Christmas Day, 2016

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
1 Peter 4:10 NLT

On this Christmas day, let us each unwrap the gift he has given us and use it unfettered to build his temple, the church, the place where his Glory dwells, of which we are all a part, as we are all living stones of that temple.

Merry Christmas Ignite Church.

God bless us everyone!

“The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 11:15b NLT

You Must be Born Again

John 3:3-8

I think we lose sight of the impact Jesus words had on Nicodemus because of our familiarity in the modern day church with the term “born again.” I’m not a Greek scholar, but I can imagine from Nicodemus’s reaction that he took what Jesus said as being along the lines of “unless you are reborn” or “unless you experience another birth”, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. And this “seeing” I think applies not only to the after life, but also to a current awareness, in the here and now, of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is in the presence of God, and when Jesus was born he ushered in the Kingdom of God. From that momoment on, God has dwelled in the presence of man and made it possible for man to dwell in His presence. Thus Jesus said repeatedly, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
John 3:3-8 NLT

The Born Supremacy – God’s Promise of a King

Next to the cross of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, the incarnation, God becoming a man, is probably the most significant, historical, impactful event that’s ever taken place on planet earth. It changed the world forever.

…he wasn’t coming to fight for [Israel] in a physical sense, but he was going to deliver them from the greatest oppression ever, themselves. And that’s what Christmas speaks to us. Today, if you get anything out of this, I want you to remember – Jesus equals deliverance. And in your life and in my life … most of our real problems come from within. And most of our real problems come from internally, and Jesus is still that child who delivers people. And that baby born in a manger ended up being a powerful deliverer. Most of you are sitting in this room [today] because that baby born in a manger grew up and became a Savior who died on a cross, who resurrected from the dead and now is seated at the right hand of the Father, so that you would never be oppressed again. Many times [we think] our cry has to be … Jesus save me from this situation, save me from this relationship … Jesus save me from this financial situation, save me from my boss, but the real issue is that Jesus saves us from ourselves, and he delivers us.

Sean Todd

The Born Identity – When God Became a Baby

Let’s not diminish this story, let’s not let culture diminish, let’s not let religion diminish, let’s not let familiarity with the nativity story diminish the magnitude of what this is all about. Do not forget, do not forget that when God became a baby, remember the prophecy of it, remember the history of it, remember the theology of it, remember the audacity of it, remember the blessing of what happened when God became a baby.
Patrick Steele

Getting God’s Viewpoint – Part 2

This is a really encouraging message about trials, difficulties, and suffering.

When you’re faced with a crucial decision and you want to do God’s best, what do you do?

* Duration: 24:30

* Published: 11/29/16 12:00:00 AM

* Episode Download Link (34 MB): http://s2.content.video.llnw.net/smedia/781563d6695d48a496254cad9c2ea179/p5/FAReQ_Vc5yRrkys0OlkbMGk6PQZbGdTePv4a0eNec/itm_pgm_2016_11_29.mp3

* Show Notes: http://www.intouchcanada.org/en-ca/listen/featured/getting-gods-viewpoint-part-2

* Episode Feed: Daily Radio Program with Charles Stanley – In Touch Ministries – https://www.intouch.org/listen/podcast/today-on-radio