SABBATH & SUNDAY WORSHIP MESSAGE
DECEMBER 20/21, 2025
{LX 624-52}
DECLARATION
For
[we are not] ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
{ Rom 1:16-17 KJV}
SABBATH MEDITATIONS
"Miketz" (At the End)
Genesis 41:1-44:17; Zechariah 2:10;4:7;
Numbers 28:9-15;7:42-49; John 1:1-18
Now at the end of two whole years, Pharaoh was dreaming. Behold, there he was standing by the Nile. (Gen 41:1 TLV)
SUNDAY MESSAGE
"JOHN & MARY"
Luke 1:5-25; 26-45
[Sing to the Lord, lift up your voices]
OPENING PRAYER
O' Lord, on this Holy day and in this Holy week leading to the birth of our Savior. Grant us favor in our meditations and prayers through Your indwelling Holy Spirit, guide our hearts and refine our speech. May it be Your will to grant a period of calm and peace throughout the earth as we welcome the birth of our Lord and King, Jesus the Christ, AMEN
MESSAGE
Nearly a thousand years before the birth of Messiah, David penned this prophetic prose in Psalm 22: verses 16-18: For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
From the very moment that God escorted Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, never permitting them to return because of their sin. Thus begins a long list of chosen souls being enlisted by God to be a celestial puzzle piece in biblical history; and the coming birth and rule of the one true Eternal King of Kings, named Jesus.
Major participants in this glorious journey included Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jonah, Samuel, Solomon and David. So many of God's chosen became and functioned as a unique place marker of events that now brings us to this week, and in just a few days, our joint celebration of the birth of our Savior.
There is another birth that will precede the Lord Jesus, His name will be John. Our biblical guide will be a very unsuspecting father-to-be;
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
(Luk 1:5-10 NKJV)
The Temple leadership had a multitude of priestly assignments related to the day to day operation and maintenance of the temple. Those having served in the military will recognize a list of assignments called the DUTY ROSTER.
I remember a love/hate relationship with that ROSTER. It covered duties like CHARGE OF QUARTERS, not unlike an overnight baby sitter when the officers were off duty. Zacharias was serving in his service rotation attending to the burning of incense on the ALTAR during hours of prayer. {Since mandatory retirement from temple duties was 50 years of age, Zacharias and Elizabeth were likely at or about 49 years old when this visitation occurred.}
Our story continues: (Luk 1:11-16 NKJV)--Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. The Angel's name was Gabriel, he stood in the very presence of GOD to deliver this good news.
After Zacharias heard all that Gabriel had spoken, it is a reasonable conclusion that old Zach got a bit uppity and challenged the veracity of Gabriel. The angel did not take this lightly and locked Zacharias MOUTH and he could no longer speak until the birth of JOHN was complete. When Zacharias came out of the temple, his inability to talk got everyone's attention!!
So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that Zacharias departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." (Luk 1:23-25 NKJV)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (Luk 1:26-34 NKJV)
Notice here that Gabriel's reaction to Mary's questioning was very kind, not hostile or threatening. Certainly different than the mouth closing action taken with Zacharias; And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luk 1:35-38 NKJV)
SUMMARY
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." (Luk 1:39-45 NKJV)
Just as Gabriel, an Angel of the Lord delivered God's message true and clear, and upon his speaking, the events began immediately moving forward. In all probability, Elizabeth was likely moved to tears that at her seniority of years, she would now carry, deliver and raise the man who would introduce to the entire world the Messiah, the Lord Jesus!
This week, in a few more days, we all will gather to celebrate the culmination of God's work that the Angel Gabriel spoke about nearly two-thousand-and-twenty-five years ago; The Births of John the BAPTIST, and our LORD and SAVIOR's Birth in Bethlehem. At maturity, John would clear the path for the arriving Lord of Lords, teaching that the time for salvation was here. He being the ordained WITNESS of the Ministry of JESUS THE CHRIST! If you have not done so, Its time to confess and repent and receive the Holy Sprit into you. Your eternity awaits!
CLOSING PRAYER
Father God, in just three short days we will have the wondrous privlege of celebrating the birth Your only begotten Son. This child, this birth, this Savior came to save, and through His perfect blood being shed on that rugged cross, we have received not only the Holy Spirit but salvation and eternal life in the kingdom to come. Words just cannot express our deep joy for this miracle at Your hand-and-will, through Jesus the Christ, AMEN
[THE LORD'S SUPPER]
[Sing a song to the Lord, lift up your voices]
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
AMEN
THE CALL
If you have never invited Jesus to be your Lord and savior, or, if you have in the past yet remain unsure of salvation and forgiveness of sin, Please pray with me now: Lord Jesus I need to fill a hole in my life that follows me where ever I go. I am a long-time Sinner and I CONFESS and REPENT of all my sins. I believe that You JESUS are the Lord, that you were hung on a cross and died. I believe that you were raised back to life by God, Your Father, ascended into heaven and presently sit at the right hand of The Almighty. Please come into me, clean me, take me and make me Yours and let me serve from this day forward and forever, Thank-You Jesus, AMEN
If you sincerely prayed with me, your salvation has been assured. {Rom 10:9 KJV} -That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Waste no time in finding like minded folks, to fellowship with, who also know the lord Jesus. Be introduced to a church that preaches the BIBLE. Email me. Begin the journey that you will never tire of; the discovery of the Majesty, Beauty and loving Power of Jesus the Christ. Welcome to the family!
Chaplain Gary
BENEDICTION: Num 6:24-26 The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'AMEN
Christ go with you now...until we meet again
Christ go with you now...keep praying on till then
It really doesn't matter what the weather...
Just as long as we all are TOGETHER...
Christ go with you now...Till we meet again!
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE Rom 1:16-17/ Luke 1:5-25;26-45/ Num 6:24-26
SABBATH & SUNDAY WORSHIP MESSAGE
(Published every Friday evening)
CHRIST ETERNAL SENIOR MINISTRIES
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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