Plymouth Haven Baptist Church

Core Truth: Someone has asked: “Why does our view of God matter so much?” And their own answer to their question was “We must pursue an accurate view of God and not lose sight of His true nature. Our relationship with God, a result of our view of Him, is what makes us who we are. He loves us and He wants to have a relationship with us, which starts by getting to know Him for who He really is.”

Core Truth: A glorious and wonderful fact is that from the smallest and most seemingly insignificant events in our own personal lives, to the most monumental and global-sized events happening and yet to happen in our world, almighty God is going to see to it that whatever He has said He is going to do will surely come to pass!

Core Truth: In light of the latest chaos and violence currently happening in the Middle East, it may be hard to imagine anything ever improving or true peace ever coming to world. However, the Word of the Lord throughout Scripture in general, and in today’s text in particular, assures us that the day will come when Christ, the Prince of Peace, will Himself bring the true and lasting peace that is so desperately needed and that ultimately there will be many – beginning with Israel – who are ready to “walk in the light of the Lord.”

Core Truth:When we find ourselves in some of the hard places of life it is quite tempting to question whether God has forgotten about us or whether He really cares about what we may be experiencing. However, it is at such times we must come back to His unchanging Word and trust that in the end all will be well, and that as the Psalmist once said, we too “…will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

King Jesus You are:
omniscient - therefore, I can call upon you for wisdom in every circumstance I face
omnipotent - therefore, I can truly do all things through Christ who strengthens me
omnipresent - therefore, I am never alone no matter the situation
omnibenevolent - therefore, I am constantly receiving your generosity and favor every day and all day.

Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Core Truth: In last Sunday’s sermon we talked about What Shall We Name the Baby? as we emphasized the fact that names really do mean something. Today, we will consider just a few of the over 200 names or titles given to Christ in Scripture and how those names have relevance for us as Christians.

Core Truth:“A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here awaiting our response to His presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” A.W. Tozer

Core Truth: “Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.” G. Campbell Morgan

Core Truth: At various points throughout human history God has provided early warning signs of impending doom and judgment mixed with promises of hope and redemption – signs and promises that are meant to warn the wicked, encourage the righteous, and inspire the believer to keep on keeping on.

Core Truth: Our ability to rest in the refreshing offered us by the Lord will always be in direct proportion to our willingness to trust Him and to obey whatever He commands.

Core Truth: Against the backdrop of impending divine judgment for its persistent sins and arrogant rebellion against its Maker, the promise to Judah and Jerusalem of its restoration, healing and exaltation above all the nations of the world is a divine word that was intended not only to give ultimate hope to the righteous ones of Isaiah’s day, but also to all of God’s people who even now are called to live righteously for Him in this present evil world.

Core Truth: While current events can tempt the righteous to despair of ever seeing an end to the terrible injustice, corruption and evil being perpetrated against the innocent and helpless, today’s scripture is God’s own assurance that the time will come – perhaps very soon – when “...the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever!” (Hab.2:14; Rev.11:15)

Core Truth: C.S. Lewis rightly said that “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” However, our Lord made it clear we don’t have to wait until we get there to enjoy it; we can have it even in life's darkest hour. “I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.” (John 15:11)

Core Truth: As with Israel of old, which was being punished for its continual rejection of Jehovah and its pursuit of other gods, so our modern world and especially our own nation are experiencing God’s hand of judgment with perhaps even worse days to come. However, such judgment is always intended to be remedial rather than punitive, and especially at the coming of another Advent Season God reminds us that hope will ultimately conquer despair and that Great Light is about to come to “those who live in a land of deep darkness!

Core Truth: When life’s challenges come to us - as they do at some point to every Christian - the tendency is to view our circumstances through the prism of our own desires, expectations, or preconceptions – all of which can tempt us to, as C.S. Lewis once wrote, “put God in the dock” - causing even the most devout believer to question God’s fairness, His faithfulness and yes - even His love.

Core Truth: Contrary to all rational thinking, it is possible to pass through some of life’s most frightening storms but still experience genuine and lasting peace. The keys are the right Source, a Fixed Mind, and a Believing Heart.

Core Truth: In a world increasingly marked by trouble and chaos, the child of God can choose to live in the peace that Christ has given and trust that God really is causing all things to work together for our good and for His glory.

Core truth: Weariness is a part of life - weariness of body, mind, soul and spirit - and it happens to even the strongest among us. However, God promises that He will be our strength and that he will never leave or forsake us, no matter what challenges life may bring our way.

Core Truth: Names are supposed to mean something and nowhere is this truer than in the names given to our Lord!

Core Truth: While each year at this time we rightly celebrate the wonderful things that happened that first Christmas, the greatest things were not angels singing, nor shepherds worshiping, nor stars appearing, nor wise men traveling from afar. Rather, it is what God the Father did in sending His Son to earth that changed man’s hopes and aspirations forever.

Core Truth: While some Christians (even some pastors) argue that we should not celebrate Christmas, I am not among them! Instead, in light of today’s materialistic, secularized and self-centered culture the need to celebrate the impact and meaning of our Lord’s birth is greater than ever.

Core Truth: True peace is not merely the absence of confusion or turmoil in our lives. It is, rather, an abiding realization that no matter what difficulties we face, God is in absolute control of all things and will never leave nor forsake us.

Core Truth: Willingness to wait for God will ultimately bring great blessing, but impatience can bring consequences that carry a very high price!