God Delights in His Plan

thank you singers musicians everybody that's involved at Cornerstone I so appreciate your investment in the Kingdom again to all of our guests and visitors we're so glad you've come can we give the Lord a hand clap of praise for allowing us to be together yes we love you Lord you may be seated for just a few moments here um this time of year is very special I am certain to most of us for those of you that um just for knowing maybe I should say it was a Christmas Eve that I proposed to my bride huh and she said yeah because we were at a good restaurant and she felt obligated Maybe the program that you guys witnessed just a few moments ago my my kids have been involved in those kind of things from I mean I can even remember wearing mom's bathrobe and wondering why ah there's a lot of great things that happened this time of year I don't know about you but I'm thrilled every time that I get to see people come together the house of the Lord can somebody help me for just a moment you're ready wave would you come on Wave act like you care for those of you don't know I can edit that right for those of you don't know that's called a selfie I learned that one I did it didn't I robbed you see how I did that I did it that means that that's a memory now that I have in fact if I live long enough it'll show up it'll it'll show up there on my phone it'll remind me of anybody have that happen I get some of the weirdest things come up on my phone Deron and I don't know what was that yeah and it was a memory from like nine years ago and it pops up this picture does I love the moments that I spend with all of you the times we pray together and cry and laugh and love and give and connect I love family time I love it when there's a lot of different pieces and parts that come together every single one of us in here we are basically baskets of memories baskets of memories can you remember what you ate at your grandmother's house maybe on one Christmas Day can you still taste it though no do you still have bath or a dishwash liquid on your hand where you wash the dishes after no but you've got the memory of him this time of year we spend a lot of times remembering the goodness of the Lord the the provision of the Lord the blessings of the Lord we have over the last couple of weeks from this Podium or one similar we have read the Luke 2 account of the birth of Jesus anybody read that still I I come please do that this year on Christmas take time to read the story make sure kids and grandkids understand the value of the birth of the Christ child let me read Matthew's account this one's just a little different it's it's more political if you will it's more correct in the political sense now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem this is Matthew 2 and 1. of Judea and the days of Herod the king behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem saying where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen his star in the east and we are come to worship Him when Herod the king verse 3 says had heard these things he was troubled in all Jerusalem with him when he had gathered all the chief priests the scribes of the people together he demanded them where Christ should be born and they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea for thus it is written by the prophets and thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah are not the least among the princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule many or shall rule My People Israel verse 7 when Herod when he had privileged called his wife the wise men inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared we sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search diligently for the young child and when you have found and bring me word again that I may come and worship him also verse 9 when they heard the king they departed and lo the star which they saw in the East went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother fell down worshiped him when they had opened their Treasures they presented unto him gifts it was gold frankincense and myrrh being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod they departed into their own country another way I know a lot of times we give the account of Luke more credibility but this also is part of the story of the birth the Christ child it's a story that's for all the ages God had a plan for Humanity God didn't simply speak to Shepherds he didn't simply speak words as the Shepherds and the angels corresponded one with another but the account that we read today in Matthew gives us clear indication that he also made sure that those who were of affluence those who had the ability to read and understand with knowledge they could look into this particular event that was to transpire and lo and behold it came together on this particular celebration December the 18th and 2022 allow me to let you in on a little secret without a Joseph and without a Mary there would not have been there was a need for Shepherds and the need for sheep it would include a group of wise men that would search after him it would require Kings and rulers who desire to stop the plan but God left nothing for the imagination nothing for error no space for failure but the Bible gives us the clear indication here that this was the plan that God had for Humanity I've come on this Sunday afternoon to remind us again the memories if you will that Jesus came out of the divine plan of God Jesus's birth on planet Earth was exactly the way it was supposed to happen I've come today though also to help us to realize and trying to be cognizant of the clock today but we go to the last book in the Bible it's called The Book of the revelation what a strange chapter book to go to if you will about the story of Christmas but allow me just a couple of moments here today to let you in on something the scripture reveals to us in Revelation chapter number four when you get time read through it the Bible tells us that there was a group of angels if you will gathered around the throne there were also 24 Thrones that were gathered around the throne chairs if you will and there were Elders that sat upon these chairs the scripture gives us clear indication here that when the moment came when the time came the angels that had hovered about The Throne they had wings that covered they had wings that spread they had wings that covered and they simply had one job to do at that moment the indication here to John as he wrote this was this they would simply give homage and Glory unto the Lord God the one that sat upon the throne and they would cry holy holy holy the Lord God Almighty was and is and is to come the Beast the Bible says when they give honor to him when they lift him up when they give him glory the Bible gives us the indication that that they they cast down their their crowns onto the ground in front of that Throne the Bible tells us in verse 11 of Revelation chapter 4 they simply declare Thou Art Worthy O Lord you receive glory and honor and Power for thou has created all things listen to this and for thy pleasure they are and were created today when we talk of the birth of the Christ child we can give the indication that we really understand that it was Jesus that came in a Manger but I come today to tell you that there will be a final and at that final it's going to be a part of the plan as well and more than gifts and surprises more than tinsel and more than things on a tree you need to understand something it is the good pleasure of God to create and to establish this plan can I say it this way you being here today puts a smile on his face why because he knows that you have an opportunity to study the word and to fall in love with the King of Kings and the Lord of lords can I tell you today he's still wonderful can I tell you today he's still counselor can I tell you today he's still the Prince of Peace he is still Jesus he still has a plan he still has a way you cannot negate the fact that in the midst of the chaos of 2022 that somebody's wondering where is God in it all I tell you it gives him great pleasure today that We Gather in the house of the Lord and we worship come on as these children gathered in the straw over here on the Bella hay over there it's more than them just looking cute but something's getting into their mind and in their heart it gives good pleasure to the Lord God for me to talk about the birth of Jesus on this Sunday I've come to remind somebody the memories of your Christmas Past can actually bring to you a smile on your face agreed for some of us it might bring sorrow it might bring pain because of things that our life has gone our lives have gone through but I've come today to tell you that it's his pleasure to do everything that was done on the tree in the manger with the crown with those around all things that were taking place it was God's good pleasure that that should happen you know what else he wants for you in closing today he wants you to know him he wants you to have a relationship with him he wants you to be baptized in the only saving name of Jesus for the remission of your sins he wants for you to repent of your sins and ask forgiveness and and let your heart be crushed under the weight of the sinful lifestyle he wants you to know that he'll love you and he'll put you back together not only that he'll fill you with his Spirit you will know that he abides In You by speaking in tongues as the spirit gives utterance there will be no question about your experience there's no way that anybody could ever take it away from your wife because the evidence will be there listen carefully as you stand with me this afternoon God Delights in his plan God Delights in his plan God knows that there is something from Humanity it is pleasing to God that Jesus would come die on a cross raise from the tomb Ascend into heaven prepare a place and return to take followers home with him today all that we saw here on the stage and all that we sang about is about him his pleasure I wish he'd grab somebody's hand close to you right now and lifted to heaven pray one for another right now would you come on Lord help us to find you in the midst of all that's going on come on that's right lift your voice Lord I'm trusting you Jesus I'm trusting you it is your great pleasure Lord that I would know you that I would be connected to you Jesus I thank you for the promise I thank you Lord for the joy for the peace the holy ghost that works in my life oh come on somebody would you pray I love you Jesus you're worthy Lord you're worthy your great God and greatly to be praised there is none like you none beside you only you do great things in US Jesus Hallelujah I'm so glad that I know the Lord I'm so glad that his presence is real at any moment did any part of part of the day you can call on him and he's a right now God he's a right now God that's his pleasure that's his pleasure I thank all of you for coming out today Lauren thank you for your crew and all the workers can we give them a hand one more time brother Duron thank you for the beautiful singing and songs more than any of this guys more than the chocolate chip cookie you're about to eat although those are good the truth is it's God's pleasure that he would be the way to heaven this week's going to be another busy week tomorrow night prayer Wednesday night bible study Saturday five o'clock Candlelight I love all of you and I'm glad you're here would you lift your hand one more time before you leave Lord we thank you for your power and presence in this place Spirit of the Living God fall fresh Upon Us Lord every day let us find you God in all that we do let us connect with you Lord and love and serve you in the name of Jesus be glorified Lord I pray keep us this week protect us Lord let us always always find you Lord in all things it is your pleasure God to move and to change and to work in our lives we love you forever we bless your name in Jesus name we pray somebody say Amen I love you all shake hands and be friendly greet one another so glad that you've come today amen you're dismissed in the love of the Lord