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.
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.
When we are thankful, we can enter the presence of God.
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
When we are thankful, we receive Salvation.
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.
How to Be More Thankful
Reverend Kenny Yates said, in his message, that there are four ways to maintain an atmosphere or attitude of thankfulness.
Say thank you at all times and for everything
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Do not complain or grumble
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
Identify at least 1 different thing every day that you are thankful for
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20
Fake it until you make it.
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!
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.
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.”
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.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17 Leviticus 23:23-25 Exodus 12:1-2 Joel 2:1 Numbers 10:1-10 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Hebrews 4:8-9 Matthew 24:37-44
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.
Statistics of Fatherless Children
Fatherless children are 100-200% more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems according to the National Center on Health Statistics
Fatherless sons are 300% more likely to be incarcerated in state juvenile institutions
Fatherless daughters are 164% more likely to give birth to an illegitimate child
71% of pregnant teens are from fatherless homes
Fatherless daughters are 92% more likely to fail in their own marriages
Fatherless men are 35% more likely to experience marital failure
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers are from fatherless homes
Children from father absent homes make up 63% of youth suicides
85% of children who exhibit anti-social behavior disorders are from fatherless homes
72% of adolescent murderers grew up in fatherless homes
Fatherless sons are more than twice as likely to engage in some kind of criminal activity
Fatherless daughters are 53% more likely to get married in their teenage years
Fatherless young adults are twice as likely to need psychological help
More than 70% of all juveniles in state reform institutions come from fatherless homes
60 percent of America’s rapists came from fatherless homes
70 percent of long-term prison inmates are fatherless
Acts 2 starts out by stating, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come,” Here’s the scene, all of Jesus’ followers were together in one accord in the Upper Room. Then suddenly the power of the Holy Spirit rushed over them like a rushing wind. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues. So, the question then is why does this matter? Why does it matter that they were all together? What does this have to do with the Day of Pentecost? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of Acts 2 in his message, When the Day of Pentecost Had Fully Come.
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
A mother’s job isn’t easy, but it is crucial. Why? What is the importance of a mother? Isn’t the father that God focuses on? A mother is a guiding hand for her children and the glue that holds the family together. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he delivers our 2020 Mother’s Day Message explaining three principal virtues of a mother in 2 Samuel 20:16-22 in his message, The Wisdom of a Mother.
Proverbs 22:6 2 Samuel 20:16-22 Genesis 17:9-14
The Wisdom of a Mother
Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the importance of a mother, but remember that God has a special purpose for everyone.
16 Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” 17 And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” 18 Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. 19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?”
20 Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
Every year we celebrate Easter and/or Passover, but do we truly understand the purpose of these two significant Holidays? How is an ancient feast connected with a more recent celebration? How are Easter and Passover connected? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains the connection between the two in his message, Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread: Part Two.
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.”
14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”
Each year we celebrate Palm Sunday, but why? What’s the significance of this revered Christian Holiday? Could it be rooted in the Old Testament feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, if so how are they connected? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens your eyes to the true purpose of Palm Sunday in his message Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread: Part One.
Exodus 12:1-6 John 12:12-13 Mark 11:1-14:38 John 13:1-5 John 18:28 Mark 14:39-42 Matthew 21:12-13 Hebrews 3:15
Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.
4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.”
