Wednesday Evening Webcast

Want to welcome you to the midweek prayer service of beacon Baptist Church. This will be my first time doing Wednesday evening service and the trust of the little glass want to begin by giving a few reminders out our Sunday service, December 27 continue as we've done the past several Sundays with people present. We asked you bring facemask and wear them especially when we say that we will not have a nursery available and then we have live stream that will continue for all of our services Sunday morning, Sunday evening. Obviously Wednesday evening when you give you an update on our faith promise for 2021. We thank the Lord for those of already responded to faith promise for this coming year. I believe it says that we have 78 cards with emissions total of $151,430 and 11,488.

The building fund. Looking back on pastoral report that we have here for 2019. At this time we had 82 cards for more than we do this year, but our total is only hundred and 33,000 590 when compared to 151, 430 so we praise the Lord during a very difficult year for supplying the needs for our families and for our church as a whole were very thankful and don't take them for granted. I want to share per request with you that are highlighted on your sheet and then after that will pray and then I leave I show one missionary letter tonight with you under praises Jane and I have improved quite a bit over our bout with COBIT and I still have a little bit of a scratchy throat, but that's about it.

Jack Lau called in and said that he is improved and I believe also while Bruce Councilman has more thankful for that. Under members of these requests. Tracy Airy had foot surgery on Friday, December 18 want to certainly pray for quick and full recovery for him. Pastor Bartman and Marty tested positive for COBIT and they are beginning to improve. Have a ways to go.

They depreciate prayers for them. Barb Coble is being treated for lung issues due to COBIT remember her. Betty Duncan is listed. I talked with Pat today and honestly Pat said this is as bad as he is seeing Betty. She has several issues I one of whom being her back, but it's a lot more than that.

Pat told me today that hospice would been command given some help in some care were not going to continue doing that for right now and he just asked that we literally begged the church to pray for him there in dire straits. So Betty Duncan do Guthrie I think most fear where she's been told by her oncologist that they could try a lower dose of ongoing chemo, which he feels the benefits may not be worth the risk. Or go the route of no treatment and down the road.

Hospice we just need to pray for God's grace and wisdom and that he would give her peace in deciding how she wants to proceed from here. Larry Hunter will be having exploratory and possible tumor removal soon some of you may know that Larry had bladder cancer a few years ago was told this particular cancer was subject to return. It had been scheduled for Tuesday, December 14 at the doctor's office failed to make him aware that he need to stop certain medications. About a week before surgery so it's been postponed how Pastor Kay and Carly were also tested positive for COBIT I Carly is feeling a bit better continues to have a cough. As of this morning. Pastor Burns was still running a fever so that certainly is a matter of prayer for all of us.

I was delighted to visit Alice Marley she's recovering at home from a broken pelvis. Alice was in the hospital and then in rehab for several days and she is just thrilled to not only be in her own home, but have a Christmas tree up and all that goes with that, Ruth Patterson very concerned to hear that Ruth also tested positive for COBIT. She's listed in the strata and members. It's hard for me to get up with Ruth at times, but I have talked to her and this came as somewhat of a disappointing surprised to learn that she has COBIT now I John Spencer had hernia surgery on the 18th. Pray for his recovery.

He is experiencing more pain than his recent surgery for knee replacement so let's remember John that the Lord would spare him additional pain and then Shirley Watkins is home recovering from recent health issues under others. I am not going to attempt to pronounce past Renaldo's last name.

It is not the way that it looks I can tell you that he is a friend of Steve Blanche who lives in Puerto Rico and was hit pretty hard with COBIT. There was a time that he didn't think he was going to make it through, but he has survived. We need to pray for his recovery.

Jack Petrie called UNC today and got a strange voice on the phone for his room and found out that they had moved him out of there.

So I I texted his son Jeff and Jeff told me that he would be coming home today and would arrive later during the day.

Subsequently I did get another text from Jeff stating that Jack was back in Pittsboro at chit chat from Ridge assisted living.

We need to pray for businesses that have been affected by coded 19 when other brother Greg Phillips business was affected by a fire and at the facility. Let's pray that the world continue to work on their behalf and under missionaries. Donna Eaton's recovering from a serious car accident. Stewart law the latest.

There we get to two texts today.

The latest with Stuart as they were able to get back in South Africa which was a direct answer to prayer because they were not having much success in Zimbabwe signed first finding out why he was having internal bleeding and deliverance as it is, doctors are trying to get to the bottom of things to explain why that is the case, and then Mike Webster has been diagnosed with colon cancer and will be having a chemotherapy for that under sympathy we learned today that Gary Showalter, former member of our church in years gone by. His dad died of COBIT this week so let's remember the Showalter family and then Sue Lynch called today to let us know that her sister-in-law Denise fell from her wheelchair and cracked her L one vertebrae and they were going to have to transport her to the hospital in Pennsylvania happily have surgery and I know that the they would appreciate your prayers for her. We certainly want to remember our country in prayer the violence and upheaval and unrest. We need to remember the upcoming election in Georgia that is a very critical election and we need to pray for God's will to be done and that other missionaries it come to my mind, Trevor Johnson with health issues Paul Snyder with health issues. We mentioned David and Donna Eaton's mentioned Mike Webster but also Steve were has some physical problems so we need to remember them in prayer. I'm gonna go ahead and remember some of these at this time and I'll share missionary letter with the fathers, we come before you deny we do thank you for the opportunity we have in bringing these petitions and praises before the throne of grace. Thank you for those in our kind of nation who are recovering from COBIT Brady continued to strengthen them to pray for them particular for Pastor Bartman, the Marty and Pastor Kearns and Carly. We know that with the pastures we long to see them recover soon so that they can fulfill responsibilities in the pulpit legislate that before you asking for your will to be done. We pray for Tracy were thankful that the surgery went well complete and quick recovery.

We think of Barb Coble was being treated for lung issues due to COBIT we asked you to encourage her and help her to have a full recovery. Also, Lord and burden for Betty Duncan and Pat have been through such a long drawn out ordeal with several different physical issues that Betty has father I pray that you give wisdom to the Duncans and be with their doctors as they tried to diagnose what the best remedy for Betty would be think of Drew Guthrie of Lord is when mentioned she has decisions that she has to make in the subtype of the PCU given her.

Brady continued to give direction and listen to the family and for Larry is he'll be having surgery and possible tumor removal soon see him to that keep them safe within Cabelas Marlen I really praise the Lord for how well she's doing thankful that she's back home. I pray for Ruth that you protect her, as she is diagnosed with COBIT as well keep her safe and strengthen her were thankful that John Spencer had successful hernia surgery to pray also for his recovery and for Shirley Watkins. We pray for Steve's pastor friend Renaldo that you would bless him help them to get back to full measure of health and be able to get back in the pulpit.

Soon I'm thankful Lord that Jack Petrie is back in Chatham Ridge assisted living.

Encourage Jack, the Lord, it just birds of a great leader know that he has kidney dialysis that he deals with that.

He's just finished going to pneumonia and COBIT father just strengthen him and help him to rest and you will and wait upon you for businesses that have been affected by COBIT. We commit them to you and commit our country to be at large continued to give brother Greg. Wisdom is he deals with issues in his business of Lord we pray for Stuart. We thank the direct answer to prayer that he's back in South Africa with his doctors give them wisdom to know what to do. Father if it would please you prayed this leading I would stop.

I pray for Mike as he has treatment for colon cancer that you bless him and watch over him during this as well with think of Sue's sister-in-law Denise.

We trust that the surgery was able to be done today and that it was successful or praiseworthy could help her to recover soon.

What I asked you bless our time together tonight is consider your word this Christmas season.

We pray for you to help us to have the right emphasis has individual families and as a church collectively. Brady give my voice strength and help me to share something the night be an encouragement dear people, in Christ name, amen. Want to read one letter a shorter one mentioned in my prayer about my voice. It's not us back to hundred percent is not as strong as that like to be. And for that reason, I'm just going to read one missionary letter from the Campos family.

See lesson Bollinger I Campos from Brazil.

It's a brief letter.

They say their partners in the gospel warm Christmas greetings.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Throughout the Bible. He's portrayed as the ruler of creation, the living word of God, the light of the world, the bread of life, the Lamb of God, our great high priest, the King of Kings, etc. but we love one is described as the friend of sinners and him we find mercy, salvation and hope for 2021 and for eternity. Several people around us have been diagnosed with COBIT 19 with prayer and treatment. The great majority overcoming the virus. Sadly, a dear single lady from our church died yesterday. It's very sad for us because she was such a blessing, but for her it was a film editor for faith in Christ. Hallelujah, this afternoon, a young pastor called me ensure that the COBIT 19 virus almost killed him.

He told me how the Lord used his near-death experience to cause him to repent and it was some hidden sins. He decided to step back from pastoral responsibility in order to restore his personal fellowship with God. He asked for help in this process is experience only shows how God's work through this disease rather thank you very much for your prayers and financial support to add another year. May the Lord richly bless you so that you may continue to invest in his kingdom.

We love you and they sign it. See less and Bollinger Campos. I want to share some thoughts from one verse tonight and we've entitled our our lesson our riches in Christ and the verses a for May 1 second Corinthians 89 for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. When you look at that verse. Every part of it is packed with meaning and we want to use this verses as our outline tonight as we consider our riches in Christ, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first thing want to consider is personal.

The stomata of grace that defies our understanding personal stomata grace the defies our understanding. There's no sanction.

I'm sure many of you have heard, you just don't know how good you got usually a grandparent or a parent will be telling a kid when I was your age I had walked 5 miles to snow up to my waist uphill to school and had to walk 5 miles back home uphill snow to my waist and they exaggerate to make a point but there's a lot of truth in the sign.

You just don't how good you've got it love it when it comes to understanding the grace of God in the comprehensive severed and the depth of we don't know how good we got that question that I have at the end of that might look strange. Where might you be apart from God's grace that enable you to know Christ. Grace, let me add a couple of words to clarify where might you be apart from God's grace and predestination that enable you to know Christ's grace and salvation.

The more I study the word of God, the more I realize how indebted I am for God quickening me to life and granting me repentant faith that I might know even know what Jesus Christ did on the cross. I might have eternal life personal the stone of grace. It defies our understanding. We need to praise God daily for the grace that he's bestowed upon us and secondly we look at that though he was rich, you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich possessions that defy our understanding.

One of the things that Christ possessed so to speak, was the presence of the father John 17 five his high priestly prayer Jesus has a now father, glorify me together with you are with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was we cannot even imagine what that would be like glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was possessions that defy our understanding. The presence of the father meant. Secondly, the prerogatives of the father. Philippians 25 Thruway let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, or a thing to be grasped.

After held onto but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross you notice recall I said he thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Jesus had all the attributes of the father were talking about a prerogative. The definition of it there on the slider prerogative is an exclusive or special right, power or privilege, and attribute of sovereignty again just like we can't fathom what it would be like to be in the presence of the father. We cannot fathom what it was like for Christ to lay aside his prerogatives is exclusive special right and power privilege is sovereignty as God the son, and then finally possessions it defy our understanding. The perfect praise of angels and saints.

I don't know about you but I long for the day when I can actually offer perfect praise to Christ from a heart cleansed from sin with the purest of motives.

Perfect praise of angels and saints. We notice personal to stomata grace. It defies understanding possessions defy our understanding. Thirdly, poverty the defies our understanding yet for your sakes he became poor and beloved. It's only by considering the riches that were part of his possession that we can fully appreciate or begin to appreciate the depth of his poverty for your sakes he became poor.

Poverty that defies our understanding.

John 1123 states in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God all things were made through him and without him was nothing made that was made and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.

The word was God and the word became flesh, the son of God willingly became the son of man, and as I have in the slide. We cannot possibly understand the condescension is involved in those two titles, the son of God willingly became the Son of Man. Let's look at those two titles, the son of God. Imagine Mary's when Gabriel said to her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you 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. We don't know exactly how little Mary was we know that she was most likely a teenager, but I often marveled at what it must've been like to have an angel come before and tell her that the highest the power of the highest will overshadow you therefore also that holy one is to be born will be called the son of God. I thought about that often, and will must've gone through her mind. Not only off but what that we carry with it the gossips the darts verbal darts.

It would be thrown her way up the shame that she would have to bear because only she and in the products prominence of God. Joseph would know the truth, the son of God became the Son of Man, even the Bible also refers to as the mighty God, the everlasting father, Prince of peace, the lion of Judah, the son of the highest, the King of Kings and Lord of lords became poor in person. What is the word personage mean it means what people think of you as an individual and will see in a moment.

They did not think much of our Lord Jesus Christ. He became poor and personage going from the son of God to the son of man looking at more detail about his poverty. He willingly became quote insignificant to men. He willingly became quote insignificant demand.

Matthew 1354 through 657 when it come to his own country.

He taught them in their synagogue so that they were astonished and said, where did this man get this wisdom in these mighty works. Is this not the carpenter's son. They were offended at Jesus said to them, a prophet is without honor except in his own country and in his own house. Those who knew him best were offended by him.

How painful that must've been.

As I've mentioned our teens imagine growing up in the same house with never a crossword never dishonest, never selfish act.

Perfection. Perfection and yet how painful it must've been when he was without honor, and only in his own country, but in zone house and notice in the middle of this.

These people that hurt him in the synagogue were astonished and said where did this man get this wisdom in these mighty works. They acknowledges wisdom and they acknowledges works, but they reject him. He willingly became quote insignificant demand. Another way that he show forth his poverty. He willingly became insolvent insulted by man. Matthew 1025 is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household, Beelzebub, the Philistine deity associated with seton satanic idolatry. The name came to be used for Satan, the prince of demons is a fact, as I haven't a bracket total blasphemy. The Redeemer is referred to by the name for the arts rep.

The Redeemer is referred to by the name for the arch rival. He willingly became insulted.

Another way that Christ show forth his poverty. He willingly became impoverished.

He willingly became impoverished the same Lord said to heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. Matthew 820 Jesus said foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head and were all familiar with the fact the prophecy the soldiers parted all his earthly possessions as he hung on that cross.

Jesus became willingly insignificant demand. He willingly became insulted by man.

He willingly became impoverished and then he willingly became inflicted on me in my inflicted that word literally means to cause to be endured and what did Jesus have inflicted upon them. But the wrath of Almighty God. If we want a picture of what the wrath of God, looks like we have but to look at Isaiah 50 Isaiah 53 Psalm 22 text like that and we use one of to show he willingly became inflicted. Isaiah 53, 325 he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Surely he's borne our griefs and carried our sorrows that we esteem him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed as English standard version, but what stands out to me is he was smitten by God, and afflicted.

I think of the song is roads for mine. Jesus is crushed and thus the fathers please jarring jar words convicting. He willingly became inflicted because to be endured. The wrath of Almighty God and then the last area that we show his poverty is he willingly endured intends abandonment intense abandonment. That's the meaning of her second to leave and straights to totally abandon intends abandonment. Matthew 27 verse 46 and about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli, Eli Lamas of acne that is to say, my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me before we look at the result of his voluntary poverty in these areas. Those words, my God, my God, why has thou taken me how often shared with people. When I reflect back upon Christ life in him being born in the Galilee and the poverty that he experience there in the ordinariness. If I can coin the term in Galilee and then I think of him going to Gethsemane in the emotional torment that he went to were capillaries under his skin burst in a sweat, as it were great drops of blood emotional agony and then GABA felt where he was brutalized by men physically brutalized many many many never survive scourging by the Romans wasn't like the Jews 40s 40 stripe save one often they would scourging man until his organ show any blot out but that wasn't the worst of it at the emotional pain of Gethsemane, not the physical pain of GABA thought when I think of Jesus on God. The spiritual pain the soul deep payment he experience it caused him to cry out my God my God, why hast thou forsaken me. I'm deeply moved and we should we should think of that, more often than we do. The result of his voluntary poverty in these areas.

What was that result.

Well we go on in our verse in second Corinthians 8 verse nine that you through his poverty might become rich that you through his poverty might become rich privilege that defies our understanding as ours in Christ. First Peter one verses three through five Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

That verse goes on to say that we are kept by the power of God, but we have a living hope that living hope is eternal life through Christ we have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled awaiting us.

John MacArthur likens that inherent inheritance among other things, these things he says life righteousness joy, peace, perfection, God's presence, Christ's glorious companionship, rewards, etc. you know when you unpack that we've already talked about life perfect righteousness forever. Joy, peace, perfection, the very presence of God.

Christ's glorious companionship and then rewards Philippians 323 21 states for our citizenship is in heaven. Once we also eagerly wait for save the Lord Jesus Christ and notices who will transform our lowly body that may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body.

I don't know that I will put this the best way that it could be as stated but I thought often. What is the body. The glorified body of Christ life. One thing that you can be assured of its perfection. And to think that part of our inheritance and have is that we are going to be transformed. Our lowly body will be transformed so that will be can warm his glorious body. What a wonderful privilege that defies our understanding a wonderful wonderful privilege that defies our understanding and then this because of his poverty. We are incomprehensibly rich, while those who trust in Christ alone will dwell forever in a body suited for the glories of heaven in the presence of the Godhead were we will worship from a sinless heart with 10,000×10,000, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. What a day that will be when we can say with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power noise hit me one day and reading the Scriptures when it was talking about the Angels on more than one occasion it was not referring to them singing. It stated that they said these and you say what is the big deal if you've ever heard Cork readers that say things in unison there's nine candidness about it. There's a beauty about that that rifle singing. Quite frankly, and I can just imagine what is going to be like to hear 10,000×10,000, and thousands of thousands of angels and saints, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

What a day that will be. I'm going up close with a poem entitled the humility of Christ, and I'm not reading it to entertain and I say that to say this, I messed.partway through it and explain something and again when mages go from a to Z, but the humility of Christ over glorious condescension, son of God. Now Son of Man great Creator and sustainer. Christ became our Paschal Lamb for our Passover lamb, you Ranson sinners see Christ your Lord and Galilee evil rich beyond all measure embrace time and poverty stopping there.

Just the fact that Christ embrace time, the eternal son of God embraced a sliver of time is mind-boggling to me.

We go on see your Savior wracked by anguish prostrate in Gethsemane as he prayed to God. His father, take this cup if that might be is exhausted. Sweat stained body glistening with the scarlet you speaks of agonizing sorrow he endured for me, for you GABA cruel place of torture showed the price justice demand man of sorrows stripped and beat ravaged by a fearsome band mock with words of molten hatred, brutalized and scorned, was his Christ, whom heavens hosts exalted or his crown of agony Golgotha dread scene of torment planned by man to horrify their against the black in heaven. Christ broke forth with haunting dry, my God, my God pled the Savior, why hast thou forsaken me as he graced the shameful altar cruel cross of Calvary with his wrath fully exhausted God then rent the veil into was the Prince of peace was buried in a rich man's board town. Sting of death vanquished forever swallowed up in victory are great Savior broke sends fetters and arose to set us free. Now, now he sits beside the father and here's heavens host proclaim strength and honor and glory blessing worthy is the Lamb. Once line Judah's lien meat can lowly with his righteousness assailed what the law God demanded, and for Russ. He had prevailed. Christ now waits upon the father, who will send them for his own glorified his saints will praise him with a host around God's cancel that that I a pauper of my own could never afford. I will praise his name forever King of Kings and Lord of lords. As we close in prayer. I trust you will have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends that we will have the right emphasis. We will seek to do all that we can to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. During this time fathers, we come before we pray that what we share tonight is been an encouragement just for us to contemplate the riches that Jesus left behind the poverty that he embraced that we might have riches that defy understanding and should make us evermore grateful.

They should ever make us evermore humble father I pray you give us a burning desire to exalt mastering this Christmas season and throughout the year. Help us to be quick to confess him. Father, help us truly to be lights in the darkening world and solve in a vile world of father I pray that you be with all of our folks. Once again, who have COBIT and other ailments that you bring them back to full measure of help me with those recovering from not only covert but surgeries given that peace that only you can give would you ask Lord, that you would be with Stuart and Arthur missionaries we mentioned earlier that physical disease sickness.

We pray that you would heal them in your good pleasure meet the needs of each are missionaries, families, Lord, encourage them get them approved for their labors. Father we pray that you do their ministries and meet the needs that they had there as well. We do pray for our nation. We are a nation that does not deserve your mercy and would plead for we pray Lord that you would have your will be done concerning the upcoming elections in Georgia. Father, we know this is momentous and we just rest and the fact that you put people in office and take amount you are sovereign over all things, and as your children. We rest in that fact, we praise you for your goodness and mercy to us in Christ name, amen