December 23, 2018 The Definite Good News We Need

December 23, 2018

On this fourth Advent Sunday, Pastor Donald teaches from Luke 1: 26-38. Mary is visited by Gabriel the angel to tell her that she will bear a son named Jesus. Naturally Mary is troubled by this news and asks the question, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" Not only is Mary asking physically how this will happen but also how is she going to manage in a world that is so unforgiving and biased. The angel appeared to her and not her family, her village, or her spiritual leaders.

Yet Mary is convinced by Gabriel's reply, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you...", the angel goes on further to say, "And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren."

We read in this dialogue between Mary and Gabriel that God will be with us and has others ready to help us. The Lord is fighting for us and we need to know and live a life that understands that His spirit overshadows us whenever he tasks us to do something for His kingdom. We also need to seek out people who are working with God to support us.

For the upcoming year, let us remember and live lives that believe that God is with us.

December 16, 2018, The Servant of the Lord, the Covenant of our Salvation

On the topic of joy during this third Sunday of Advent, Pastor Donald revisits Isaiah 42:1-8 to answer the questions, "Are we assured of our salvation?" and, "What is the source of our confidence?" The scriptures show us in Isiah 42 that there is unilateral covenant initiated and created by God. Unlike bilateral contracts, this covenant cannot be broken and is perfect based on God's ultimate sovereignty. We also learn in Isaiah 42:4 that this same covenant given through His servant, Jesus, is sustainable and reliable and will endure forever. Jesus is faithful and is working until justice is in the earth and His law rules everywhere. We also see this sustainability in the Holy Spirit which continues to work in us transforming our lives. Finally,   God's covenant endures with patience and long suffering. Jesus will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a candle wick. Jesus has come to save the sinners and not destroy us.

During this Advent season and Christmas, let us pause and reflect on whether or not we are living a grateful and obedient life after being offered such a merciful covenant from God through His Servant, Jesus.

Please take the time to watch Pastor Donald's sermon, "The Servant of the Lord, the Covenant of our Salvation".

December 9, The Sevant of the Lord and Our Lord of Peace

The second Sunday of Advent is about Peace. What is this peace, and how do we achieve it in such a troubled world? The peace between God and man could be only be accomplished from "the Servant of the Lord and Our Lord of Peace". In Isaiah 42:1-9, we read about the main roles of the Servant of the Lord which is to be a covenant to the people, to establish justice on the earth and to be the light of God. Later in Isaiah 42, the prophet shows who is not the Servant of the Lord. However, we do read in Luke 4:16-21 that Jesus is ready to be the Servant of the Lord and ready to start reconciliation between man and God.

Our responses to Jesus' declaration, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing," (Luke 4:21b) requires us first to be willing to receive Jesus,  and then, with grateful hearts, to accept his sacrificial justice. Finally, we also need to be part of His justice by reconciling ourselves with God and to reconciling others with God.

Listen to Pastor Donald as he links passages from Isaiah 42 to the Gospels and shows how the promises of God have been kept.

Today, we had to say goodbye to three members from the OEM family since they are to return to their home country in the Philippines next week. Byran and his family have made a lasting impact with our congregation, and they will be missed. Although they had only been with us for about a year, they helped out in so many ways using the talents which God has given them. Some examples of their willingness to serve are when Raven Elijah played the piano at a time we needed a pianist and Bryan preached a moving sermon on "Facing the Storm". More importantly, they were a family with genuine needs, hopes, failures, triumphs, feelings and all the other things that make us so human. We will miss our brothers and sister, but they will always be a part of our family united in Jesus Christ.

If you have not already seen it, we recorded Byran's sermon on August 26, 2018, and you can watch it on our YouTube channel. 

December 2, 2018 Hope in the Lord who Comes

Today is the fist Sunday of Advent and keeping to the theme of hope, pastor Donald preaches about the "Hope in the Lord who Comes". In Isaiah 40:1-31 we read how God is working to bring our struggles to an end. While we labour in a broken world, God draws us to be closer to Him, so that we may be made perfect through God. This is a God who can bring our struggles to an end because he is sovereign. Our everlasting peerless God is all wise, and although His purpose and ways may not make sense to us, they are perfect. We must hold onto God and His promises with confidence and hope. Our God has authority over all rulers, all nations, and all of creation. Our God gives us a double portion. One to remove the guilt of our sins and another portion to remove the root of sin.

Mark 1:1-3 makes reference to the hope the the prophet Isaiah speaks of.

A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Jesus is that hope which God promised. Please take some time to watch the sermon, "Hope in the Lord who Comes".