Podcast: BaptistBasics.org - Sermons

When Was Jesus Born? 

Luke 2:1-7 

I have titled this sermon, “When Was Jesus Born?” 

You will note that it is not, “Was Jesus Born?” 

There is no reason at all to doubt that a baby was born some 2,000 years ago whose life and teachings turned the world upside down. 

It is as close to historical fact as you will find. 

We have so many trustworthy accounts that Christ walked this earth that only those suffering from rabid madness against God will deny the truth. 

There are few births in history that we know so many details about. 

You will find legendary figures that we are not sure existed or at least existed in the way they are known to us – such as King Arthur or Robin Hood, but we know exactly who Jesus is and what He did. 

You will find historical figures that we are not sure who their parents are, yet we know exactly who Mary and Jospeh are. 

You will find historical figures that we know little about their extended family, but Luke tells us Mary had a cousin whose son was John the Baptist. 

You will find historical figures that we cannot track their movements or quote their words with any certainty, yet in Christ we have four reliable biographies. 

You fill find historical figure that history reassesses over time, and they become less important and are forgotten, but Christ is more important and more well-known in our day than in any other. 

Yet there still some details about the life of Christ that we wish we knew more about. 

Some people have tried to fill these gaps using their imagination – such as the fanciful stories you will find about Christ as a child. 

Some have tried to ignore the details of the Christ we know to create a Christ to fit their own opinion or agenda. 

One of the most common questions about Christ that is not clearly stated in the Bible is exactly when He was born. 

We have a lot of details about his birth, but the exact date or time is not explicitly given. 

For the last 1,700 years or so, Christians have set aside December 25^th as the day to celebrate the birth of Christ. 

Before I give my opinion on the accuracy of this date, let me explain where it came from. 

There has been a lot of misinformation about the origins of Christmas traditions that has many to falsely claim pagan roots for much the celebration. 

Remember the wise words of Abraham Lincoln – “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” 

This goes for more than just the date of Christmas, and includes things like Christmas trees, which are based on the Paradise tree used in Paradise Plays in 16^th century Germany, and even Santa Claus, who is based on a real person named Saint Nicholas who lived in the 3^rd-4^th centuries. 

There are popular claims that the date of Christmas is tied to the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, but it was not on December 25. 

There are other claims Christians hijacked the pagan feast celebrating Sol Invictus on the December 25^th and Christianized it.   

There is actually some evidence that the reverse is true, that the pagans were reacting to a Christian celebration when emperor Aurelian instituted the feast in 274. 

So why did we end up with the date of December 25^th being set aside to honor Christ’s birth? 

It is actually very easy. 

The reason we celebrate Christmas on December 25^th is because it is nine months from March 25^th. 

Can’t argue with that logic, can you? 

So, what is important about March 25 that Christmas is based off of it? 

The nine months time frame may have given it away. 

It is when the Christians at least as early as the 2^nd Century celebrated the Annunciation, which is when Gabriel told Mary she was going to have the Son of God in Luke 1. 

Makes sense, right? 

Gabriel says Mary will have a baby and nine months later she does. 

But how did they decide that Gabriel appeared to Mary on March 25? 

Two reasons. 

First, there was an assumption in those early days saintly individuals died on the same day they were conceived or born. 

They thought this because in the Old Testament ages were given in years without months or days added. 

Second, there was a belief that Christ died on March 25. 

This fits well with the timing of the Jewish Passover in conjunction with the Roman calendar. 

Tertullian, of the most well-known Christian leaders of his day, wrote around the year 200 that Christ was crucified in “the month of March, at the times of the Passover, on the eighth day before the calends of April”, which works out to be March 25. 

So, if you are still following along, because Christ was crucified on March 25, it was believed that was also the day He entered Mary’s womb. 

That is how December 25 became associated with Christ’s birth. 

It is so simple, right? 

Now, if you’ll bear with me a few minutes I will give you some Gageology before making some practical observations. 

The question we face now: Is December 25 the real date that Christ was born? 

I am fairly certain that the year was 4 B.C., which I am not going to get into my reasoning for that. 

Are there any clues in the Bible about when Christ was born? 

Luke actually gives us a few clues. 

He tells about the Birth of John the Baptist, which involves John’s father Zacharias serving in the Temple. 

It says in 1:5 that Zacharias was a priest in the order of Abia. 

This was one of 24 divisions of priests which served 1-week rotations twice a year. 

For Zacharias, his first rotation would have been after Pentecost in early June. 

During this week, Gabriel announced that John the Baptist would be born. 

Assuming this is June, that makes nine months later to be March the following year. 

Now, in 1:26 it says “in the sixth month”, which is referring to the Elisabeth’s pregnancy with John, that Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce she would bear the Christ child. 

So, Christ would be born about born about six months after John, making it roughly September or perhaps October. 

Would there be any significance to Christ being born in September or October? 

There are three major Jewish Feasts that occur during this time. 

Feast of Trumpet – New Years – Rosh Hashanah  

Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur 

Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot 

Would not the birth of Christ, a new beginning, be fitting for a New Years Day? 

Would not the birth of Christ, the lamb of God, be fitting for the Day of Atonement? 

Would not the birth of Christ, God veiled in human flesh, be fitting for the Feast of Tabernacles? 

Personally I think it was around or after the Feast of Tabernacles. 

Now, if you are still awake, I have one more question to ask. 

DOES IT MATTER WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN? 

Doctrinally, I do not think it does. 

If it did, God would have told us plainly. 

Theologically, I do not think it does. 

I am not sure what changes if Christ is born in one month or another, 

When it comes to Apologetics, that is the defense of our faith, I think it does matter. 

I want to be able to prove the accuracy or even the plausibility of the Gospel accounts. 

Even if I am wrong in my personal calculations and assumptions, it is still compatible with the history we know. 

There is no reason to doubt that what the Bible says is true. 

Christ really was born in Bethlehem in the days of Caesar Augustus. 

It is historical fact. 

It is trustworthy. 

More importantly, it is faith worthy. 

Christ was born just as the prophets had foretold. 

He was the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David, just like they said. 

He was born in Bethlehem just like they said. 

He was born of a virgin, just like they said. 

That is of the utmost importance. 

We have talked a lot about history this morning, but we have some critical doctrine to talk about here. 

Babies are born every day, and I do believe each one is a miracle 

But no baby, no birth has ever occurred like it did on the first Christmas. 

Those of us who defend the sanctity of life will often say that life begins at conception. 

Friends, Christ did not begin at conception. 

Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote: 

“On the human side, He had a beginning and was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary.  On the divine side, he no beginning because He was from all eternity.” 

Isaiah 9:6 says that “unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” 

The Son was not born, He was given to us. 

Christ, coequal with the Father and the Spirit in the Trinity, had no beginning. 

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.  

He was not created or made – that is a heresy from the earliest days of Christianity called Arianism. 

The great God of the universe that spoke the worlds into existence left the glories of heaven and laid aside the majesty that enveloped Him. 

He took upon Himself the veil of human flesh – Romans 8:3 says the likeness of sinful flesh, that is like us but undefiled by Adam’s fall. 

He entered the womb of a mother as His body developed according to the same processes of every human child. 

Think about it – the limitless God that not even the breadth and scope of the universe can contain, allowed Himself to be the size of pea, then a grape, then an apple, then a grapefruit, then a melon, then a pumpkin. 

All the while He was 100% God and 100% Man. 

The newborn babe that Mary held was Immanuel, God with us. 

He humbled Himself to the human experience of physical growth and development. 

It was thirty years before He would perform a single miracle or preach a single sermon. 

He knew hunger and pain. 

He wept tears of joy and of sorrow. 

Why would the Great God Almighty do such a thing? 

Why would the Father let the Son suffer so? 

Christ came to reveal God to us. 

We see God in every word and every deed. 

Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. 

It was a rescue mission! 

He came to redeem us and ransom us from our sins. 

He came to die in our stead. 

He came to conquer death, hell, and the grave. 

He came so that all men would know that God loved them even while they were vile sinners and at enmity with God. 

He came to rescue the lost and undone. 

He came to give hope to the hopeless. 

He came to lift up the feeble and encourage the fainthearted. 

He came bring us into the family of God. 

He came to give eternal life to all that receive His free gift of salvation. 

He came so that we need not fear what lies ahead. 

He came so that light would pierce the darkness in this world and in ourselves. 

He came to pay the price of our salvation, the destroy the plans of Satan, and to guarantee that all that come to Him will be received. 

If that is not reason enough to set aside a day to celebrate, I do not know what is. 

If that is not reason enough to trust our souls in His care, I do not know what is. 

If that is not reason enough to live everyday as Christmas, I do not know what is. 

CONCLUSION 

1. Do not let those who do not know Christ or Christianity tell you what to believe. 

1. That includes how and why we celebrate Christmas. 

2. Pity those that do not know the joy we have in our hearts. 

2. Live every day like Christmas. 

1. Live every day celebrating the Savior. 

2. Live every day showing love to fellow man. 

3. Put your faith in the one we celebrate. 

Don’t Wait To Open Your Presents! 

James 1:17 

With the passing of Thanksgiving, we have officially begun the Christmas season. 

I do not know how many of you overachievers have already bought your Christmas presents – I doubt very many. 

Perhaps some of you picked up some of those can’t miss Black Friday deals. 

Some of you, no doubt, will wait until Christmas Eve as stores are beginning to close to rush around and see what you can grab and act like you had it for weeks. 

One of the hardest things about Christmas is the wait to open presents. 

For me, it is not hard because I want to open presents. 

I get excited when I come up with a great gift for someone and I want them to open it NOW! 

You can ask Becky – I am always asking her if she wants her presents early. 

The better I think I did, the sooner I want them to open it! 

Now of course I remember back in “ye olden days” as a child the anticipation was not the giving but the getting. 

Mom would wrap presents and put them under the tree just to torture us. 

When she wasn’t around, me and Kari would shake and feel the presents to figure out what the good ones were. 

Leading up to Christmas we would do our best to convince mom and dad to let us open just one present. 

That is why the scouting was so important – you didn’t want to open up clothes if you got to open anything early. 

Sometimes she would relent, but not enough to suit me. 

Our kids have had the same struggle which I am sure has scarred them for life. 

My wife’s family had a tradition that we carried over. 

The day before Christmas Eve – known to highly cultured folks as “Christmas Adam” – they would be allowed to open one present. 

We have usually done that, then opened presents from each other on Christmas Eve, then Santa – a.k.a. Pawpaw – would have presents for everyone on Christmas morning. 

Those presents usually come from whatever helpful elves have their shops open on Christmas Eve. 

Now, I am all for tradition and that is basically what we have worked out. 

Others are sticklers for not opening a single present until Christmas morning. 

I always think of the classic Mickey Mouse cartoon where he and Pluto accidentally chop down the tree that Chip and Dale lived in. 

After all the mayhem that ensued as Pluto tried to get those chipmunks, they all make up in the spirit of Christmas. 

The final scene has them singing a Christmas carol together. 

Pluto begins to howl along, and Chip and Dale put a sticker over his mouth that says, “Do Not Open Until Christmas”. 

I wish that worked in real life! 

Thinking  about the season, the giving of gifts, and the anticipation of opening presents, I remind you of our text: 

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  

There is no greater giver of gifts than our God. 

He gives to us out of His great love for us. 

He gives us more than we could ever deserve. 

He gives us what we need and more beyond that. 

Matthew Poole wrote on this passage: 

whereas men sometimes give good gifts in all evil way, and with an evil mind, God’s giving, as well as gift, is always good; and therefore when we receive any thing of him, we should look not only to the thing itself, but to his bounty and goodness in giving it. 

In context, these gifts are received by FAITH: 

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  

Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  

These gifts are contrasted with the sinful struggles that are born from self. 

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  

These gifts are contrasted with the penalty and consequences of sin: 

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  

You see, our great God knows that we are helpless without Him. 

We would have no hope of salvation! 

We would have no hope of living an overcoming, victorious Christian life. 

Can we save ourselves from the penalty, the power, or the penalty of our sin? 

Absolutely not, save the wonderful grace of God. 

He has given us gifts to overcome sin. 

These have nothing to do with our merit and or our goodness, but they are bestowed upon us by God without favor. 

I implore you this morning – do not wait to open these gifts! 

They do not say “Do not open till Christmas” – they say “open immediately” 

God knows we need them and has provided them to us. 

I. Gift of Salvation – Romans 6:23 

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

This is the most important gift and must be opened first. 

I recall one Christmas at my grandparents house that I opened a present that had bbs and pellets in it for a bb gun – which I did not have. 

I was genuinely puzzled until they told me to open another present, which was a Daisy bb gun, then it all made sense. 

Friends – God sent His only begotten Son to reveal His great love for us. 

We could not bridge that chasm that separates sinful man from the Holy God, but God could. 

Christ came to be the sacrifice for our sins – was crucified, buried, rose again, and ascended back into heaven. 

He purchased the gift of salvation – it is not a reward for our good actions. 

There is nothing we could do to merit this favor from God. 

Christ paid it all and offers it to all. 

If you have not received this gift by faith this morning, Christ is offering it to you and calling you to come and receive the greatest gift. 

II. Gift of Spirit – Acts 2:38 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  

This is the gift of God for every believer today. 

The Old Testament saints did not have this like we do. 

It was only made possible because of Christ’s victory over sin and death. 

There is a lot of confusion today about what this gift of the Spirit looks like. 

The loudest voices today about the work of the Spirit are the Pentecostals and Charismatics, who believe the Spirit empowers the Christian into a superhuman like state. 

They claim it will make you talk in unknown tongues – which is strange because every case of people speaking in tongues in the New Testament has someone speaking a known language that was unknown to the speaker.   

They claim it will make you prophesy or reveal hitherto unknown truths – which is stranger because the New Testament appeals to SCRIPTURE for truth. 

They claim it will make you lose control of yourself and make you gyrate around like one of those inflatable men at a car dealership – which is strange because the New Testament teaches the Spirit works to bring order and one of its fruits in Galatians 5:23 is temperance or self-control. 

The gift of the Spirit is the counter we have to the power of sin. 

The Spirit guides, directs, and convicts. 

The Spirit empowers the believer to overcome. 

The Spirit magnifies and exalts the work of Christ. 

Joh 16:13  …for he shall not speak of himself… 

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me… 

Too many Christians today are miserable and defeated because they do not make use of the gift of the Spirit. 

Go read John 15 and 16 – let those lessons from Christ soak into your mind and heart. 

Strive to be filled and controlled by the Spirit. 

III. Gift of Supplication – Philippians 4:6 

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  

Billy Graham said: “Prayer is a gift from God’s hand and He’s given us the privilege of prayer because He loves us and wants our fellowship.” 

God does not just save us from sin and He does not simply leave us alone to find our way in the Christian life. 

He has given us Scripture to guide us – that is a tremendous gift that I will only mention in passing. 

But think about this – The Scripture is God’s will and mind revealed to us. 

While it is wonderful that He has tells us about Himself, PRAYER allows us to reveal our heart and mind to Him! 

Some will say, “Well, if God knows everything why do we have to tell Him and ask Him anything?” 

Simple – it is because prayer is an extension of the relationship between God and man. 

It is the difference between listening to a radio and talking on a telephone.\ 

How sublime is this gift that we have access to God, to bring our cares and burdens, our needs and our desires, and lay them humbly at His feet! 

Joseph Scriven described it as well as anyone when he wrote: 

What a friend we have in Jesus, 
All our sins and griefs to bear! 
What a privilege to carry 
Everything to God in prayer! 
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, 
Oh, what needless pain we bear, 
All because we do not carry 
Everything to God in prayer! 

Friends, do not neglect the gift of prayer! 

Open it up today and put it to use! 

Conclusion 

• God never promised us a peaceful life. 

• Trials and heartaches will come. 

• But He has gifted to us the means whereby we can have peace in the storms of life. 

• If you are struggling this morning, take stock of what you have. 

• It is my experience and I believe the testimony of Scripture that God often has already provided the solutions to our problems. 

• Perhaps you need to root yourself deeper in the Word, perhaps you need to get active in service, perhaps you need to give some burden over to the Lord in prayer – whatever the case may be, I think you will find God’s provision is ready for your need. 

• Do not neglect the gift of salvation. 

• All other gifts make this life harder to bear. 

• The gift of salvation is the only one that grants eternal life. 

Be Thankful 

Colossians 3:12-17 

There are literally dozens of verses we could turn to examine the subject of thanksgiving. 

We could talk about the sacrifice of thanksgiving in Leviticus 7. 

We could see the many calls to be thankful in the Psalms. 

We have in the New Testament multiple positive commands to be thankful. 

We could also study the many times time that being unthankful is condemned by God. 

Our text this morning, from which we will launch into the sermon, is I think one of the most powerful. 

Paul is writing here in Colossians chapter 3 of the great difference there should be in the life of someone who has found salvation in Christ. 

There is a quite a long list of “thou shalt nots” in vs. 5-9. 

But in vs. 10 there is a shift to the positive – a list of “thou shalts” 

I believe these are more important that the “thou shalt nots” 

We are to put on the new man in the image of Christ. 

Our affections should be changed, governed by mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, patience and forgiveness. 

Peace and love should fill our actions and motivations. 

The truth of God’s word should overtake our minds and hearts and come flowing out in singing. 

In all these lofty aspirations we should strive towards are two commands regarding thankfulness. 

Vs. 15 – “be ye thankful” 

Vs. 17 – “giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” 

It is God’s stated goal that He desires to develop a spirit of thankfulness and not shy away from expressing our thankfulness. 

To be thankful implies a few things. 

First, it means that we are not so lifted up in pride as to expect good things to happen to us because we somehow deserve them. 

Second, it means that we are cognizant of what God and others are doing. 

Third, it means we nurture genuine appreciation for the acts of others. 

Fourth, it means that we express this in some way, perhaps in words, a card, or with a hug. 

This week, our nation pauses and tries to remind itself that we should be thankful. 

Without God this is very difficult, and we see that in how the day has become all about football and feasts. 

I wish we could all travel back in time and learn from history just how important the day and the idea are. 

I cannot think of a civilization that I have studied that did not have some form of a thanksgiving day. 

Usually, it is a festival celebrating the end of the harvest season. 

If you study out the Feast of Tabernacles you will find that it, at least in part, celebrated the end of the harvest and the bounty of God’s provision. 

Many Christians down through the centuries have marked that time as a special time of thanking God for His goodness. 

By the way, in those days you were TRULY thankful for the harvest. 

It wasn’t just about decorations and kids dressing up. 

They understood if God had not blessed the harvest that they likely would not live to see another. 

The survival of the individual, the family, the community was largely dependent on harvesting enough supplies to make it through the winter months. 

I think this is, in small part at least, why modern people neglect and reject God. 

They do not acknowledge on a regular basis that they would not be alive if not for His blessing and grace. 

Traditions are strange things in how they start and which stand the test of time. 

There are records of many thanksgiving celebrations in the New World in the earliest days of exploration and settlement. 

But none have had such a lasting impact as that of the Pilgrims of Plymouth. 

Their story has been under attack for decades, but if there ever were a group to be thankful it was them. 

Their story begins many years before the thanksgiving celebration in 1623. 

I begin with the founding of the Church of England by Henry VIII in 1534. 

There was much battle over what this new denomination would look like, but whatever shape it took it was conjoined to the monarchy as THE official state church. 

There were many that were unhappy with what the Church of England believed and taught. 

Some sought to reform it – these were called Puritans because they wanted to purify it. 

Some threw up their hands and separated from it, these we call Separatists. 

To many in those days, to deny the authority of the state church was to deny the authority of the government. 

The Act of Uniformity of 1548 under Edward VI made it illegal to hold a religious service that did not follow the official Church of England liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer. 

Any minister doing so could lose their status and be imprisoned. 

The first offense was prison for six months, the second for one year, the third for life. 

The Act of Uniformity of 1558 under Elizabeth I imposed a civil fine of one shilling of each Sunday or holy day services of the Church of England that someone missed. 

The Religion Act of 1592 under Elizabeth I imprisoned anyone over the age of 16 that attended unlawful religious meetings, that is, not the Church of England. 

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress was convicted under this law in 1661. 

In spite of these laws, people chose to obey God rather than men. 

We focus now on just a few of these brave souls. 

The year is 1605 and the place is Nottinghamshire, England. 

Here there is a sizeable population of Separatists meeting under such leaders as John Robinson, Richard Clyfton, and John Smyth. 

They believed the Church of England was too corrupt to be saved and simply sought to worship God according to their own conscience. 

William Brewster joined these separatists and allowed them to meet in his home, Scrooby Manor. 

But the persecution was too great, and the various Separatist leaders and their followers emigrated to the Dutch Republic of the Netherlands over the next few years. 

The Dutch had greater religious liberty than another other place in Europe at this time. 

Life was hard for these religious refugees. 

They were limited in what jobs they could get and had to work long hours to make a living. 

The culture and the language were both hard to assimilate. 

The issue that forced them to decide to leave was closer to home. 

They watched their children become entranced with the Dutch life and marry into Dutch families. 

What good was the freedom they enjoyed if they lost the next generations? 

They decided to move to the New World of the Americas. 

Not everyone could go at once, so William Brewster led the first group while John Robinson cared for those that stayed behind. 

There were 120 passengers plus crew that set sail on the Speedwell and the Mayflower on August 5, 1620. 

For history nerds I am going to try to stick with Old Style dates, not New Style. 

The Speedwell proved leaky and unreliable, so 102 passengers crammed about the Mayflower and set sail for the New World on September 6. 

Roughly half were Pilgrims – 30 adults plus children 

The trip was stormy and lasted 65 days. 

One passenger and one crewmember died at sea. 

On November 9, land was spotted and Brewster led the pilgrims in singing Psalm 100. 

Because there was some uncertainty about the legal status of their colony, they laid the foundation for their settlement in the Mayflower Compact. 

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620. 

A site was selected and construction began on December 19 and the first common building – 20’x20’ – was finished on January 9. 

Many stayed on the Mayflower through the winter. 

Lack of shelter and supplies made the illnesses that spread even deadlier. 

102 settlers had set sail from England that fall. 

One died and one baby born during their voyage. 

By March, almost half of the settlers and crew were dead. 

But the Pilgrims held on. 

They were able to establish good relations with the local Indian tribes. 

The surviving settlers saw a good harvest that summer and fall. 

They celebrated it with a three-day harvest festival. 

52 settlers were there. 

It is believed that the foods were prepared by the four adult women along with their daughters and other workers. 

Edward Winslow who was present at the first Thanksgiving later wrote: 

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you, partakers of our plenty. 

Modern skeptics and revisionists have tried to downplay the importance of the Mayflower pilgrims. 

I look back and marvel at these brave souls who risked everything in order to worship God freely and to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

They paid a high price yet did not flinch at the cost. 

They truly understood what it was to be thankful for the goodness of God. 

The example they set helped start a tradition that still shapes our nation. 

In 1777 the Continental Congress designated December 18^th as a day for “Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise” 

In 1782 the same body marked November 28 as “a day of solemn thanksgiving to God for all His mercies” 

In 1789 George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a day “that we may then all unite in rendering unto him [God] our sincere and humble thanks” 

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed three different days as special days of thanksgiving. 

In 1941 the US Congress made it an annual holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. 

Now I am not preaching to you about America this morning. 

I am telling you from the word of God that Christians ought to be thankful people. 

I have given you one of the greatest historical examples of thanksgiving the world has ever seen. 

How settlers risked it all because of their faith in God, braved unthinkable hardships, and carried on though the losses mounted. 

They did not quit but kept on trusting in God. 

When God blessed them, those surviving settlers did as many others have done before them and after them. 

They paused to celebrate a bountiful harvest thanks to the blessing of God. 

That celebration echoes through our history and is woven into the fabric of our culture. 

Christian, be thankful to the almighty God who saves you and blesses you through this matchless grace. 

Christian, do not neglect to show you thankfulness to God and to your fellow man. 

You cannot truly understand thankfulness without Christ. 

Get Saved. 

A Good Soldier 

II Timothy 2:1-13 

This Tuesday is a special day. 

Our nation marks this day as a special day of remembrance and honor for those who have served our great nation in the Armed Forces. 

The date is significant – November 11. 

On that date in 1919 the Armistice went into effect that ended the carnage of World War I. 

They called it “the war to end all wars”, which has sadly proven untrue. 

The agreement was made to end the fighting in a railroad car in France at 5:00 a.m. 

It went into effect as at 11:00 a.m. local time. 

2,738 men died in that last day before the firing ceased. 

Armistice Day become Veterans Day in 1954, thanks to the work of WWII veteran Raymond Weeks and congressman Ed Rees. 

Since then, this day has been a federal holiday honoring the best of us who serve our nation. 

Well, technically it was in October seven times in the 1970’s thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Acts of 1971, but who would remember that, right? 

In the nearly 250 years that America has existed, there have been an estimated 18 million that have served. 

1.3 million of these gave, in Lincoln’s immortal phrasing, “the last full measure of devotion”. 

We honor these on Memorial Day each year. 

Another 1.4 million of these have been wounded in their service. 

Some 40,000 plus are still classified as Missing In Action. 

This week, we honor those who have made it possible that we may enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the greatest nation on that has ever existed. 

I am fascinated by military history and the experiences of those who have served. 

There is a retired soldier, John Campbell, that is taking classes at the Norris Seminary right now. 

Bro. Stewart had him speak in chapel this past week. 

On Thursday when I was there, he basically just told stories about his time in the Army. 

Can I tell you the one thing I took of that time? 

I AM GLAD I DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT A SOLDIER DOES! 

I don’t want any drill sergeant in my face. 

I don’t want to do hundreds of sit ups. 

I don’t want to spend nights out in the field on maneuvers. 

I don’t want to be in a place where the locals want me dead. 

Being a soldier is not for sissies! 

It is not for the fainthearted or the cowardly. 

It is for those that can endure hardness and face the enemy with unfailing devotion to their duty. 

That is just the point Paul is trying to get across in our text. 

He is telling his protégé Timothy that in serving God you need to be like a good soldier. 

When it says a “good soldier” that is not talking about someone who looks good in a dress uniform. 

It is the type of soldier who knows the long marches, the sleepless nights on watch, and the obstacles that are only overcome through sheer grit. 

It is the type of soldier that has trained for countless hours so to be prepared in the split second that marks the divide between death and victory their reflexes fire without thought. 

It is the type of soldier that bears the scars of the battles they have fought and counts each as nothing for the victory they won. 

If you will bear with me this morning, I want to examine some of the elements of what it means to be a good soldier in the army of Lord. 

I. A Good Soldier Has a Good Commander 

We are not talking about fighting or suffering for nothing here. 

We have a purpose and a cause. 

We have our commander, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

There is none greater. 

There is a legend about Alexander the Great that is likely not true but is still believable. 

It is said that he faced off against a king that ruled over a walled city. 

Alexander told them to surrender, but the king knew his position was too strong for Alexander to take without great investment of time and resources. 

The king refused. 

Alexander gave a command and some of his men started marching single file toward a cliff. 

The first never slowed as he stepped off the cliff and plummeted to his death. 

Neither did the second, or the third until ten men had fallen. 

The king, realizing the devotion of Alexander’s men to their commander, knew in that instant that he had no hope in surviving unless through surrender. 

He did and the soldiers were ordered to halt their fatal march. 

Too many times, we think we are in command. 

We receive orders from our commander, and we want to negotiate. 

We want to pick and choose the ones that cause use the least amount of effort or discomfort. 

Friends, you are in the great spiritual battle whether you want to be or not. 

You enlist on the Lord’s side when you get saved. 

You join a local regiment when you join a church. 

You owe your allegiance to the Captain who has never known a loss. 

He defeated sin, death, and the grave. 

He has never lost a battle and never lost a soldier. 

Take hope, comfort, and courage in Christ as your leader. 

II.  A Good Soldier Had Good Equipment 

Often a battle does not turn on the skills of its commanders or the fierceness of its fighters. 

No, one side just has bigger guns and more of them than the other side. 

Any historian will tell you that one of the main reasons the South lost the Civil War is because they did not have the industrial and manufacturing strength of the North. 

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, they did so with rapid speed and relying on their seven panzer division with over 2,000 tanks. 

Poland had half as many, most of which were woefully outdated. 

They were still transitioning from horse cavalry to mechanized warfare. 

At the Battle of Krojanty on September 1, 1939, the Polish leader saw an opportunity to for a surprise attack against some German infantry. 

At 1900 hours, about 250 horse cavalrymen charged the Germans. 

The initial attack was successful, but the Germans reacted quickly as armored reconnaissance vehicles responded. 

The exposed cavalry lost 1/3 of their men before they could return to the Polish lines. 

The lesson: horse cavalry may outmatch infantry on foot but is no match for mechanized armor with machine guns. 

The better equipment wins. 

We could turn over to Ephesians 6 here and go through the list of the armor given to us. 

Every piece is important, but I want to highlight a couple. 

We have the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. 

There is nothing greater than the Word of God, by it was the world made and through it we have the mind of God revealed to us. 

Use it wisely. 

I also want to point out that directly after the list of equipment is prayer. 

Paul says, “take the shield, and helmet, sword, but here is what you do: PRAY!” 

There is no greater ability we have than to call on the almighty God to intervene on our behalf. 

III.  A Good Solder Has A Good Focus 

A soldier must be on his guard and ready for action whenever the command comes. 

He cannot tell the enemy that it is his day off so he cannot fight today. 

We see this focus in the ability that he has to endure hardness in vs. 3 of our text. 

Weather does not stop him. 

Unpopularity does not stop him. 

He is focused on the mission no matter the cost. 

I love the story about Rodger Young in WWII. 

He had lost some of his hearing as a young man after hitting his head in a basketball game. 

He was the shortest man in his company and had to wear glasses to see. 

He had been raised to a sergeant and a squad leader, but as they shipped out for battle in the Pacific he was afraid his disabilities would hurt his squad. 

Young requested a demotion to private, which his commander granted. 

Nine days later on July 31, 1943, he was on patrol on New Georgia in the Solomon Isalnds. 

His 20-man patrol was ambushed by the Japanese with a hidden machine gun, killing two men immediately. 

Young was wounded in the initial attack and ignored an order to retreat. 

He crawled toward the enemy and was able to silence the machine gun nest with grenades. 

In doing so he was mortally wounded and died on the battlefield. 

For his actions, the Medal of Honor was presented to his family. 

If anyone had an excuse to give in to their circumstances it would have been Roger Young. 

But his focus saw beyond his deafness and bad eyesight, saw beyond the danger and his own wounds, and just saw what had to be done. 

Bob Jones Sr. said:  “Every person is either master or mastered.  He is either a victor or a victim.  He is either a conqueror or he is conquered.  What are you?” 

Through Christ, we can endure and see victory. 

IV.  A Good Soldier Has Good Reason to Fight 

The best soldiers have a reason to fight. 

This is why history is filled with stories about mercenaries that flee in things get dicey. 

They are only in it for the money. 

But let a many fight for the defense of his home and family, that man will fight on even though his blood is drained and his heart is stopped. 

I remember the days after 9/11, and being 18 at the time there was a genuine concern that maybe there would be a draft. 

There at Bible college, we asked ourselves if we should wait for a draft or if we should enlist. 

I thought I knew the course of my life, that I would finish Bible college and go in to the ministry, but there for some days in the chaotic uncertainty I was not sure if that would happen. 

Some enlisted because they wanted to avenge the evil of 9/11. 

Some enlisted because they wanted to prevent another 9/11. 

Some enlisted because they saw our civilization and liberty at stake. 

I am thankful I did not have to make that decision at that time. 

Would I have served?  Definitely. 

Would I have had a good reason to fight?  I had many. 

Would I have been a good soldier?  I highly doubt it. 

I have long ago determined that for three things I will readily lay down my life: My faith, my family, and my nation. 

In the Christian army we have plenty of reasons to fight: 

Look down at the last verses of our text and I will give you a few. 

2Ti 2:8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  

2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.  

First, we have the Lord Jesus Christ. 

My love and devotion to my Savior impels me to carry on. 

Second, we have Gospel. 

I must carry on so that another and another may have opportunity to hear that Good News before it is too late. 

Third, we have Word of God. 

The commands and promises were good when they were written and they are good for today. 

The examples of people in Scriptures give me courage that I too can see God work in mighty ways. 

Fourth, we have the elect. 

This is the Bible term for all those who will respond to the Gospel and accept it. 

I must carry on because of the brothers and sisters in Christ who rely on me. 

Fifth, we have a victory at the end – “we shall also reign with him” 

Ours is the only war in history that the outcome is already known. 

I carry on, not to obtain that victory, but to be worthy of the glory that awaits the child of God. 

Conclusion: 

• Do be overwhelmed by despair. 

• It looks dark out in this world, but we already know the end. 

• Satan cannot take our salvation from us. 

• Satan cannot keep Christ from ruling. 

• The key to being a good soldier is to prepare to be one. 

• Soldiers are made. 

• In training. 

• They know what to do before they need to know it. 

• In life experience 

• Country marksmen like Alvin York 

• Get on the winning side. 

• Rally to the winning side! 

Our Daily Bread 

Matthew 6:9-13 

I hope that our text this morning is quite familiar to you. 

I was a little kid in Sunday School when I memorized these words. 

Often we call it “the Lord’s Prayer” 

I think it is more accurately called the Model Prayer. 

It appears twice in Scripture 

Here in Matthew during the Sermon on Mount. 

In Luke 11 after Christ’s disciples asked Him to teach them to pray like John the Baptist had taught his followers. 

Now, I personally do not put a lot of stock into prewritten prayers. 

I do not think God is impressed that you can recited a few lines. 

I believe true prayer is born in the heart of man. 

It does not need to be eloquent or lengthy 

It does not need a set form or vocabulary. 

I think one of its more important requirements is that it must be from your heart to God’s heart. 

That connection between man and God that prayer sparks is a two-way communication. 

It is not just a selfish attempt to make God move on our behalf. 

It is a relationship where we pour our heart out to God, His heart is moved, and our heart is in turned molded more in His image. 

Prayer changes things, and it starts with the one praying. 

There is much that could be said about this in relation to the Lord’s Prayer. 

It is not a secret code to get God’s attention. 

No, it is a form or model that shapes how we approach God in our attitude and requests. 

The model begins with the acknowledgement and exaltation of God 

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  

This is the pitch pipe or tuning fork that sets the key of prayer. 

It is an act of worship – it glorifies God and humbles self. 

The model continues with acknowledgement and submission to God’s will over our own. 

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  

The requests made to God and the answers He gives to them are based on this statement. 

We then come to the list of petitions. 

First is for the daily needs of life 

Give us this day our daily bread.  

Second is forgiveness from God toward us and from us to others. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  

Third is a plea for protection and guidance. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 

The model then closes with another exaltation of God and our submission to Him. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. 

Finally, there is the coda that marks the conclusion of our prayer. 

Amen. 

This literally means “let it be true”. 

It is the signature on the painting of prayer by which we endorse the content of our prayer. 

It is a final plea that God would hear and answer the desires and needs and cares that we have laid before His throne. 

Today, I want to focus on that one phrase – the first petition made in the model prayer: 

Give us this day our daily bread.  

Is it not marvelous that two verses before this we are basically bowing before the Great God of the Universe as He sits enthroned above the heavens? 

Is it not marvelous that the previous verse acknowledges the lordship of God above all things? 

Is it not marvelous that the first words of petition made from by our human hearts before all the glory and might and majesty of the Lord God Jehovah is the most humble request we can make? 

It is not a cry for forgiveness or deliverance. 

It is not a plea for fame or greatness. 

It is not a request for a boon of supernatural power. 

It is simply a prayer that our most basic needs be met. 

The juxtaposition between the greatness of God and the frailty of man is undeniable here. 

I believe this is an act of worship. 

My definition of worship is basically any action where we exalt God and humble ourselves. 

None would deny that is what is happening here. 

Give us this day our daily bread.  

I am afraid we recite it by rote so quickly that we neglect to the depth of those simple words. 

I want to dwell on it for a few minutes this morning. 

Let us mine into it and discover the treasures within these few words. 

I. GIVE 

We are not saying, “God, don’t worry about me, I can handle this.” 

Those words always precede disaster. 

We are not saying, “Lord, I am working so hard so please bless what I am doing so I can eat.” 

No, we are saying, “Oh Mighty God, would you be so kind as to provide for my simple needs?” 

The primary action of this request is not on mankind, but on God. 

It is through His love and grace that He supplies our needs. 

Jas_1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Aren’t you glad this morning that the one who feeds the sparrows is taking care of you? 

Aren’t you glad that the one Who gave His only begotten Son is still giving what we need? 

I am glad this is on Him and not me. 

He will never fail, never be late, never be short, and never be shut down! 

Psa_37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 

II.  US 

This may be the most remarkable word in this prayer. 

So often our prayers are selfish. 

“God, I want this!” 

We probably sound like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 

I want the works 
I want the whole works 
Presents and prizes and sweets and surprises 
Of all shapes and sizes 
And now 
Don’t care how 
I want it now 

I think the most powerful prayers are those of intercession – when we take someone else’s need to God on their behalf. 

In that case it is not “do something for ME” but rather “do something for THEM”. 

But here it is US. 

This is a plea for our family, our communities, our nation, our friends, and so on. 

Do not make prayer your personal wish list. 

III.  THIS DAY 

I think this may be the most difficult part of this request for us. 

It is not a cry for God to immediately answer our dire need of food lest we starve. 

It is instead a reliance upon an expectation that He will continue to provide for us. 

Think about the Israelites and the Manna. 

God provided that sustenance daily – every morning they would gather enough for that day. 

If they gathered more and tried to save it for the future, it would rot and spoil. 

Except when gathered in anticipation of the Sabbath day of rest. 

Morning after morning God provided sustenance for His children. 

Think about Elijah. 

When the drought hit the land God provided for him at the Brook Cherith twice a day, morning and evening, brought in by the Door Dash of the day, flocks of ravens. 

Sorry, let me correct that –  a flock of ravens is called an “unkindness”. 

I don’t make the rules… 

When the drought lingered on, God provided for Elijah with the widow at Zarephath. 

Every day there was just enough meal and oil for the prophet, the widow, and her son. 

Never more, never less. 

We want a cupboard or a cellar full of food. 

We want a grocery store fully stocked at the ready. 

But God says, “trust in me to care for you and provide what you need when you need it.” 

If only we had faith enough to lay hold of that promise! 

How much of our anxiety would flee if we would simply rest in God’s care! 

IV.  Our Daily Bread 

If you are on a Low Carb diet or perhaps have gluten allergies, do not worry here. 

It is not literally “bread” here, though I frankly would not be opposed to that myself. 

Bread is the simplest of foods. 

Flour, water, and then maybe yeast, salt, or oil depending on the type of bread you are going for. 

It is not necessarily grand or elegant. 

You don’t see Mrs. Baird’s being used as a wedding cake! 

It is not indulgent nor luxurious. 

You do not give your Valentine a package of tortillas. 

It is just bread. 

It is a staple food that provides calories and adds balance to meals. 

What I am trying to say here is that God is not promising to provide you with caviar and filet mignon,  

Be assured that He will provide, even if it is off-brand Dr. Pepper and Vienna sausages. 

He knows our needs better than we do, He is moved to meet those needs out of His boundless compassion, and He provides for us out of the limitless supply of His goodness. 

Now, I cannot move on without saying one more thing. 

Never accuse God’s provision of being lacking. 

If He provides you a hot dog, it will be better than the sirloin steaks the devil serves. 

Trust in God’s care and you will find He provides abundantly and wonderfully beyond our imagination. 

It isn’t always bread, sometimes it is barbeque and chocolate pudding,  

Whatever He provides is best. 

CONCLUSION 

I listened to an audio book a few months back called “The Anxious Generation” 

It was about how today’s young people have developed multiple social and psychological issues because of the invasion of technology and other societal changes. 

We live in a world that is on edge, waiting the next hammer blow to fall. 

This is not the life that a Christian should live. 

Christ came to give us peace – not to make all the problems go away but to supply peace to our hearts in spite of the storms. 

He is greater than any problem we face. 

He is stronger than any burden we carry. 

Take your burdens to Him. 

Know that He cares for you. 

Experience His goodness and His grace. 

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  

Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  

Psa_34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 

SALVATION 

The Church and Its Pastor

I Peter 5:1-5

I am going to speak on a subject I honestly have avoided over the past eight years.

I mean that, too.

I have a set of notes I put together on the subject of the church that I taught through at Friendship Baptist before I came here.

I have reused and updated portions of those notes occasionally.

According to the saved dates on most of the files, I used many of them on Wednesday evenings in 2019.

If I remember correctly, I used some of the material to record Sunday School lessons during COVID.

Two of the lessons on the Bride of Christ I reformatted and used in 2021.

But the third lesson in that series I have never revisited.

The reason is because it about the leadership in the church, and I go through the Scriptural offices of Pastor and Deacon, their roles and responsibilities.

As a fairly new pastor, I just did not feel comfortable teaching on the subject.

I did not want people to think I was lording over anyone or pulling some sort of power grab.

I have heard my dad and others cover this topic and do it well.

There are many times that I am thankful that he or Jake or Ryan or whoever else address something like this.

Sometimes it needs to come from someone else’s mouth and not the pastor’s.

But this is the topic that the Lord has laid on my heart to cover today.

To avoid it would be for me to go against His leading, and I know better than to do that.

I have chosen our text this morning because of a remarkable feature it possesses.

The only other passage that does this is Acts 20:17-28.

It is not readily apparent, but I hope you will appreciate it by the end of this sermon.

Peter is writing to the leaders of local churches.

That is important.

I am a Baptist, and the more I study out what the Bible says about the church the more extremely Baptist I am becoming.

My study of the Scripture has convinced me that the emphasis of New Testament doctrine and practice revolves around the local assemblies of believers.

That is what the Greek word that is used in Scripture literally means.

ECCLESIA – “CALLED OUT ASSEMBLY”

We start in the books of Acts with one such local assembly at Jerusalem.

Then after the persecution of Saul forced the believers to flee and seek refuge elsewhere, we find in Acts 9:31 that there are “churches” not a single “church”.

Some critics say that it should be a singular church there.

I have studied it out, out of 116 appearances of the work ecclesia in Greek this would be the only one where it did not mean a singular, locally assembled body.

The problem lies in relying on old Greek manuscripts that are simply old but not very reliable.

Every local church body should be organized and have leadership.

Christ is the supreme head of each church .

Eph_1:22  …[God] gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

You see this also in Ephesian 4:15 and 5:23.

The Holy Spirit is what we may call the Superintendent of each church.

There are numerous references we could look at here that I will omit for time.

Let it suffice that the Spirit guides, directs, calls, equips and more in the church.

Below the headship of Christ and the administration of the Spirit we have the human leadership.

The Bible lays out a simple model that versatile and adaptable.

We have two Biblical offices found in Scripture.

That does not mean there cannot be more if necessary

Sorry, Garry, you are still not getting out of being treasurer…

There are Apostles in the New Testament, but we do not see that title or role passed on to the next generation.

We do find these two: Pastor and Deacon.

I want to focus today on what the Bible lays out as a guide for the role of pastor.

It is humbling to do so.

It is a high calling of God that should not be entered into lightly.

I personally hold the office is so sacred that it should scare anyone in their right mind away from it.

It is not just something you DO but something you must BE.

Go read the qualifications that Paul lays out in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

I combined the list and found 23 bullet points.

It is an awfully high standard that is set.

It is a daunting list that excludes many from the ministry.

I am not going to go through them here.

I am going to look a bit more practically about what a pastor should do and what the relationship should be between himself and his church.

To do so, I want to being by looking at some different words that are used to describe the role of the pastor.

The reason I picked I Peter 5 as a text is that the three major ones are here.

Over time these three terms coalesced into simply “pastor”.

I. Elder

1Pe 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort,

The Greek word here is presbuteros and it most literally means someone that is older or more senior.

It can be sort of generic word for leader, and it is used numerous times in reference to leaders of the Jewish religion.

It is a common word used for pastors, for example in Acts 20:17 Paul calls for the “elders of the church” at Ephesus to meet him at Miletus.

The idea of this term is that a pastor should be mature, grounded, experienced, and tested in his leadership.

Paul wrote in I Timothy 3:6 that a pastor should be:

“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

This is not simply about age – I know plenty of people who have spent a lot of time on this earth but learned little from it.

Timothy is a great example of this not being simply about age.

He was a younger man that was entrusted by Paul to help the church at Ephesus.

Paul warned him:

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 

So then, the Pastor/Elder/Presbyter is one who responsibly and maturely leads a church.

Training aids with this.

Life experiences aids with this.

Ministry experience aids with this.

But truly this is the work of the Spirit in a man, leading him to be wiser than his years and grounded beyond his maturity.

II. Shepherd/Pastor

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you,…

The Greek root word here is poimen, which means a shepherd, someone who cares for a flock of sheep.

It is used for both actual shepherds and church leaders.

This word is translated as “pastor” in Ephesians 4:

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

The verb form is found not only in I Peter 5 but also in Acts 20:

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

This word carries with it all that a shepherd supplies for his flock.

He grazes them to the best pastures.

He guards them from harm.

He guides them as they move.

He gives them the care they need.

It is a profound duty of care that is entrusted to a pastor, to shepherd the flock that the Great Shepherd entrusts to his care.

It involves care from birth to death.

It requires diligence and vigilance.

It is selfless work – the shepherd is not judged by his own state but rather the state of his flock.

It is tender when it must be, it is harsh when it must be.

But in the end it is all about the care of God’s people and helping guide them to be the best they can be for their Lord.

III. Bishop/Overseer

I Peter 5:2 – …taking the oversight thereof,…

The root word here is episkopeō, which means to oversee or look diligently after.

The noun form is used over in Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,

This is the word Paul used when writing to both Tinothy and Titus about the requirements of a pastor.

This word tells us that the pastor has the role of overseeing, managing, and guarding his church.

I think in many ways this points to the pastor’s executive role.

This is not to be done as a tyrant, but as a servant.

We have here the example of our Lord, who said in Matthew 20:28

Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

A pastor, the under-shepherd, should follow the example of the Great Shepherd and seek to serve and not to be served.

Here is where I would point to the pastor’s executive role of oversight over the church’s faculty, finances, and facilities.

It also shows the responsibility of watch-care over the doctrines and practices of the church.

It should be founded on the truth of Scripture, led by the Spirit, and acted upon in love.

Those three are the primary terms used to name or describe the pastor of a church.

I hope that I made it clear that each of these are interchangeable names for the same office of pastor.

I hope that you see the outline of a true pastor as laid out by Scripture.

Quickly now, I want to wrap things up with a couple of lists.

The first is a list of the Biblical duties of a pastor to his church:

To be an example
…being ensamples to the flock. – I Peter 5:3
To rule/govern/maintain
Let the elders that rule well… – I Timothy 5:17
To guard right doctrine and practice
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.  – Titus 1:9
To perfect/mature/complete the saints
For the perfecting of the saints… – Ephesian 4:12
To edify/build up the body of Christ
….for the edifying of the body of Christ:  – Ephesians 4:12
To preach the word
Preach the word;…- II Timothy 4:2

The second is a list of the Biblical duties of a church to their pastor.

Respect and love them
1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 
1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. …
Follow their teaching
Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Follow their example
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 
Submit to their oversight
Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 
Pray for them
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 
Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 
Provide for their physical needs
1Ti 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 
1Ti 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 

CONCLUSION

The church needs a pastor
It is God’s design – Ephesians 4 says they are a “gift” to the church.
You need a pastor – not a tv preacher or someone you watch online.
If not now, one day you will.
More importantly, you need Christ!

A Visit to the Spiritual Eye Doctor 

Mark 8:22-26 

I am speaking this morning from a passage that has long baffled me. 

I believe it is a singular example of Christ healing a person, yet not completely healing them at first. 

As for the timing of the event, this is likely the summer, less than a year before the Crucifixion. 

It is between the Passover of John 6:4 and the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:2. 

It is late in the earthly ministry of Christ. 

Opposition has been growing against him. 

Frustration has set in among His followers, many of whom still expected the Messiah to overthrow Roman rule. 

A short time before this around Passover had come news that John the Baptist has been killed by Herod Antipas. 

Thousands of scared and confused people flocked to Christ. 

In His great care, He fed the 5,000 plus with five barley loaves and two fishes. here on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

After this He walked on the stormy sea to join the disciples in their boat and then calmed the storm. 

He retreated for a season to the northwest where Galilee bordered Tyre and Sidon. 

He returned to Galilee and on the western shore feat 4,000 plus. 

He and the disciples sail northeast to Bethsaida, where this miracle is performed. 

As for the location of the event, It is the village of Bethsaida. 

If you look at a map of the Sea of Galilee, you will see where the Jordan River feeds into it at almost due north. 

Just east of this where Bethsaida lay. 

It was not a very large town as far as we can tell, nothing like Capernaum to its west. 

Its name means something like “House of the hunter” or “House of the fisherman”.   

From that you can probably tell that it must have been a fishing village. 

There is some history to this place in the New Testament. 

The Gospel of John tells us that the Apostle Phillip was from there in John 1:44 and John 12:21. 

John 1:44 also says it is the home of Andrew and Peter also, and we know these men were all fishermen. 

We do not know how many times Christ passed through there, the sermons He preached there, or the people He healed there. 

We have only two events linked to this city. 

The first, In Luke 9:10, is that near Bethsaida the 5,000 plus were fed. 

The second is the healing in our text. 

There is only one other mention of this town, found both in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13. 

This last event takes place before the Feast of the Dedication in John 10:22, which would be in late December for us. 

Let me read it from Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 11:20-22 

Mat 11:20  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:  

Mat 11:21  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  

Mat 11:22  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.  

This indictment against Bethsaida tells us that: 

1. Christ had done much powerful work there. 

2. The people still largely rejected Him. 

Now, as the details of the event itself. 

Christ comes to Bethsaida, a town that He has a long history with. 

A blind man is brought to Him – this man was unable to seek out Christ on his own. 

I am reminded of blind Bartimaeus, who you find a couple of chapters later in Mark 10. 

He heard that Christ was coming and cried out for help – “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

He did not have friends or relations to bring him to Christ, so when the opportunity came he called out and kept calling out until the Lord responded and healed him. 

Thank God for friends and family that help guide others to the Savior! 

Back to our blind man in Bethsaida… 

Christ leads him out of the city. 

This is curious – why not heal him on the spot? 

I am certain it is to do with the overall unbelief of the city. 

One more miracle would not change their hard hearts. 

Christ then spits on the man’s useless eyes. 

Why?  I do not know. 

Let me share with you the enlightening words from Albert Barnes’ Bible Commentary: 

“Why this was done is not known.” 

We get caught up in these side actions of Christ and forget that these have little, in fact probably nothing to do with the healing that takes place. 

I think the varied methods that Christ used – such as spitting on the ground and making mud, touching, commanding, touching His garment – are there to draw our attention to the fact that CHRIST did something miraculous, and not that He had some secret magical medical ability. 

Christ placed his hands on the blind man and asked if he could see now. 

His response is interesting – “I see men as trees, walking.“ 

If I take my glasses off, that is about what I see too. 

Some speculate there that he was not born blind, but that it was a result of some illness or injury later in life. 

How else would he know the difference? 

Christ then puts His hands on him once more and asks him what he sees now. 

The man says he can see clearly now. 

Christ sends him home and says not to go into town or tell anyone in it. 

This sounds like he did not live in Bethsaida itself. 

The reason for this command again is the overall unbelief of the inhabitants of the Bethsaida. 

Now, I have always been fascinated by this miracle. 

My number one questions has always been – why didn’t Christ heal him the first time? 

Why did it take two times of Christ touching him to completely restore his sight? 

Was this man so blind that Christ could not heal him with one touch? 

That is ridiculous. 

Christ’s power is unlimited. 

No, I think there is a deeper lesson here. 

One that, to be honest, I think I am nowhere near uncovering every aspect of it. 

You see, I do not think this man’s partial healing and full healing has to do with God’s power. 

I think it has to do with the blindness of mankind. 

I am not talking about physical blindness. 

If you study Scripture, there is a far worse blindness than not being about to see with our eyes. 

This is a spiritual blindness. 

This blindness keeps us from truly seeing God and His truth. 

Christ used this idea often in His battles against the Jewish religious leaders of His day. 

In Matthew 15:13 He called them “blind leaders of the blind” 

In Matthew 23:16 and 24 they are “blind guides” 

In Matthew 23:17 and 19, they are “fools and blind” 

In Matthew 23:26 He calls out the “blind Pharisee” 

In John 9:39, Christ talks about He came to show those that thought they could see that they were truly blind: 

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.  

Romans 11 tells us that the nation of Israel were blinded because of their unbelief. 

II Corinthians 3:14 says the same. 

II Corinthians 4:3-4 says that Satan deceived and blinded the lost: 

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  

Paul describes the state of the lost as being blind in Ephesians 4:17-19 

Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  

Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  

Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  

II Peter 1:9 says those that lack the virtues of the Gospel are “blind and cannot see afar off” 

I John 2:11 says that a man that hates his brother is blind: 

1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.  

Revelation 3:17-18  Christ tells the church at Laodicea that they are deluded in their opinion of themselves: 

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  

Yes, friends there is a far worse blindness that our mortal eyes not working. 

It is a spiritual blindness. 

Praise God we are not doomed to dwell in this darkness. 

We have a Savior whose specialty is restoring sight, not just mortal sight but spiritual sight too. 

How wonderful is it that we can sing out in John Newton’s timeless hymn: 

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound 
That saved a wretch like me. 
I once was lost, but now am found, 
Was blind but now I see. 

That sight comes at salvation. 

I think a wonderful picture of this is found in the conversion of Paul. 

Paul saw the light – LITERALLY – on the Road to Damascus. 

For three days his mortal eyes were as blind as his spiritual eyes were. 

I think those three days he was in inner turmoil as he tried to figure things out. 

When Ananias came and prayed for Paul – I think this is likely the moment he finally grasped the Gospel and laid hold of it in faith. 

We then read: 

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  

His spiritual blindness and his physical blindness both ended in the same instance. 

Yes, Salvation brings spiritual sight cures spiritual blindness. 

Let’s return to our theme and draw this to a conclusion. 

That blind man had sight restored, but at first only partially. 

Here is the lesson I think we can draw from that. 

Yes, we can be saved and be no longer bound by sin’s blindness. 

But how many are there today that are satisfied with only imperfect sight? 

Christ asked that man after the first touch how his sight was. 

He could have said, “wow, I can see!” and walked away unsure if men were trees or trees were men. 

No, he was honest with the Lord about his blindness and his partial sight. 

He wanted to see clearly. 

Friends, how often do we stumble about half blind in this life? 

We know deep down that we should see better, know better, be better than we do. 

We even know the One that gives sight. 

How often do we settle for less than God’s best for us? 

How much better would we all be if we would just humbly go to the Savior, and confess, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief!” 

“Lord, I do not want to settle for partial sight – I want as much of it as you’ll give me!” 

I am convinced those are prayers that God will joyfully answer. 

CONCLUSION. 

1. To find sight, often times you have to leave behind the fellowship of unbelievers. 

1. Remember how the blind man was told to leave Bethsaida 

2. To see clearly we must also leave the world behind and seek Christ. 

2. Christian maturity is not something that comes in one blast of power. 

1. Yes we receive all of the Holy Spirit at our salvation, but it takes time for Him to mold and shape us.  

2. Do not be satisfied with partial sight – seek fulness through Christ. 

3. Christ still cures spiritual blindness. 

Be Not Afraid 

Acts 18:1-17 

I love to study the life of Paul. 

I believe him to be the greatest Christian to ever live. 

We have in Christ a perfect example to follow. 

But we as sinful men will never attain this example. 

But we have in Paul an attainable example to follow. 

He was a man greatly used by God, but he was just a man. 

He made mistakes. 

He got angry. 

He got discouraged. 

We can all relate to Paul, usually when things do not seem to be going well for him. 

But Paul never quit. 

He had an inner drive and an iron resolve to press forward in proclaiming the Gospel. 

Did he ever want to quit? 

Absolutely! 

How do I know that? 

Because there are times God has to intervene and directly encourage him! 

The most famous example of this is in II Corinthians 12 when Paul prayed that the “thorn in his flesh” be removed. 

Christ’s response was to encourage him – “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

Paul found comfort in those words, and so do I. 

God’s grace and strength will never not be enough to get me through the troubles and trials of life. 

Our text this morning is another time that Christ spoke directly to Paul to encourage him. 

He is in the middle of his second missionary journey. 

That started in Asia Minor, but God closed the door there and led him to go to Macedonia. 

He sailed to Philippi, were he saw one of the greatest churches in history established. 

Of course he also was beaten and spent a half a night in jail too. 

He walked to Thessalonica where another church was established. 

He was basically run of town after the Jews caused problems there. 

He walked to Berea and saw many saved there. 

But again he was basically run out of town after Jews from Thessalonica caused problem. 

He sailed down to Athens, where his heart was grieved at the ignorance and idolatry of that legendary city. 

He had the opportunity there to present the Gospel to the philosophers gathered on Mar’s Hill. 

He departs from Athens and came to Corinth. 

Corinth is a fascinating town. 

It is located on an isthmus – a narrow strip of land connecting to larger land masses. 

There were ports on either side where ships would come and unload their cargo to be transported overland to the opposite side. 

It was a vital strategic and economic location. 

But it was also one of the most wicked cities the world has ever known. 

Even the pagan writers of ancient times comment on the debauchery that took place here. 

You had all those sailors coming into port looking to have a good time. 

You had rich elite satisfying ever vile appetite imaginable. 

The Greek religion was there, but it failed to rein in the morals of the masses. 

Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, a husband and wife team that are among his most capable colaborers.  

They practice the same trade that Paul had been trained in – tentmaking – and Paul works in their business. 

He preaches in the synagogue and proclaims the Gospel to Jew and Greek alike. 

He pushed the Jews to a tipping point, but instead of embracing Christ they violently and vehemently rejected Him. 

Paul ceases working with them and turned his attention to the Gentiles. 

Paul being Paul, he does so by preaching in the house of Justus which was literally next door to the synagogue. 

Paul had a rascally streak to him. 

The work was hard, and, if you have ever read the two letters we have the Paul wrote to the church established here, you will know it was a difficult place and a difficult people. 

We do not know why exactly why Paul became so discouraged, but I am certain from personal experience that the weight of the ministry had grow too heavy for him to bear. 

Someone said once that God will not give us more than we can bear. 

I do not believe that. 

We are not strong enough to do what we need to do as Christians. 

But it is not our strength that we must rely on. 

It is the strength of our Great Shepherd that holds us up. 

Sometimes we need to be reminded of that. 

Sometimes we need a little encouragement to carry on. 

Sometimes we need God to grab us and shake us and say, “WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!!!” to get us back on our feet. 

You ever been there? 

I have, many times! 

Christ tells Paul – “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:” 

Get busy in the work that God had called him to do. 

I think we can apply the principles here to us. 

We need to not be afraid at the storms and the stony hearts. 

We need to not be afraid of the fears and fainthearted. 

We need to get up and get back to work! 

Now is not the time to give up and quit! 

As Christians, we need to press forward in our own walks with God. 

As a parent, we need to press forward in shepherding our families. 

As a church, we need to press forward in reaching the lost and edifying our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Be not afraid! 

Get busy! 

The devil may have knocked you down this morning. 

Get up, rub some dirt on it, and get back in the fight! 

The weight of our anxiety and cares may be crushing you this morning. 

Get up, cast them on the Lord, and keep pressing on. 

The emptiness of loss and grief might have caused you to stall or falter. 

Get up, cling to the loving arms of our loving Savior, and keep putting one foot in front of another. 

Maybe the weight of past mistakes and the chains of memories have pulled you down. 

Get up, let Christ break those chains and free you as only He can, and press onward! 

Be not afraid this morning. 

Get up and get going this morning. 

I’ve got three reasons right here from this passage why we must. 

I. The Lord’s Presence – For I am with thee 

Is there anything sweeter than knowing that Christ is with us? 

David said it this way in Psalm 23:4 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; 

Isaiah said it this way in Isaiah 43:1-2 

Isa 43:1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  

Isa 43:2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  

Isaiah is also the one that said that He would be called Immanual – “GOD WITH US” 

Christ Himself promised it to us in Matthew 28:20 

lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  

We have all seen that little child be hurt or get scared. 

They cry out in despair, but all it takes to make everything right is mommy or daddy to pick them up in their arms and hold them tight. 

Christ is with us, to care and comfort us. 

He is also with us in power. 

Listen, I want nothing to do with the devil or his imps. 

They scare me. 

But as a believer, I have got a big brother that makes them tremble. 

Remember that the One that walks with us is the One that can part seas or calm seas. 

He can speak peace or He can declare victory. 

Be not afraid this morning, for Christ is with us. 

II.  The Lord’s Protection – “no man shall set on thee to hurt thee” 

The child of God is protected by the greatest security system imaginable. 

Isaiah put it this way:  

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.  

Paul put it this way: 

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  

Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.  

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Notice in these that the protection of God does not mean an absence of danger. 

There are still weapons and enemies and trials and tribulations. 

Even in our text immediately after this, Paul is hauled before the Roman governor and was in trouble. 

But God brought him through. 

The three Hebrew boys still had to go in the fiery furnace, but God was with them and brought them through. 

Rest assured that anything that happens to us is known by God and approved by God and ultimately is aligned with God’s plan for our lives. 

III.  The Lord’s Purpose – “for I have much people in this city.” 

How can I be afraid when there is so much work that needs to be done? 

How can I give up when I have so much to do? 

I wonder if when Christ said this if Paul might have had a follow up question: 

“Um, Lord, I’ve been here for months now.  The going is hard.  The people aren’t exactly receptive to me.  So, where is the ‘much people’ anyway?” 

You see, I do not think that much people is past or present tense. 

I think it is God’s foreknowledge on display. 

He knows that many people will come to Christ even if they have not yet. 

The was work that was done and there was work to do. 

God needed Paul there and was going to stay by him to see His will accomplished. 

I am reminded here of when Elijah was discouraged and ran from Jezebel. 

God had to encourage His prophet and one of the ways was to let him know that even though he may have felt alone in serving God, he was not truly alone. 

1Ki 19:18  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.  

One of the greatest lies Satan foists upon us is that we are alone in our service. 

Second to that is that our labors are in vain, that no one cares, and no one listens. 

I do not think I am exaggerating when I say that I struggle with those on daily basis. 

But I know these things to be true: 

The God who calls me and you has a purpose for us. 

His truth – His Gospel – will always be true and will produce fruit when spread. 

We are never alone in the work – Christ and fellow Christians labor beside us. 

We are never wasting our time 

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  

Conclusion: 

• Be faithful – do not quit 

• Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  

• Walk with Christ – hold to His unchanging hand 

• Our hearts may fail, our strength may fail, but Jesus never fails. 

1 Once from my poor sin-sick soul 
Christ did ev’ry burden roll, 
Now I walk redeemed and whole, 
Hand in hand with Jesus. 

2 In my night of dark despair, 
Jesus heard and answered prayer, 
Now I’m walking free as air, 
Hand in hand with Jesus. [Chorus] 

3 From the strait and narrow way, 
Praise the Lord, I cannot stray, 
For I’m walking ev’ry day, 
Hand in hand with Jesus. [Chorus] 

4 When the stars are backward rolled, 
And His Home I shall behold, 
I will walk those streets of gold, 
Hand in hand with Jesus. [Chorus] 

Chorus: 
Hand in hand we walk each day, 
Hand in hand along the way; 
Walking thus I cannot stray, 
Hand in hand with Jesus. 

• There is no need to fear death – Christ conquered it.  

• 1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  

• 1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  

• 1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.