Commerce Community Church

Jesus was polished in the wilderness, Mark 1:11-13 This was Jesus' spiritual discipline as He made ready to assume the ministry that lay ahead of Him. He was polished as He became the brilliant light of the world, prepared to be a "shaft"/an arrow in God's quiver, hid until the appointed time.

This is a time to reflect on our heavenly Father's "Bountiful Goodness"! To be greatly thankful that He is our Lord and guides us through our difficulties by the Power of His Holy Spirit! In the goodness of our heavenly Father, He has given us Jesus, the One who went about doing good.

It is evident that humanity has wondered far away from God. We as lovers of Christ are commissioned to follow even closer to Him and give specific time in our life to talk to Him. O Lord, help us in our striving to keep our conduct wholesome, to face the temptations of our day, and to stand always in the faith of our salvation.

As I mused through the Psalms, there perhaps is a secret as to why the Lord calls David "a man after His own heart." In the Psalms there is a multitude of "I Wills" - some are David's and some our God's. But it gives us an insight to the heart of David and to note how God addresses Himself with an "I Will".

We open the "Lenten Season" and it begins with Ash Wednesday. This day is a day of self-examination, and moves onward to Maundy Thursday, and finally Good Friday! "I" is so often in our conversation, it is a term that identifies what we think or want personally. It often evades our knowledge that we refer to ourselves so often. Humility rises to the surface as we face the examination of ourselves before the Lord. How much of our lives is about Him, and less of ourselves, as we bow to our covenant with the Lord!

God is able to deliver from the present evil world: II Timothy 4:18, II Peter 2:9 Our Faith stands with the Power of God: I Corinthians 2:5, II Timothy 1:7-9 The Power of God is Wisdom: I Corinthians 1:21, Luke 22:69-71

I John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Paul was an energetic servant of God. As he and Silas prayed, praised and sang at midnight something glorious happened! They were not in church, they had been beaten with many stripes, thrust into prison, and their feet were fastened in stocks.Yet they sang praises! Even in these dire circumstances their voices were a witness and a testimony of the Christ they loved, for the prisoners heard them.

We serve a "God of the Better!" Better than what you ask? Better than anything this world has to offer! He is the Highest Potentate in our world, and world for that matter. He is God, and He is better than any fear or temptation - anxiety, or anything the devil has to offer of this world.

In decisions that lie ahead may we hear the message "fear not!" Should there be disappointments, let us hear the angelic message that gave the shepherds guidance and led them to the Christ. In the year that lies ahead there will be many opportunities to hear these powerful heavenly words, "fear not!"

The day God fulfilled His promise and sent a Child born of the Virgin Mary. A Savior for all mankind, it is truly an awesome day. Our Advent candles: 1: Hope (Ps. 31:24), 2: Peace (John 14:27), 3: Joy (John 15:11), 4: Expectation (Rom. 8:19)

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Rev. Don Van Zandt shares about the "joy" Christ feels for us. Zep 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.

Lesson: Genesis 27:15-24 and 42-44 Isaiah 30:18 The Lord is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for him.

This glorious season of Christ's birth begins with thoughts of His love for us, that He would give Himself for our redemption. Note, this is the first gift ever given, the most valued gift. The remembrance of Jesus and all His gifts He has given, is still giving!

The Word of God is so full of praising, and giving of thanks, we must become full of praise and worship that others might see our dedication to our faithful God!

Thanksgiving is a powerful entity, a strong partner of Thanksgiving! But today's message deals mostly with "Continual Thanks!" In this season of Thanksgiving it would be great for us spiritually if we could major on "continually giving thanks!" Hebrews 13:15 "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name."

The Thanksgiving season reminds us of all the reasons we love our God, all the times He has been there for us, and how great He is as we reach out to Him in worship and Praise!!

At least four times in our scripture reading today it states Jesus was full of compassion. And then several times in scripture it speaks of Jesus as being moved with compassion. There are also other times that compassion is seen in the heart of an individual, such as the parable of the Good Samaritan.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Deut. 8:2