12.22.11 "Sing and Rejoice!"

"Sing and Rejoice!"

Zechariah 2:1-3:10
Revelation 13:1-18
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 30:18-20

Christmas time is here! While I may have caused that Charlie Brown tune to get stuck in your head, the thoughts of Christmas stir up a variety of thoughts and emotions in each individual. Because this is the most intensely celebrated day of the year for both the believer and the non-believer, there is a ton of pressure that this season lives up to expectations. What are you "expecting" for Christmas? No, not as a gift, but what are your expectations? For some it's not the expectations that are the issue, it's the hurt of past expectations that were unmet that sour the memories of Christmas. Sometimes these feelings can be quite intense, and they ultimately sour the anticipation of the celebration.

As we near the end of the year, the apocalyptic prophecies in the selected readings from the One Year Bible can seem somewhat foreboding. They don't seem "Christmassy" at the surface. But let's look at this account of Zechariah's vision in chapter 3:

"Then the Angel showed me (in my vision) Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord; and Satan was there too, at the Angel's right hand, accusing Joshua of many things. 

"And the Lord said to Satan, 'I reject your accusations, Satan; yes, I the Lord, for I have decided to be merciful to Jerusalem - I rebuke you. I have decreed mercy to Joshua and his nation; they are like a burning stick pulled out of the fire.'

"Joshua's clothing was filthy as he stood before the Angel of the Lord. 

"Then the Angel said to the others standing there, 'Remove his filthy clothing.' And turning to Joshua he said, 'See I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.'" (Zech 3:1-4)

Zechariah then foretells the coming of Christ. "Listen to me, O Joshua the High Priest, and all you other priests, you are illustrations of the good things to come. Don't you see? - Joshua represents my servant the Branch whom I will send. He will be the Foundation Stone of the Temple that Joshua is standing beside, and I will engrave this inscription on it seven times: I will remove the sins of this land in a single day." (3:8-9)

Jesus is the Branch sent by God to deliver our sins in a single day. Christmas is an incredible day. As a child I didn't think it would ever get here. It seemed so far off. It seemed like there was no chance of it ever coming. The anticipation was so great, it seemed like time was taking forever. But as adults, it will come and we know, Lord willing, it will pass. 

There's another day coming that's probably hard for us to imagine getting here. Each one of us will be standing in front of God. The Accuser will be there, and he will be asking for our Judgment. But there will be one who stands up and says, "NO!" There is no charge against him! That is the One who came on Christmas. He gave his life to remove our sins on a single day.

Zech 2:10 says, "Sing, Jerusalem, and rejoice! For I have come to live among you, says the Lord". 

Christ came to earth for me! For you. As you look at your family this weekend, look at them with the love of Christ knowing that he came for them as well! Our sins were taken away the day he died on the cross. What a privilege and honor to be able to celebrate this season. 

I find Zech 3:10 to be interesting. It says, "and after [he comes], you will all live in peace and prosperity and each of you will own a home of your own where you can invite your neighbors." Whether or not you own a home, there's a principle here. The result of his coming is that we live in the practice of hospitality. Whatever your resources are, use them this season for giving. If you have a home, make it a place that exudes the presence of Christ. If you are giving gifts, give with the motivation of the freedom we have in Christ. 

Sing and Rejoice! 


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

9.24.11 "Think About It"

"Think About It"

Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2

Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:

"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)

What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right? 

While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.

"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)

What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free! 

We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done. 

"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ 

2.9.11 "The Cost of Atonement"

"The Cost of Atonement"

Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32

As we've been reading in Exodus, the Tabernacle has been built. There is now a place to meet with God. Today's reading describe what is necessary to make Aaron, the altar & the priests ready for meeting with God. This is not a pretty event. I wont go into details, but Aaron must place his hand on the head of a ram while it is being killed. The blood is collected and placed in various places as a sign of consecration, holiness, and ultimately to atone for the sins.

Why must this be done? I don't know that we will ever fully understand the magnitude of the cost of atonement. The price it takes to be at one with God. In reading the old testament descriptions of the sacrifices, it's easy to skip over these sections. We don't want the gory details. "Just make us right with God. Don't gross me out with what it takes."

The cost of atonement is so great. Jesus understood what it was going to take. In Matthew 26 he shares the Last Supper with the disciples. Judas has betrayed him. Peter declares that he will never leave, but Jesus knows he will deny him. Jesus brings the disciples to a garden to pray. He understands the cost of what is about to happen.

"Then he told them, 'My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death...'" Matt. 26:38

O so great a price. This is what it cost for my sin. The son of God in anguish over the reality of what he must go through. There were gory details. This blood would be placed in various places as a sign of consecration, holiness, and ultimately to atone for my sin.

Thank you Jesus, for the price you paid for me. Cover me by your precious blood. Make me yours. I set myself apart for your glory. I will keep myself from sin. Your love is incredible.

Never forget the price of atonement.


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe


Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ