What God has Offered Us

1 DURING WWI 2 • THE SON OF A WEALTHY AMERICAN FAMILY CAME TO THE LORD. • THE WAR ENDED AND HE WAS TO RETURN TO HIS PRE-WAR LIFE • IN THE WEALTHY SUBURB OF A LARGE AMERICAN CITY 3 • HE WROTE TO HIS PASTOR ABOUT LIFE WITH HIS FAMILY • AND EXPRESSED FEAR THAT • FRIENDS MIGHT TURN HIM FROM FOLLOWING AFTER JESUS CHRIST • HIS PASTOR WROTE TO HIM THAT IF HE WAS CAREFUL 4 • TO MAKE PUBLIC CONFESSION OF HIS FAITH IN CHRIST, • HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GIVE IMPROPER FRIENDS UP. • THEY WOULD GIVE HIM UP. • THE YOUNG MAN AGREED TO TELL HIS OLD FRIENDS • THAT HE HAD BECOME A CHRISTIAN. 5 • UPON COMING HOME, WHILE HE WAS STILL ON THE PLATFORM OF THE TRAIN STATION • HE MET A GIRL WHOM HE HAD KNOWN • SHE WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE HIM AND ASKED HOW HE WAS DOING 6 • HE TOLD HER, "THE GREATEST THING • THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO ME HAS HAPPENED." • "YOU'RE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED," SHE EXCLAIMED. • "NO," HE TOLD HER. "IT'S EVEN BETTER THAN THAT. • I'VE TAKEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS MY SAVIOR." • THE GIRLS' EXPRESSION FROZE. • SHE MUMBLED A FEW POLITE WORDS AND WENT ON HER WAY. • A SHORT TIME LATER THE NEW CHRISTIAN • MET A YOUNG MAN WHOM HE HAD KNOWN 7 8 • BEFORE GOING INTO THE SERVICE • "IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK," HE DECLARED. • "WE'LL HAVE SOME GREAT PARTIES NOW THAT YOU'VE RETURNED." • "I'VE JUST BECOME A CHRISTIAN," THE SOLDIER SAID. • AGAIN IT WAS A CASE OF A FROZEN SMILE • AND A QUICK CHANGE OF CONVERSATION • AFTER THIS THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES WERE REPEATED • WITH A YOUNG COUPLE AND WITH TWO MORE OLD FRIENDS. 9 • BY THIS TIME WORD HAD GOT AROUND, • AND SOON SOME OF HIS FRIENDS STOPPED COMING TO SEE HIM • HE HAD BECOME PECULIAR, RELIGIOUS, AND WHO KNOWS • THEY MAY EVEN HAVE CALLED HIM CRAZY! 10 11 • WHAT HAD HE DONE? NOTHING BUT CONFESS CHRIST. • THE SAME CONFESSION THAT HAD ALIGNED HIM WITH CHRIST • HAD SEPARATED HIM FROM THOSE WHO DID NOT WANT • JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND WHO, IN FACT, • DID NOT EVEN WANT TO HEAR ABOUT CHRIST. • NONE OF US LIKES REJECTION. • EVEN WHEN WERE REJECTED FOR • DOING THE RIGHT THING WE STILL DON'T LIKE IT. • CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW IT FEELS FOR GOD WHEN WE REJECT HIM. 12 13 • IN LIFE THERE WILL BE TIMES • WHEN ALL OF US REJECT GOD IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. • SOME WILL REJECT HIS OFFER OF SALVATION. • SOME WILL REJECT HIS COMMANDS. • SOME WILL REJECT HIS OFFERS OF PROVISION AND PROTECTION. 14 • AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION • TO THE THINGS OF GOD THAT WE REJECT. • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS GOD IS OFFERING. • HE IS OFFERING SALVATION, AND HE IS OFFERING MUCH MORE AS WELL. 15 • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME PROPHECIES ABOUT CHRIST • THESE PROPHECIES TELL ABOUT HIS BIRTH AND WHO HE WILL BECOME • THESE PROPHECIES ARE PART OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE REJECTING • WHEN THEY REJECT HIM AS SAVOIR 16 • TURN TO ISAIAH 7:14 • TWO KINGS HAD WAGED WAR AGAINST JERUSALEM • THEY HAD NOT CONQUERED IT BUT WERE CAMPED NEAR BY • GOD HAD TOLD ISAIAH TO TELL KING AHAZ 17 • THAT THIS ATTACK WOULD NOT SUCCEED • ISAIAH HAD INSTRUCTED KING AHAZ TO ASK GOD FOR A SIGN • AND AHAZ HAD REPLIED “I WILL NOT ASK, I WILL NOT TEST THE LORD.” • ISAIAH HAD SAID TO AHAZ; • IS IT TO SLIGHT A THING FOR YOU TO TRY THE PATIENCE OF MEN, • THAT YOU WILL TRY THE PATIENCE OF MY GOD AS WELL?” 18 ISAIAH 7:14 19 “THEREFORE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN: BEHOLD, A VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND BEAR A SON, AND SHE WILL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL. WHEN MAKES AN GOD OFFER 20 • WE NEED TO NOT REFUSE WHAT HE OFFERS US • GOD MADE AN OFFER TO AHAZ AND AHAZ REFUSED • AS A WAY TO STRENGTHEN THE KINGS FAITH GOD OFFERED TO PROVIDE A SIGN 21 • BUT AHAZ REFUSED THE SIGN • HIS ANSWER SOUNDS GOOD, “I WILL NOT TEST GOD” • BUT GOD THROUGH ISAIAH HAD JUST COMMANDED HIM TO ASK FOR A SIGN • AHAZ WAS BEING REBELLIOUS AND DISOBEDIENT 22 • HE WOULD NOT ASK A SIGN FOR THE CONFIRMING OF HIS FAITH • MAYBE THIS WAS BECAUSE HE RESOLVED TO PERSIST IN HIS UNBELIEF, • HE LIKED HIS DOUBTS AND HIS DISTRUST 23 • HE DID NOT THINK GOD WOULD SAVE THEM FROM INVASION • AND HE DID NOT WANT A SIGN TO TELL HIM OTHERWISE (PAUSE) • AND ISAIAH RESPONSE BY SAYING; • “THEREFORE THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN:” 24 • GOD KNOWS WHAT WE NEED FAR BETTER THAN WE DO • WE MAY THINK WE DON’T NEED A SIGN FROM GOD • BUT GOD KNOWS WHEN AND IF WE NEED SOMETHING FROM HIM • IF GOD WANTS TO GIVE US SOMETHING, A SIGN, SOME HELP • ENCOURAGEMENT, PROVISION, PROTECTION • WE REALLY NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD • ABOUT SAYING NO TO WHATEVER GOD IS OFFERING • HE IS REALLY VASTLY MORE QUALIFIED 25 26 • TO KNOW WHAT WE NEED AND WHEN WE NEED IT • AHAZ NEEDED TO TRUST GOD • AND GOD OFFERED TO GIVE HIM A SIGN TO HELP HIM TRUST • AND HE REJECTED GOD’S OFFER 27 • AS CHRISTIANS GOD OFFERS US SO MUCH • PEACE, COMFORT, FORGIVENESS, WISDOM • AND SOMETIMES WE ACCEPT THESE OFFERS • AND OTHER TIMES WE REJECT THEM 28 • LIKE AHAZ WE THINK WE DON’T NEED WHAT GOD IS OFFERING • WE THINK WE DON’T NEED HIS PEACE • OR HIS WISDOM OR HIS FORGIVENESS, OR COMFORT • SO WE REJECT HIS OFFER • MAYBE WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE THINK WE ARE STRONG • OR MAYBE WE DO IT BECAUSE WE TRUST SOMETHING • OTHER THAN GOD MORE THAN WE TRUST GOD • OR MAYBE WE DO IT BECAUSE WE • JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND 29 WHAT GOD OFFERS 30 • GOD OFFERS NOT JUST SAFETY FROM INVADERS • HE OFFERS ETERNAL SALVATION, PEACE WITH GOD • AHAZ REJECTS GODS OFFER OF A SIGN 31 • SO ISAIAH POINTS TO A SIGN OF THE MESSIAH • BEHOLD, A VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND BEAR A SON • SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SAY ISAIAH IS TALKING ABOUT • A WOMAN IN HIS DAY WHO WOULD HAVE A SON 32 • THEY POINT OUT THAT THE HEBREW WORD USED HERE • DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN VIRGIN • IT IS USED OF A VIRGIN BUT IN SOME CASES • IT CAN MEAN A YOUNG UNMARRIED GIRL 33 • BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS A SECOND • ISAIAH JUST TOLD HIM GOD WAS GOING TO GIVE A SIGN • AND A YOUNG UNMARRIED GIRL GIVING BIRTH IS NOT REALLY A SIGN • IT WOULD BE REALLY OUTTA PLACE FOR ISAIAH TO SAY 34 • “BEHOLD, A YOUNG UNMARRIED GIRL WILL BE WITH CHILD AND BEAR A SON” • SINCE THAT WORD CAN MEAN VIRGIN • AND SINCE IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING SIGN FOR A VIRGIN • TO BE WITH CHILD AND BEAR A SON • I THINK IT IS PRETTY SAFE TO SAY IT MEANS VIRGIN • BUT YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT 35 MATTHEW 1:23 36 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” WHICH TRANSLATED MEANS, “GOD WITH US.” 37 • MATTHEW REPEATS THIS PROPHECY AND HE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR • HE USES A WORD IN THE GREEK THAT ABSOLUTELY MEANS VIRGIN • MANY BIBLICAL SCHOLARS THINK ISAIAH IS TALKING ABOUT A WOMAN IN HIS DAY • MAYBE HIS SECOND WIFE, OR MAYBE KING AHAZ MARRIED A SECOND WIFE 38 • BUT SEE THE THING IS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY • NO BIBLICAL INDICATION OF EITHER OF THOSE THINGS • OTHERS THINK ISAIAH IS POINTING TO CHRIST HERE AND ONLY CHRIST • GOD OFFERED AHAZ A SIGN, HE REJECTED IT AND ISAIAH 39 • RESPONSES WITH A PROPHECY OF A SIGN THAT GOD WILL GIVE FOR THE MESSIAH • I THINK HE DOES THIS TO POINT OUT TO AHAZ • THAT GOD IS NOT AGAINST PROVIDING SIGNS • YOU DON’T WANT A SIGN 40 • WELL GOD GIVES SIGNS • A VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND WILL BEAR A SON • AND WHAT A WONDERFUL SIGN THAT WAS • A SIGN OF GOD’S OFFER OF ETERNAL SALVATION • THIS IS GOD’S GREATEST OFFER 41 • AHAZ WANTED TO BE SAVED FROM AN EARTHLY PHYSICAL INVASION • BUT ISAIAH RESPONDED WITH A SIGN FOR A FAR GREATER SALVATION • NOT ONE A TEMPORARY SAFETY FROM A PHYSICAL THREAT • BUT AN ETERNAL SAFETY FROM A SPIRITUAL TREAT • AND THIS SIGN OF A VIRGIN BEING WITH CHILD AND BEARING A SON • TELLS US EXACTLY 42 HOW GOD OFFERS 43 • GOD’S OFFER OF SALVATION • CAME WHEN GOD HIMSELF CAME TO BE WITH US • THIS IS THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD OFFERS SALVATION • BY COMING THROUGH THE VIRGIN CONCEPTION • BORN IN A STABLE TO LIVE A LIFE NOT OF POWER, WEALTH AND COMFORT • BUT AS A CARPENTER, • TO BE TEMPTED AS WE ARE TEMPTED 44 45 • AND YET TO BE WITHOUT SIN • TO GO TO THE CROSS WILLINGLY AND DIE FOR OUR SINS • TO RISE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY, ASCEND TO HEAVEN • AND BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER (PAUSE) 46 • BUT FOR ALL THIS TO BEGIN HE HAD TO COME AND BE WITH US • ISAIAH SAYS IN THIS PROPHETIC MESSAGE • AND SHE WILL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL. • THE NAME IMMANUEL MEANS GOD WITH US 47 • THIS IS HOW GOD HAS MADE THE OFFER OF SALVATION • BY NO MEANS COULD WE EVER GO UP TO HIM BY OUR OWN POWER • SO HE CAME DOWN TO US • WE CANNOT POSSIBLY IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR HIM 48 • THE DEGREE WITH WHICH HE LOWERED HIMSELF TO BECOME ONE OF US • IS STAGGERING.. IT IS BEYOND WHAT WE CAN COMPREHEND • AND YET, LIKE AHAZ REJECTED GOD’S OFFER OF A SIGN • MILLIONS OF PEOPLE REJECT GOD’S OFFER OF SALIVATION 49 THERE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN • WHO LIVED IN A SMALL COTTAGE • NOT FAR FROM BALMORAL CASTLE IN SCOTLAND • WHEN QUEEN VICTORIA WAS LIVING IN THE CASTLE SHE WAS VERY FOND OF VISITING 50 • SOME OF THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO LIVED NEARBY • ONE AFTERNOON THIS OLD LADY WAS IN HER COTTAGE ALONE • SHE WAS IN A VERY BAD MOOD 51 • BECAUSE SHE HAD QUARRELED WITH HER NEAREST NEIGHBOR • AND BECAUSE SOME OF HER FRIENDS HAD BEEN GOSSIPING ABOUT HER • SHE SHUT THE DOOR, LOCKING HERSELF IN, • SAYING TO HERSELF, I'LL KEEP MYSELF TO MYSELF IN THE FUTURE 52 • I WON'T LET THEM IN WHEN THEY TRY TO GET MY GOAT. • PRESENTLY SHE HEARD A SOFT KNOCK AT THE DOOR. • SHE SET HER LIPS AND NODDED HER HEAD. • `KNOCK AWAY,' SHE WHISPERED. 53 • THE KNOCK WAS REPEATED LOUDER NOW. • 'KNOCK AWAY TILL DOOMSDAY,' SHE CALLED OUT IN AN ANGRY VOICE. • 'I'LL NOT LET YOU IN.' • THE KNOCK WASN'T REPEATED 54 • AND FOOTSTEPS OUTSIDE WERE HEARD GOING AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. • THE OLD WOMAN NODDED AND SMILED. • 'THEY WON'T TROUBLE ME NOW FOR A BIT,' SHE ASSURED HERSELF. • BUT SHE DID NOT SMILE THE NEXT DAY WHEN SHE WAS TOLD 55 • THAT HER QUEEN HAD STOOD OUTSIDE HER DOOR • AND HAD KNOCKED FOR ADMISSION, AND SHE HAD REFUSED TO LET HER IN. • THE QUEEN NEVER VISITED HER AGAIN. (PAUSE) • SOMEONE GREATER THAN ALL THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF EARTH • IS KNOCKING AT THE HEART'S DOOR OF MEN AND WOMEN • AND MANY OF THEM WON'T LET HIM IN. • SOME DAY HE WILL KNOCK FOR THE LAST TIME. 56 57 • THAT LAST TIME MAY BE NEARER THAN WE EXPECT, • THEREFORE WE OUGHT TO 'SWING THE HEART'S DOOR WIDELY OPEN' AND LET HIM IN NOW.— • WE OUGHT TO LET HIM IN BECAUSE TO REJECT HIM IS TO REJECT GOD’S GIFT TO US ISAIAH 9:6 58 FOR A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO US, A SON WILL BE GIVEN TO US; AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL REST ON HIS SHOULDERS; AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. 59 GOD OFFERS US THE GIFT OF A SAVIOR • FOR A CHILD WILL BE BORN TO US, A SON WILL BE GIVEN TO US; • IT IS VITAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS • WE DO NOT EARN SALVATION 60 • GOD IN HIS INFINITE GRACE AND MERCY • HAS GIVEN US A SAVOIR • WE HAVE NO MEANS BY WHICH WE COULD EVER EARN A SAVOIR • IT WAS UTTERLY NECESSARY FOR GOD TO GIVE US SALVATION • THE CONCEPT THAT GOD GAVE US A SAVIOR IS REPEATED IN 61 JOHN 3:16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. • THE FACT THAT SALVATION IS A GIFT IS REPEATED IN 62 EPHESIANS 2:8–9 FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST. 63 • HE BROUGHT THIS GIFT OF SALVATION, THIS PEACE WITH GOD, AT THE CROSS • WHEN HE DIED TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • BUT WHEN HE RETURNS HE WILL BRING PEACE TO OUR WORLD BECAUSE HE WILL RULE OVER ALL • ISAIAH STATES THAT • THE GOVERNMENT WILL REST ON HIS SHOULDERS; • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED IMPLIES ALL GOVERNMENT • NOT A GOVERNMENT BUT THE GOVERNMENT • THIS IS DESCRIBED IN 64 65 PHILIPPIANS 2:10–11 SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, OF THOSE WHO ARE IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND THAT EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. • AND AT THAT TIME, WHEN EVERY KNEE BOWS • THE WORLD WILL BE AT PEACE • UNTIL THAT TIME COMES WE NEED TO KNOW • THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US NOT JUST SALVATION IN CHRIST • BUT MUCH MORE 66 GOD OFFERS US MORE • SALVATION, ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN, ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • THIS IS AN AMAZING OFFER • AND IF THAT WAS ALL THAT GOD HAD GIVEN US IN CHRIST 67 • IT WOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH • BUT HE HAS GIVEN US MUCH MORE • ISAIAH SAYS • HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE 68 69 • IN A WAY THIS IS A LIST OF SOME OF • THE THINGS GOD HAS OFFERED US IN CHRIST • CHRIST IS OUR WONDERFUL COUNSELOR • THIS MEANS TWO THINGS 70 • ONE CHRIST HAS AN AMAZING WONDERFUL PLAN FOR OUR LIVES • THAT WAS ONE OF THE TASKS OF COUNSELORS, THEY MADE PLANS • THE OTHER TASK OF A COUNSELOR WAS TO GIVE ADVICE 71 • AND IN CHRIST WE HAVE THE GREATEST ADVISOR POSSIBLE • AN ALL KNOWING, ALL LOVING ADVISOR, COUNSELOR • WE CAN LOOK TO HIS WORD AND HOW HE LIVED HIS LIFE 72 • AND USE HIS EXAMPLE AS ADVICE, COUNSEL FOR HOW WE SHOULD LIVE • GOD HAS ALSO GIVEN US IN CHRIST A MIGHTY GOD • THIS WORD MIGHTY HAS THE IDEA OF HERO, ONE WHO FIGHTS TO PROTECT • THIS IS THE SAME CONCEPT AS ADVOCATE… ONE WHO IS ON OUR SIDE 1 JOHN 2:1 73 MY LITTLE CHILDREN, I AM WRITING THESE THINGS TO YOU SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN. AND IF ANYONE SINS, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS; 74 • THIS IS THE IDEA OF A MIGHTY GOD, ONE WHO DEFENDS US, PROTECTS US • AND GOD HAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST • AN ETERNAL FATHER • NOW THIS IS AN INTERESTING TERM 75 • IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO THINK OF CHRIST AS AN ETERNAL FATHER • BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO TRANSLATE THIS PHRASE • IT CAN BE TRANSLATED FATHER OF ETERNITY • THIS WOULD BE VERY MUCH INLINE WITH JOHN’S DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST JOHN 1:1–3 76 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. ALL THINGS CAME INTO BEING THROUGH HIM, AND APART FROM HIM NOTHING CAME INTO BEING THAT HAS COME INTO BEING. 77 • CHRIST IS THE FATHER OF ETERNITY • BECAUSE ALL THINGS CAME INTO BEING THROUGH HIM • AND FINALLY GOD HAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST • THE PRINCE OF PEACE • THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE NAMES FOR CHRIST • HE IS PRINCE OF PEACE IN ALL MANNER OF WAYS • AT THE CROSS HE BROUGHT SALVATION • WHICH IS PEACE WITH GOD • AT HIS RETURN HE WILL BRING PEACE ON EARTH 78 79 • AS HE RULES AND REIGNS • AND ULTIMATELY HE WILL BRING PEACE TO ALL CREATION • WHEN HE BRINGS FORTH THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH • FOR ALL ETERNITY 80 • WE SHOULD ALWAYS CHERISH GOD’S GIFT OF A SAVOIR • BUT WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT GOD HAS GIVEN • US SO MUCH MORE IN CHRIST HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE LATENIGHT INFOMERCIALS? • THEY SELL JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF, 81 • FROM FLEA POWDER TO KITCHEN UTENSILS • THEY GO INTO GREAT DETAIL, DESCRIBING ALL THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS, • AND THEN THEY SAY WHAT: “BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE!” • AND THEN YOU HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER FEATURE, 82 • OR ABOUT THE FREE GIFT YOU’LL GET WITH YOUR ORDER OF ONLY $19.95. • AND THEN THEY SAY IT AGAIN; “BUT WAIT—THERE’S MORE! • THE GOSPEL IS A KINDA LIKE THAT • JESUS’ DEATH BROUGHT OUR FORGIVENESS. 83 • HIS RESURRECTION GAVE US POWER OVER DEATH. • TRUSTING IN HIS WORK SECURES YOUR ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN. • BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE! • A WONDERFUL COUNSELOR TO PLAN AND ADVISE 84 • A MIGHTY GOD WHO WILL BE OUR ADVOCATE • THE FATHER OF ETERNITY WHO CREATED ALL THINGS • AND HOLDS ALL THINGS TOGETHER • AND A PRINCE OF PEACE WHO DIED ON A CROSS 85 • TO PROVIDE PEACE WITH GOD • WHO WILL REIGN ON A THRONE TO PROVIDE PEACE ON EARTH • AND WHO WILL REMAKE CREATION TO PROVIDE PEACE ETERNALLY 86 GOD HAS OFFERED US SO MUCH IN CHRIST • AND YET AT SOME POINT • ALL OF US WILL REJECT SOMETHING IN THIS OFFER • SOME WILL REJECT THE OFFER OF SALVATION • OTHERS ACCEPT SALVATION BUT REJECT • CHRIST AS WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, LIVING HOW EVER THEY PLEASE • SOME REJECT THE PEACE OF GOD • AND LIVE A LIFE OF ANXIETY AND WORRY 87 88 • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS OFFERED US THESE GIFTS • BECAUSE HE LOVES US AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • AND THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGINS 89 • WHEN WE TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR • BUT THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING • THAT RELATIONSHIP GROWS WHEN WE ACCEPT ALL THE OTHER 90 • THINGS GOD HAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS • IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO HAS NOT ACCEPTED GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION • BY PLACING THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST… 91