A.J. Dummitt

Marvelous Things

God wants to do MARVELOUS THINGS in your life. Pastor Dummitt encourages that all is not lost, God wants to do marvelous things in us, for us and through us!

The Way in the Manger

The Way in The Manger

TEXT: Luke 2:11-14 (KJV)

Luke 2:11-14
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

In our world today, we find so many people that seem to be confused about what happens after this life. Some believe that there is no after-life, some believe in many different and various versions of after-life. Then, once you categorize all those variations - you have to look at what happens in this life to get them from here to their eternity. Eternal destinations are almost always shaped by what happens in this life - in almost every variation of belief.

If you ask the average “Christian” how to get to heaven - you will get many different answers. Today I want to declare to you that there are not MANY WAYS to get to heaven, or have eternal life with God - THERE IS ONLY ONE! - THE WAY in the manger!

Emanuel God with us is now God IN us through the Holy Spirit!

John 14:6 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

THE WAY in the manger!

Down From His Glory

DOWN FROM HIS GLORY

TEXT: Colossians 2:6-10 (KJV)

Colossians 2:6-10
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

 

Philippians 2:7-8 (KJV)
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

This is why Christmas is so special. It has really nothing to do with many of the trappings and traditions we celebrate it with. The real and true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of a God who came DOWN FROM HIS GLORY to have a relationship with and SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS!

The reason He “Came Down from His Glory” was to rescue us and reconcile us. This is made possible by the Holy Spirit. - Here is how it happens:

We acknowledge that we are a sinner and we have broken God’s laws - we REPENT or turn over our lives to God and turn from the life that says we know better than God what is best for our lives. That is where many people get hung up...they are not willing to trust God with their life. They are sorry because they know they have broken God’s laws, but they aren’t willing to start leaning in to God’s way of doing things!
Whoever you are - it is time to REPENT - Turn To God, turn away from SIN!

Our next step after we have died out to our old life and turned from SIN is to bury our flesh in the waters of Baptism in Jesus’ Name. When we are baptized in Jesus’ Name - we are then buried with Jesus Christ and we take on his name. It is washing away our sins, and us taking on the family name of Jesus Christ! (The one who SAVES us from our sins because He came down from His Glory).

Then Jesus places His Spirit inside of us to help us be more like Him. He is reconciling us to Himself. That is why He came - to give us the opportunity to forsake sin and have eternal life.

Why not today, as we celebrate CHRISTMAS!? Let’s do it the right way and honor the ONE who came Down from His Glory!

Interupted by Love - "Neighbors"

Today we are going to talk about WHEN THE RIGHT TIME IS TO LOVE!

 

It’s Always The Right Time to Show Love!

 

The satisfaction of everyday life pales in comparison to the satisfaction that comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to interrupt our lives.

 

INTERRUPTED BY LOVE - it’s always a great thing!

 

Let’s Read together today:

 

John 4:34-35

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

While the disciples go off for lunch, Jesus stays behind at the well where He encounters the Samaritan woman. He spends His afternoon ministering to her and when the disciples return they are so confused by how He chose to block out His day. They are so caught up with making sure Jesus had something to eat that they miss the fact He was doing something much more important.

 

How often do we….

 

Like Jesus - become purposeful about showing love to and ministering to those who God is directing us to LOVE?

 

Jesus made it His mission to meet with this woman and make a difference in her life. Even though she resisted, and even though she acted like she didn’t want to be bothered by Him. (How many people do you know that act just like this woman?) They avoid, change the subject, divert…etc.

 

Like the Disciples - Lose sight of what is most important for the temporary things of life.

 

It is so easy to sacrifice eternal things for temporary things that won’t really matter in a few days let alone years! LOVE is always in season!

 

 

We need to be ready at any moment for the opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone. Ephesians 5:15-18 reminds us to “make the best use of the time.”

 

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 

Why don’t we start looking for more opportunities to make the most of our time and SHARE the love of Jesus!

 

Jesus is the perfect example that there is never a bad time to allow the Holy Spirit to use you. Even while on the cross, moments away from death, He turned to thief next to him and showed him love by giving him a way to make things right. 

 

How many times to we get consumed in our own worlds and forget about the things that those around us are going through? We need to be aware (through the power of the Holy Ghost) of the needs of those around us! It is always the right time to LOVE!

 

HERE IS YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: 

I want to challenge you to have a conversation with God every day this week before you start your day, and tell God that you are ready and willing to be interrupted—even when it is an inconvenience to you. God will give you interruptions like you can’t even imagine.

In God We Trust - "Overbooked"

We live in a culture that views dependence as weakness, yet we are called to be 100% dependent on God. Being dependent on God will keep us from feeling the need to overbook ourselves.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

So how do we TRUST IN THE LORD? (1st Part of the verse)

 

TRUST GOD’S WORD

 (John 17:17)

 

TRUST GOD’S WAYS

(Jer. 1:5)

 

TRUST GOD IN OTHERS

 

 

Now let’s discuss how to: LEAN NOT TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!

 

 

DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF

 

His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9)

 

In ALL YOUR WAYS….ACKNOWLEDGE HIM..

 

Acknowledge JESUS in every step you take.

 

 

The third command of these verses is really about applying the first two to every step we take along the journey we call life.

 

This attitude is explained in James 4:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  (James 4:13-15)

 

HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH

 

As Joseph said to his brothers at the end of his life about their decision to sell him as a slave to Egypt:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20)

 

Similarly, as another famous Bible verse puts like this:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV)

 

 

God will re-straighten (direct) your path. You can get back into the center of God’s will. And amazingly when you do so, God can even apply the mistakes and sins of your past… to be part of His purpose for you and the world around you that He wants to influence through you.