What Are You Waiting For

Thursday, December 7, 2017

The sanctuary was beautifully decorated for the season of Christ's birth as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Wayne and Becky Johnson were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, and special prayers were requested for Steve's nephew and family, Polly Ritter, Donnie, David Wetzel, Barbara Cory, Wanda Fiorito, Dot Harner, Clyde Moss, Patty Chandler and Rodney Allison. Hailie Allison shared a praise.

Linda Abercrombie gave the devotional, "Wonderful Impossibilities," with scripture from Ephesians 3:20-21. God can do the impossible. The birth of Jesus was a miracle. He is a perfect, sinless savior. God can accomplish the impossible for you.

Jeanette Easter reminded us of the Lottie Moon offering and presented the plaque we won in the SWC Christmas Parade for "A Charles Dickens Christmas" to our Pastor, Bro. Mark Hall. Special thanks to Jimmy and Jeanette Easter for building the float.

Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offertory and he and Rick Lett served as offering attendants. The "Charles Dickens" choir sang a medley of Christmas carols, and congregational hymns included "O Come All Ye Faithful." We were blessed with special music from Jerry Abercrombie, who sang a beautiful "Unspoken Request."

Brother Mark brought us God's message, "What Are You Waiting For?" and read Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Bro. Mark told us the scripture is like a halftime pep talk. "Do you hate waiting? There is bad waiting like in line at a checkout and there is good waiting like for Christmas. In the Bible, there were two people waiting on Christmas that were not in the nativity scene or on a Christmas card. One of the first to anxiously await Christmas is mentioned in Luke 2:22-35 and that was Simeon. He was waiting for comfort. Israel was in disarray and hadn't heart from God. They were living in fear of the Romans and not sure if their Savior would come. The other awaiting Christmas was Anna, who was mentioned in Luke 2:36-38. Anna was waiting on forgiveness and the one who would save the people from their sins." Brother Mark told us Jesus brought God's comfort and forgiveness.

Brother Mark asked, "What do you want for Christmas? If you want an iPad, you better ask Santa Claus; but if you hurt, are stressed or overwhelmed, you better ask Jesus for comfort. If you need forgiveness, you better ask Jesus. There are three things as believers we need to be to have a great Christmas. First, we need to be a marveler." Luke 2:33 says: "And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him." Bro. Mark said we need to marvel and be filled with wonder and astonishment. "The world tries to take that out of Christmas for things that are just worldly. Don't forget to marvel always at the nativity scene. It shouldn't be just a picture we see; we should marvel at it."

Second, we need to be a mover. Brother Mark told us Simeon and Anna were moved by the Spirit. "Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wisemen were all movers. God prompted them to do something and they did it, just like we should do."

Third, we need to be messengers. Brother Mark told us that once we become a marveler, next we should be a mover, and then we should become a messenger. Luke 2:17 says, "Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child." The shepherds were messengers. Messengers make us marvelers once the message gets out. Brother Mark told us the last thing Jesus commanded us to do was to get the message out. "The message is that He is coming back. Are you ready? If you aren't ready, what are you waiting for?"

In closing, Brother Mark said, "We must hear the message, then get moving to the foot of the cross and then get the message out. Where are you at? Are you a marveler, a mover or a messenger? Do you need to get to church, get saved, marvel and spread the message? It is time to get moving. God will tell you where to take the message."

Our hymn of invitation was "Go Tell It On The Mountain," and Doug Cory gave the benediction. Our Christmas program will be during our Sunday morning worship service on Dec. 17. We invite you to worship with us during this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Mill Creek is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. Worship begins at 11 a.m. and Sunday school at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Religion on 12/07/2017