The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
The book of Matthew, the New Testament, begins with a genealogy. Starting from Abraham and ending with Jesus. That's 42 generations. No other historical person's ancestors can be traced anywhere close to this extent. The Book of Luke, at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, traces Jesus' family tree back to Adam, the first man, a total of 42+21=63 generations.
This genealogical record is unique in all human history. And with Jesus this genealogy abruptly, permanently stops, God's purposes for it having been accomplished. Jesus' family going forward is not biological. As he said when his mother and brothers tried to interrupt one of his long teaching sessions: "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and keep it." (Luke 8:21)
So also the apostles: "for in Christ Jesus you are all the sons of God through faith." (Galatians 3:26) "All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) In the Greek language of the New Testament, "sons" includes "daughters" and is often translated "children."
As was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring." (Isaiah 53:10)

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
If Christmas is what the Bible says it is, God invading His creation to become part of it and Savior of it, then it is the central fact of human history. Everything else is just footnotes, if that. God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ, is the central figure around which all history turns. Emanuel, God with us, incarnated, crucified, resurrected, ascended, sovereign, and coming again from heaven for all to see to be Judge of all mankind.
Charles Colson once said: "If this claim is valid--if Christianity is true--then it cannot be simply a file drawer in our crowded lives. It must be the central truth from which all our behaviors, relationships and philosophy flow. We must set all earthly issues within the context of the eternal."

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
Mary and Joseph were never prosperous in a worldly way and were often inconvenienced as part of God's plan. Ten of Jesus' disciples died as martyrs and one as an exile. The Apostle Paul received 39 lashes 5 times, was once stoned three times shipwrecked and drifting on the open seas, often imprisoned or driven from town, and in the end was alone until martyred. Yet his letters were filled with unquenchable optimism, praise and thanksgiving. His attitude: "We are privileged not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake." (Philippians 1:29) "I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." ((Romans 8:18) "Eye has not seen nor ear heard nor entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
Mailed in a posthumous letter, Charlie Kirk shared his last answer to the last question in his last interview: What is your favorite saying? His answer: "This too shall pass. Be hopeful in sad times, humble in glad times." And his favorite Bible verse: "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) These are good thoughts to take with you into and through the new year.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
God's words to Jerusalem through the prophet Jeremiah could be His words to America in 2026:
"They have filled this place with the blood of innocent children. They have built pagan shines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing."
"So beware, for the time is coming, says the Lord, when this garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter."
"For I will upset the careful plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will allow the people to be slaughtered by invading armies, and I will leave their dead bodies as food for the vultures and wild animals. I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument to their stupidity."
"All who pass by will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there. I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone. Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends. They will be driven to utter despair." (Jeremiah 19:4b-9)
And so it happened.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
If only, 2,000 years ago, I would have been around to be God's travel agent. I think He had too much on His mind to remember that His Son had to be born in Bethlehem. Maybe He could have found a suitable virgin closer. And why weren't they sent to Bethlehem long before she was 9 months pregnant. And I would have arranged for an Uber chariot pulled by a team of royal horses instead of making Joseph and Mary walk or ride on a donkey for 90 miles on a dirt road. And then, for God's sake, I would have made sure they had reservations in the the finest hotel with an obstetrician and attendants forewarned and a thoroughly equipped delivery room ready and waiting. Then God wouldn't have had to bother Caesar August to take a census of the whole empire, which just created traffic congestion and no vacancies. Or why not just whisk the holy family away by angelic transport like He did for Elijah?
God has an inscrutable way of treating those whom He favors and honors. Next time you feel neglected or mistreated by God, consider Mary and Joseph. And trust God knows what He's doing, even if we don't. "Thy will be done."

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
If I had been around to be God's advisor, I don't know about the wisdom of letting the Magi go to King Herod for directions to a coming king. God must have known Herod was a suspicious, jealous and cruel king, willing to murder any rival, real or potential. I would have just let the star direct them straight to Bethlehem without a pit stop in Jerusalem. That would have prevented the tragic murdering of many innocent children and many grieving parents. And Mary and Joseph wouldn't have had to flee with their infant son to Egypt some 400 miles away, and that just to fulfill a prophecy I maybe would have ignored, or never given in the first place (Hosea 11:1).
Hmmm? Where did we get the idea of the prosperity gospel, or that life on earth would be easy for God's chosen ones?
"Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being His counselor has taught Him?" (Isaiah 40:13)

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
The first Christmas God entered enemy occupied territory as a baby to combat the strongest, fiercest, most dangerous and so far undefeated rival. He enlisted two peasants for the role of his parents. Thirty years later he began a 3-year campaign with only 12 trainees of common stock to carry on after he left. He had no armed forces and had no political movement. He asked for no one's money, ideas, opinion, vote. Abruptly arrested and executed, he was not seen again by those who were determined to rid themselves of him forever. For two millennia he has been and he remains the most influential person in the world."
As Gamaliel advised those opposing his early followers: "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do to these men . . . Let them alone, for if this plan and the undertaking is of man it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God." (Acts 5:35-39)

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
Mary and Joseph were both specifically told by angelic messengers that their baby was to be named Jesus, which revealed his identity and mission. The name means "God saves." Joseph was told, "You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) Mary extolled: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." (Luke 1:46-47) Zechariah the priest also understood and testified: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us." (Luke 1:68-69)
So what? "That we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear." (Luke 1:74)
Each of us should ask himself: Whom and how am I serving?

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

The Voice of Our Savior

A Word from Pastor:
God's Word, Colossians 1:18, tells us that in all things Christ should be preeminent. Certainly that should be especially true during the Christmas season. Here are some suggestions to help you remember the real reason for the season:
When you see the festive decorations think of the joy to the world in the coming of Christ our Savior. The gift giving bespeaks of God's greatest gift. The evergreen trees and circular wreaths remind us of eternal life. The lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. A mistletoe reminds us of the kiss of God's love to us in sending His Son. The beautiful music reminds us of the first song of the angels to the shepherds, bringing "good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." The promise of the arrival of Santa Claus can remind us of not only the past coming but the coming return of Christ. "You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why," Jesus Christ is coming and we need to be ready and living right. "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake" reminds us of Christ's omnipresence and omniscience and "He knows if you've been naughty or nice . . . bad or good so be good for goodness sake," i.e., live to please God, not man. When you hear "Season's Greetings," think and say "Merry Christmas!" And when church bells ring, may they call you from afar to worship the Christ child and bring him precious gifts like the wise men.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0