Even In The Darkest of Times
2020 has been filled with fear, anxiety, division, anger, and much confusion. I think it’s safe to say that none of us are sad to see 2020 come to an end so that we can usher in 2021. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings his sobering message, Christmas Tidings: New Beginnings, summing up 2020 and looking towards the future.
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All over the world, Christmas will be celebrated this December 25th. We open our presents under our decorated Christmas Trees. We spend time with family and friends as we celebrate this festive holiday. But as we celebrate and partake in this joyous season, do we truly know what we are celebrating? Do we truly know and understand the real meaning of Christmas? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings his eye-opening Christmas message, Christmas Tidings: The Real Christmas Story.
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom He is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:8-20
The real meaning of Christmas isn’t about Santa, presents, or even spending time with your family. The real meaning of Christmas, the true Christmas story, is the story of God setting aside His Godliness to become man so that He could save anyone who would humble themselves before Him.
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Jesus came to save mankind 2000 years ago, but there was no room for Him in the inn. Because of this, He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. We often look at the Nativity scene as something beautiful and wonderful, but was it? Was the manger scene a beautiful sight to behold? Have we completely lost sight of the significance of the manger scene? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings the powerful message, Christmas Tidings: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room.
2,000 years ago, there was no room for Christ in the inn. 2,000 years later, there’s not even room for Christ in our schools, government, and country. Is there at least room for Jesus in your heart?
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19
When you make room in your heart for Christ, He not only comes in, He gives you the strength you need to overcome all obstacles in your path. Christ changes us so that we might become more and more like Him. Let every heart prepare Him room that we might all be saved.
When did it become breaking a rule
To say your name out loud in school
When your name’s the only one that sets us free?
When did it become incorrect
To speak the truth about life and death
When your life gave us all eternity?
Even if it gets me convicted
I’ll be on my knees with my hands lifted
If serving you’s against the law of man
If living out my faith in you is banned
Then I’ll stand right before the jury
If saying “I believe” is out of line
If I’m judged ’cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I wanna be guilty
I’ll rise up and honor you
I’ll testify to the good you do
‘Cause your grace and your mercy have overtaken me
So even if it gets me convicted
I’ll be on my knees with my hands lifted
If serving you’s against the law of man
If living out my faith in you is banned
Then I’ll stand right before the jury
If saying “I believe” is out of line
If I’m judged ’cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I wanna be guilty by association
Guilty of being a voice proclaiming
Your ways, your truth, your life
I’ll pay the price to be your light
If serving you’s against the law of man
If living out my faith in you is banned
Then I’ll stand right before the jury
If saying “I believe” is out of line
If I’m judged ’cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I wanna be guilty by association
Guilty of being a voice proclaiming
Your ways, your truth, your life
I’ll pay the price to be your light
Oh, I wanna be guilty
Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight
Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping
Mary shivers in the cold
Trying to keep the Savior warm
Born among the animals wrapped in dirty rags
Because there was no room for Him in the world He came to save
Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night
In the night
America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
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The birth of Christ is so significant that we built our dates around it with B.C. and A.D. Prophets prophesied the coming of the Messiah. The coming Son of God given to mankind. Isaiah described the birth of Christ Jesus like this, ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,’ in Isaiah 9:6. But what was Isaiah trying to tell us? What was he prophesying about Jesus? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings the second part, Unto Us A Child Is Born, Unto Us A Son Is Given, to our five-part series ‘Christmas Tidings.’
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
A son has been given to us by our Everlasting Father. He is God incarnate. He is the prophesied child born 2,000 years ago.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom He is pleased!”
Luke 2:10-14
Jesus’ birth was foretold hundreds of years prior to His birth. These tidings of great Christmas joy was brought first to the lowly shepherds by the angels 2,000 years ago. Unto us a child is born, but a son is given. Jesus is the child of Mary, but the Son of Almighty God.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
John 3:16-17
Jesus’ one purpose for coming to the earth was to be the Son given to all of mankind. Jesus had to be born as a human child so that He could save the world as a man. That’s the meaning of Christmas. That’s Christmas tidings.
Unto us a Child is Born, Unto us a Son is Given
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Christmas is a time of hope and joy, but it seems almost hopeless in a world filled with pain, sorrow, grief, starvation, and death. Sometimes it feels as if the very joy is being sucked out of our bodies. What is the joy and hope of Christmas? And how do we receive that joy? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he preaches part one, Joy to the World, of his five-part series Christmas Tidings.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11
In other words, “Joy to the world, the LORD is come.” Are you overjoyed to hear the good news? It doesn’t just bring happiness because happiness depends on circumstances, and when circumstances change, our happiness changes. Are circumstances changing your level of happiness? Do you get sad, or upset, or even angry when a situation or circumstance arises that you have no control over? Have you given someone else other than God the power to dictate your level of happiness? Then you need to ramp up the joy of the LORD.
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How many of us can say that we are grateful for what we have? Now, how many of us can say that we are thankful for what we have? And is there a difference? Does it even matter? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he enlightens us on the importance of thankfulness in his message, The Act of Being Thankful.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! 5 For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:3-5
11 Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19
The leper was already healed. It was because of his thankfulness that he received spiritual healing, redemption, Salvation.
Reverend Kenny Yates said, in his message, that there are four ways to maintain an atmosphere or attitude of thankfulness.
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14–16
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20
Even if you don’t feel thankful, pretend to be thankful, say thank you continually.
Begin with:
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34
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The Feast of Tabernacles is the very last feast of the Jewish year. It’s celebrated for seven days, starting five days after the Day of Atonement. Like all feasts, The Feast of Tabernacles is a shadow of things to come, but what? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to this important feast.
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Once a year, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and present an offering on the Mercy Seat before the LORD. When Jesus died for our sins on the cross 2,000 years ago, He fulfilled the final and perfect sacrifice. But what exactly does the Day of Atonement have to do with us today? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he connects the past to the present in our latest message, The Day of Atonement.
26 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord. 28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. 29 For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. 30 And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”
Leviticus 23:26-32
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The Old Testament is filled with foreshadowing, types, prototypes, and symbolism. The Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Unleavened Bread all were shadows of things to come. The Feast of Trumpets is also a shadow of things to come, but what? Join Reverend Kenny Yates in his latest message, Feast of Trumpets, as he reveals the importance of this hidden day.
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Father absence has become more and more prevalent and normal in today’s culture. We’re taught through the media, culture, and our government that fathers aren’t necessary and are replaceable. But what does the Bible say about the role of a father in the home? Does the Bible say whether fathers are important in a child’s life? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shares biblical truth coupled with statistics in his eye-opening Father’s Day message, Father Where Are You?
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
Whether you realize it or not, fathers, you are to discipline, instruct, correct, and lead your children. You are the head of your household, it’s up to you to be the disciplinarian, as our Heavenly Father disciplines us, His children.
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