A Thrill Of Hope Week 1: It Was Over In The Garden
Read
Genesis 3:9-15
9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Matthew 1:18-24
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged[a] to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
Summary
It’s hard to believe that we have entered into the Christmas season. Christmas is filled with hope and expectation. It’s a time where our problems are drowned out by His promise.
The sermon was divided into 3 points:
1. The Problem
It all begun with a problem, in Genesis 3 we saw sin enter the world when the serpent deceived eve in the garden. The pain we all experience is a result of sin. Sin is what brings sorrow and death. All of these things are magnified during this season. God is good that he doesn’t let the problems of this world cancel out His promise.
2. The Promise
In Genesis 3:14-15 God flexes his authority over the serpent by putting restrictions over it. He showed that He has authority over everyone. The authority of God over the enemy is a promise that we can count on. The enemy did not, does not, and cannot cancel God’s plan of power. God still allows the woman to join Him in His plan of hope and tells the serpent that the offspring of the woman will crush his head. This is why as we read scripture that the enemy fights so hard against humanity because he wanted to stop the promise. Here’s good news, the promises of God won't be stopped, a covenant making God is a covenant keeping God. It was a done deal when God said he would crush his head
3. The Person
The promise is fulfilled in a person of Jesus. Jesus is a special person who was conceived by the Spirit. He is Holy, He is divine, He is righteous. Jesus is a powerful person - (Colossians 1) - He is the fulfillment of every Old Testament prophecy. He is connected with us (God with us), Jesus fulfills God’s promises so we are not overcome by our problems
This Christmas season, no matter what problems come your way, remember that God’s PROMISE, which was fulfilled in the PERSON of JESUS, is bigger than any PROBLEM we can ever face.
Discussion
Have you ever faced a PROBLEM that was bigger than you? Share
Have you ever taken a PROBLEM to God that He was not able to handle? Share
How reassuring is the PROMISE of Jesus? Share
How has the PROMISE of Jesus changed your life? Share
Who have you shared the PERSON of Jesus with this year? Who will you share Him with next year?
Announcements
I want to thank all of you that came out and helped us during our OCC collection week. We had a great time taking in the thousands of boxes people prepared.
CG Leaders, please be on the lookout for an email from my assistant Meichelle. It should be coming your way this week.
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
