Christ Before Christmas

Notes: Christ Before Christmas

Nov 17 2013 Pastor Greg

Each Gospel is a unique view from each author.

John 20:31 (NKJV)

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Greg says this is the first Christmas verse:

Genesis 3:15 (NKJV)

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

John 1:1 (NKJV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Points (PT) 1: Jesus is God

John 17:5 (NKJV)

And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

PT 2: Jesus who was a God, became a man.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 8:56-58 (NKJV)

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." [57] Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" [58] Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Genesis 22:8 (NKJV)

And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.

A Christophony:

Genesis 22:11 (NKJV)

But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."

Another Chistophony:

Genesis 32:24-30 (NKJV)

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. [25] Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. [26] And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" [27] So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." [28] And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." [29] Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. [30] So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

John 4:12-13 (NKJV)

Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?" [13] Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,

Judges 13:2-3 (NKJV)

Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. [3] And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.

Judges 13:18-23 (NKJV)

And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?" [19] So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the LORD. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on- [20] it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar-the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. [21] When the Angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the LORD. [22] And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God!" [23] But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us such things as these at this time."

Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

How to Resist Temptation

Notes: How to Effectively Resist Temptation

November 14, 2013

Pastor Greg Laurie

How to effectively resist temptation

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 1:12 (NKJV)

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

1. It can be endured.

2. There is a reward for the person who endures it.

Luke 4:4 (NKJV)

But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

Luke 4:8 (NKJV)

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Luke 4:10 (NKJV)

For it is written: ' He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,'

1. Where does temptation come from?

James 1:14-16 (NKJV)

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. [15] Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. [16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

1- the temptation itself

2- you are now under its power and enjoying the experience.

3- you are almost hooked.

4- the hook is set

5- the deadly effects of sin kick in.

We have three enemies: the world , the flesh and the devil

1 John 2:15-16 (NKJV)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world.

2. When does temptation generally come?

Anytime

3. The enemy focuses his attacks

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

5. Where is the best place to be when temptation comes? In the will of God

Luke 4:3 (NKJV)

And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

Luke 4:10-11 (NKJV)

For it is written: ' He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' [11] and, ' In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Psalm 91:11-12 (NKJV)

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. [12] In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

6. What is the primary weapon we should use to resist temptation? The word of God

Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Psalm 119:9 (NKJV)

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

John 11:25 (NKJV)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

The Greatest Story Ever Told (The Birth of Jesus Christ)

Notes: The Greatest Story Ever Told (The Birth of Jesus Christ)

Oct 17, 2013

Pastor Greg Laurie

John 1 and Luke 1

The true first Christmas really starts at the tree in the Garden of Eden.

First Christmas verse:

Genesis 3:15 (KJV)

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

John 1:1-5 (KJV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14 (KJV)

And the Word was made 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.

1. Jesus is God

It was total Id without any loss of id. For he became one of us.

John 17:5 (KJV)

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

2. Jesus became a man

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Colossians 1:16-17 (KJV)

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Christophony -

John 8:55-57 (KJV)

Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it , and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

Luke 24:27 (KJV)

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Genesis 22:1-2,7 (KJV)

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am . [2] And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. [7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

Genesis 32:24-30 (KJV)

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. [25] And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. [26] And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. [27] And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. [28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. [29] And Jacob asked him , and said, Tell me , I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. [30] And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

John 4:12-13 (KJV)

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? [13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

Judges 13:2-3 (KJV)

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. [3] And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

Judges 13:7 (KJV)

But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing : for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

Luke 1:26-38 (KJV)

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. [34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? [35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing shall be impossible. [38] And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (KJV)

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called : [27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

"If you see a turtle on a fence post you know he didn't get there by himself."