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CloseChristmas matters because it is the moment when we remember that the King has come. Christmas matters because it is the moment when we remember that God keeps His promises – to restore a broken world, to bind up and heal and reconcile those who are His enemies, to bring a peace in which both cause (sin) and symptom (brokenness) are vanquished. Christmas matters because no other event (and its partner, Easter) is so significant in the history of the world. Christmas matters because we remember that the King of the world took on flesh, lived for us, died for us, rose for us, so that we could be forgiven and have peace. Why else would you be here today?
Scripture References: Matthew 2:1-12, Psalms 2:1-12, Micah 5:1-4
Related Topics: Christmas | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
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Love, Hope, Peace & JoyRichard Riley - Sunday, 14 December 2008 |
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Mission Impossible?Tim Baxter - Sunday, 7 December 2008 |
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The Life of FaithTim Baxter - Sunday, 30 November 2008 |
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The Faithful LifeRichard Riley - Sunday, 30 November 2008 |
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Seize the DayTim Baxter - Sunday, 23 November 2008 |
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Luke 15Ralph Wood - Sunday, 16 November 2008 |
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Counting the CostTim Baxter - Sunday, 9 November 2008 |
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Why Worry?Tim Baxter - Sunday, 2 November 2008 |
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The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
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