Sermons

by Emily Wooten

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Luke 2:11-12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Isaiah was prophesying what would come. In Luke the angels declared he has come.
In Matthew 2 and Luke 2 the story of Jesus’ birth is recorded. The Hebrew people thought the Messiah would come to set up an earthly kingdom. Even though Jesus had told them he would be beaten, sacrificed and raised from the dead, that message was way more than the people could understand.
In the same way men in the Old Testament prophesied the savior would be born to a virgin in Bethlehem, men of old prophesied that same child would be sacrificed for our sin.
Isaiah 53: 1-6 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Before all this could be done one young woman had to be willing to abandon her dreams and choose to allow God to work through her.
Luke 1: 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
What Joseph and Mary went through getting Jesus into this earth and protecting him while he grew to be the man who would take away the sins of the world, was not your typical praise and worship testimony. Through God’s grace Joseph and Mary became amazing people who kept safe our Savior, nurtured him up and taught him.
As a young boy Jesus knew he had a job to do. In spite of the devil’s temptations, men’s accusations, beatings and more Jesus had the strength to endure and prevail. We’ve been given his strength. Like Joseph and Mary we have the opportunity to choose his way over our own. Christmas time is the perfect opportunity to surrender to God’s love and choose to say, “Be it unto me according to your word.”

By Emily Wooten

First, God loved us.
John 3:16-17 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
God sent the manifestation of his love to save us.
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
It is impossible to know God and deny the power of his love.
1 John 4:7-9 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
What is the nature of God’s love working in us?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
No power is enough to challenge us as we walk in his love.
Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.
Isaiah 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.
Jesus commanded us to love.
John 15:9-12 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

by Emily Wooten

Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Did you know the word wait can be used as a verb? While the word wait denotes being still, we are far from being unproductive when we wait on God. Keeping our emotions in tack and resting in God’s promises is work. You might say it is a labor of love.
If we believe the scriptures, we know that all things work together for those who love God and are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) While our flesh may scream for us to do something, God calls us to have or maintain a quiet and meek spirit before the Lord. The Psalmist wrote: Psalm 46:10-11 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. In Exodus 14:13 Moses told the people to stand still and see the salvation of God.
We come boldly to the throne of grace with a contrite or repentant, teachable spirit. We don’t however cower before principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, or spiritual wickedness in high places. According to Ephesians 6:12-13 We take on the whole armor of God and STAND.
How can being still present a threat to the enemy? ‘Cause that is the way God does things.
Look at James 4:6-7 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit, resist, stand, wait: if this seems foreign to you, just think how confusing it is to the enemy of our faith. It may seem like so little when all we appear to be doing is speaking to the air what God promised us. Being convinced that God is performing his word as we speak and choosing to say what God said about us is more powerful and effective than anything else we could do. Many times Jesus walked right through the midst of the gangs who were set to kill him. It wasn’t until he laid down his life in our place, for our sins that they could take him. After three days, he took his life back and was forever resurrected victoriously once and for all who would take his word and proclaim Jesus is my Lord!
Now, we don’t lay down for anything. We stand firm, resting in his love, speaking the truth in love.

by Emily Wooten

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
As we face the end of 2024 and look to the months ahead, many changes are coming in our nation, our state and our homes.
Growth requires putting off and taking on. On January 1st many will resolve to change the way they do things in order to create a better life for those around them. May will diet. Some will start exercising. Whatever choices we make for the new year, we have an invaluable resource of wisdom and understanding from which to pull.
Many of you nave already turned in your Pastor’s Advisory Council Recommendations. If you have not, please prayerfully consider your options and be included in those who will help Pastor Ron and Lisa make good decisions in the coming year. Our prayers for them and the people who make decisions for our church are not in vain. God hears and he answers. Remember these words from King David.
Psalms 34:3 – 4 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
This is also a great time for those who do not have a habit of praying for our nation to resolve to start that practice.
Scripture shows us that the men of valor in the bible often sought God’s wisdom and understand to do the jobs God asked of them. Whether it was wisdom to build a temple or lead an army to war, God was always available to help his people when they asked.
In 1 Kings 3 we see where David’s son Solomon, when faced with becoming the leader of Israel, asked God for wisdom to lead his people. God was so pleased with Solomon’s request he granted him that and more.
1 Kings 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
Whether it is help with your job, raising your family or relationships in your community, God has the answers.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.

by Emily Wooten

Mark 1:2-4 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Before Jesus’ first miracle, John Baptist was preaching the message of repentance. It was a simple message and there is no need to misunderstand. Humans are born as part of the human race. Before they tell one lie or commit one act of rebellion they are in need of salvation.
John’s mission was to tell as many people as possible that there was coming one who would take away the sins of the world. Even Jesus thought it necessary to be baptized.
Mark 1: 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
We see in Acts 8 after the Ethiopian Eunuch read from Isaiah how that the Lord laid on Jesus the sins and weakness of us all he wanted to be baptized.
Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
As soon as he understood the words he read he repented, believed on Jesus as the son of God and was baptized.
We should want the world to know we have believed on Jesus Christ as the only begotten son of God who took away the sins of the world.
I Corinthians 15:3-4 Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…
Paul preached that same simple message. Believe on Jesus as God’s son, ask him to forgive your sins and be baptized.
Baptism tells the world that you have been buried with Christ Jesus and resurrected to new life. When we are submerged in water it represents us dying to sin. When we are raised from the water we are alive to Christ. His Holy Spirit leads us and guides us as we learn of him. Baptism is a public confession of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
If you have never been baptized and would like to, let Pastor Ron or Lisa Johnson, Terry or Lisa Baine, or Dee Morgan know you would like to experience water baptism.

by Emily Wooten

Matthew 28:18–20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 14:12-14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The name of Jesus is precious and we should recognize the power it represents.
One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the temple for prayer. There was a crippled man setting at the temple gate, who was begging for help.
Acts 3:4-7 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Peter and John must have passed that way often. Perhaps they had seen this man before. This time Peter was led by the Spirit to do something. He and John didn’t have money to offer but the power in the name of Jesus was exactly what he needed.
Today the name of Jesus is just as powerful as it was when Peter spoke it and saw the crippled man receive strength. God has commissioned each Christian to teach. Jesus said: “Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”
One of the things Jesus commanded us to do is to ask the Father in Jesus name.
Respect for the name of Jesus is something we learn as we grow. Peter and John did not tell every cripple to rise up and walk. There may have been others there that day who needed God’s help. Recognizing the need and knowing how to address the situation is something the Holy Spirit wants to teach us.
The disciples came back from their missionary trip and were excited that the name of Jesus was instrumental in working miracles.
Luke 10: 17-20 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
The most important message we can bring is the message that Jesus died, was resurrected and lives to provide our freedom from hell and all the works of darkness. There is freedom in the name of Jesus.

by Emily Wooten

Matthew 6:5-8 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
In response to the request, “Teach us to pray.” Jesus started by telling the disciples what not to do. Don’t pray to be seen or heard. Don’t use vain repetitions. Prayer is not a chant or mantra. We see from these scriptures it is possible for a Christian to turn prayer time into lip service. Dotting all the i’s and crossing all the T’s can turn prayer into a meaningless act of checking the box. Prayer is meant to be a time of communication between a human or humans and God. We talk, we listen and Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding.
Jesus continued to share with us all the correct way to approach God in prayer.
Matthew 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Submitting ourselves to his will as we come to him in praise acknowledges God’s sovereign power while thanking him for all he has done and who he is. Notice Jesus prayed your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
In Matthew 18-18 is recorded where Jesus told them whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven: and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. He didn’t say what things I bind or loose. He said whatever you bind and loose. It is the Christian who is speaking in the authority of our risen savior to bind or loose.
Verse 11 we ask for our needs to be met. Our heavenly father knows what we need before we ask so there is no need to call out a detailed list of wants, but we are instructed to ask. .
Verse 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. There exist a spiritual law. If you don’t forgive others, it hinders mercy. We are required to loose all those grudges, and hurt feelings to our father and let him heal our hearts.
Matthew 6: 14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11: 25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Verse 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Our prayer begins and ends with praise to God and submission to his authority. This isn’t really the end of our prayer. We can continue the conversation with God throughout the day. We listen for his instructions, as he shares from his insight and wisdom and Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s his plan. Prayer is as much about hearing as it is speaking.

By Emily Wooten

Paul wrote thirteen books of the New Testament. Many of these books were written to churches he had ministered to or helped establish on his missionary journeys. He wrote the letter to the Galatians. The purpose was to help the folks of Galatia to understand the gospel of faith.
Paul started the letter with grace and peace, which was a common gracious greeting. Common niceties before getting to the actual reason for the letter.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
He said if anyone should preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. If anyone was aware of the laws of Moses and how to manage the Hebrew acceptable rules, times and holy days, it was Paul. He reminded them he was a devout religious man who observed the traditions of the synagogue and persecuted Christians. Because of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus he had come to understand the salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ. One might say he had changed his tune.
Here we see a man who was qualified to teach, educated and observing the customs of men. The good news changed Paul. The revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah brought freedom from the law, traditions of men and acts of obedience. Paul emphasized that Jesus’ sacrifice is the only way to be considered righteous before God, and that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by following the law.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Every day we make choices. Even in the modern church we have to guard against doctrines of men and devils. The enemy of our faith has been working for centuries to confuse, distract and mislead Christians.
The letter continues in Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
The measure of our dedication to God and faithfulness to fulfilling God’s commission depends on the Holy Spirit’s leading and our obedience. Our obedience to answer what God calls us to is the most important thing we will ever do. Comparing our lives to the word of God and not other humans reveals our success or failure.
James 1: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

By Emily Wooten

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

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

God gives grace to the humble. We see in Daniel 1 the story of a young man who was torn from his people and his country. He was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. Daniel and his friends were described as being children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach.
We learn that Daniel and his friends had purposed in their hearts not to be defiled. Hebrew men observed and worshiped the One God. We know him as creator, self-existing, I am that I am. These men were keeping themselves separated to the One Holy God. Daniel’s desire was to be used by God and to please God. The degree of a person’s humility determines the limitations of their usefulness to God. Daniel recognized this and chose to position himself to be useful.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Did you know that the most humble man in his generation was the most used man of God in his generation? Jesus who, was king of kings, humbled himself to wash the disciples feet.
Mark 9:35 And he (Jesus) sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Even when Daniel and his friends were pressured by the king of Babylon, they continued to worship the One True God. Daniel prayed three times a day. No matter what was happening, he bowed his knees and honored God.
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he knelt upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Daniel was thrown in a den of lions to punish him for not bending his knee to any other God. But God sent an angel and delivered Daniel.
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
God was able to save Daniel because he chose to humble himself before God and obeyed. God was able to use Daniel and he promoted him. God asks us to humble ourselves and pray. The same God who created the wonders of the universe chooses to spend time with us when we will make room for him. Three times a day Daniel pulled himself away from the affairs of this life to give God his time. During his time with God in prayer, he learned how to manage a kingdom. God spoke secrets to him, revealing the interpretation of dreams and giving him visions.
God is not a respecter of persons but he is a respecter of those who will humble themselves and put God first. Is God first in your life? Is there anything that you have made important above him? Thank God he is always a prayer away and we can adjust our thought life to move God to the most important place in everything we do.
Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.