Encore! and Bravo! present "Comfort and Joy". University United Methodist Church December 10, 2024 7:00 p.m.

Forgiveness isn’t approving of, excusing, justifying or pardoning an offense. It doesn’t have to include reconciliation and it doesn’t mean we deny, turn a blind eye or forget the sin against us. We don’t have to refuse to take a wrong seriously or pretend that we weren’t hurt by it. But forgiveness is necessary. “Just as God forgives people without approving of their sin, we also must learn that forgiving people does not imply an endorsement of their evil deeds.” So let’s take a look at what forgiveness is.

Reading about the horrors of war as a student of biblical prophecy causes me to think about what our entire world will experience in the future. Reading about the trials and tribulations of people in a war-torn country reminds me that the Tribulation is coming — and perhaps coming soon. Remember, the Rapture will not occur in a vacuum. The moment Jesus steps through the gates of heaven and returns to rescue His people from this world, the countdown to Tribulation will begin. Therefore, it’s important for us to learn more about that seven-year period looming on the horizon of human history. The Picture of the Tribulation Seven Years of Surprise

What is wisdom? If you look up the definition for wisdom, you’ll find this: knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. We can have all the knowledge in the world stored in our brains, but if we don’t know how to apply it and move that information to action, we don’t have wisdom. Basically, we can know more than the average person, but if we don’t apply what we know appropriately, we’re foolish. The first and most important thing we need to know about wisdom is that it comes from God. Psalm 111:10 NLT tells us that the “beginning of true wisdom” is found when we fear the Lord, and then goes on to say that we’ll “grow in wisdom” when we obey God. That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? Most parents expect their children to obey them. Why? Because they see the path ahead, while the child doesn’t. As children obey their parents, they grow in wisdom, and learn that what their parents advised them to do was ultimately for their good. The same is true with our Heavenly Father — He sees what’s ahead and knows what’s best. In James 3:13–18 NLT, Godly wisdom is explained in detail: If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. This passage is full of rich truths for us, so let’s really digest this passage. Exhibiting godly wisdom means we are: Honorable — We show honor to everyone. Humble — We don’t draw attention to ourselves. Selfless — We think of others more than we think of ourselves. Pure — We strive to have untarnished motives. Peace-loving — We agree to respectfully disagree. Gentle — We consider the feelings of others before acting. Merciful — We give second chances because they’ve been given to us. Impartial — We show fairness to all we encounter. Sincere — We are authentic, honest, and full of integrity. Learning and growing as followers of Jesus is what will transform our old self to the redeemed person God is calling us to become. Growing in wisdom with God won’t always make sense to people around us. But, as we learn insights from God, we can put them into practice and influence those around us.

Holy Anticipation There are half a dozen “double promises” in Scripture. The prophet Isaiah promised a double portion of joy or prosperity, depending on your translation of choice (Isaiah 61:7). The apostle Paul conferred double honor on those who lead well (1 Timothy 5:17). And a double portion of Elijah’s spirit netted twice as many miracles in the ministry of Elisha (2 Kings 2:9). But perhaps the most unique binary blessing in the Bible is declared by the prophet Zechariah: “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double” (Zechariah 9:12, ESV). Zechariah declared this double blessing to Jewish prisoners of war, but he called them prisoners of hope. So which is it—prisoners of war or prisoners of hope? That depends on your perspective, doesn’t it? If you let your circumstances define the way you see God, you are a prisoner of perspective. Or worse, a prisoner of your past mistakes! But if you let God define the way you see your circumstances, you are a prisoner of hope. Israel had experienced a bitter defeat at the hands of Babylonians. They were at the mercy of their captors, who had defiled their temple and mocked their God. But God reminded them of who would have the last laugh. For their pain, He prescribed the promise of double blessing. You cannot claim the promises of God like a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but every promise has your name on it. Every blessing in the Bible is part and parcel of our spiritual birthright by virtue of what Christ accomplished on the cross. Positioning ourselves for those blessings begins by kneeling at the foot of the cross and ends with us casting our crowns before the throne of God. In between, we flip every blessing we receive. Flipping the blessing enables you to live with holy anticipation, waiting to see what God does next. Of course, if you cultivate a double-blessing mindset that is focused on flipping every blessing, you better buckle your seat belt. Why? Because God is going to open the windows of heaven and pour out more blessing than you can contain. I’m not talking about material blessings. Giving produces joy, and more joy is just what the world needs! What is a blessing in your life you could “flip” today to give to someone else?

Each and every insight that God provides for you is important. The result of the revelation will often be determined by your reply and response.

Enter the Joy of Unity There is a new song arising! Can you hear it? It is deep within and longing to rise from a sacred place of silent hope to be a sound that will pierce the darkness. There is a new song arising! This new song will not be sung exclusively by a black chorus, a white ensemble, a Latino band, or an Asian soloist. No! This new song will be sung by a multiethnic, multi-generational, kingdom-culture choir washed in the blood of the Lamb. A church united. But rest assured, this song rises not out of programmed promptings or emotional exuberance, but rather out of the depths, out of the leading of God’s spirit at work in the hearts of surrendered men and women. It is not born out of hype but rather of hope. It is time to sing a new song! The new song reminds us of our identity. So who are we? We must respond with clarity, conviction, and courage and affirm the following: We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) We are a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14) We are a people of the Word (Matthew 4:4) We are the salt of the earth (Matthre 5:13) We are prophetic and not pathetic We are disciples, witnesses, and Christ followers (Matthew 28:16-20) We are children of the cross (Romans 8:17), fruit of the empty tomb (John 12:24), and products of the upper room (Acts 2) We are the redeemed of the Lord (Psalm 107:2) We are forgiven, free, and favored (Galatians 5:1) We are called and chosen (1 Peter 2:9) We are warriors and worshippers (Psalm 144:1) We are not first and foremost brown, black, white, or yellow, Hispanic, Charismatic, Pentecostal, or reformed. We are above all the born-again, blood-washed, Spirit-empowered children of the Living God. Feed the Fire: If there’s anything the devil fears, it’s a united Church. While hell divides, heaven unites. Do you truly desire unity?

Pastor Bob McCartney gave a sermon series on current social issues this fall highlighting the truth found in the Bible. Here are my notes from this third sermon in his series, True Colors. WHY LIFE MATTERS

Week 3 of our Advent series : Everlasting Father

God’s plan is for every follower of Jesus Christ to be a witness of faith. Tell someone today that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, and share with them how they can know Him and be saved. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

God takes a stony, stubborn heart and turns it to tender, loving flesh. "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."- Ezekiel 36:26

God’s love for us is not based on our performance, but it is reserved for those of us who have been adopted into His family through faith in Jesus Christ. even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us, having predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:4-5

If we long to face each day prepared and equipped, we need to start each day inspired and steeped in the Word. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10