 2013)
From the Old Testament we are taught: ( OT )
"He will come."
From the New Testament we are taught: ( NT )
"He has come!"
Jesus...
1) Born in humble circumstances, in humility, in a manger that we might know and understand that God can produce GREATNESS from circumstances, from places not seen as great in the eyes of the people of this world. No matter what your circumstance may be, God has shown how what He makes and calls great depends not on circumstances that the world considers great.
Jesus...
2) Vulnerable yet protected by God. Transported in his youth to Egypt to protect him from the slaughter of the innocence by Herod. During his ministry, regularly threatened by the pharisees and others who despised his message that we might be assured that even though we live in vulnerability, the strength of God is GREAT in our weakness. No Matter how vulnerable we may be against attacks of this world, God is strong and great enough to protect us when we are weak.
Jesus...
3) Experienced emotional pain, was rejected by those he loved, lied about, mocked, scorned, hated, despised, mistreated that we might know and trust that we can go to Jesus with our situations because he knows and understands every one of our sorrows. Jesus knows our every pain. There is nothing too great or too small that He is unfamiliar about, and He cares about all of our situations. No matter what the problem we are going through, God understands them all and we can trust Him with our burdens. He knows and He cares.
Jesus...
4) Crucified between two guilty thieves, during those six hours Jesus promised to the one who believed upon him even as he hung there on the crucifixion cross, "Today, you will be with me in paradise!" that we will know that salvation comes immediately, even at the point of death, we can be saved. No matter what you may be guilty of, as soon as you accept Jesus as your personal savior, it is finished!
For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
From the sermon of +Pastor Jim Cymbala at the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
17 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tel: 718-290-2000
