MY BROTHERS IN CHRIST, GOD'S SPIRIT COMPELS THE WISE MEN AND US TO COME TO HIM. FOR THE JOY TO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD!

I BELIEVE I AM THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BROTHERS BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS TO ME THROUGH THE WORD OF CHRIST AND I HAVE RECEIVED THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING.

MY MINISTRY IS FOR ALL GOD'S PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW DEEPLY I CARE FOR THEM IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, WHO HAS SUFFERED NOT ONLY FOR ME, BUT ALSO FOR THEM.

EPIPHANY SUNDAY - IS A CELEBRATION OF GOD'S GLORY REVEALED IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. THAT GLORY IS PROCLAIMED FOR ALL NATIONS AND PEOPLE. LIKE THE LIGHT OF THE STAR THAT GUIDED THE MAGI TO JESUS, THE LIGHT OF CHRIST REVEALS WHO WE ARE: CHILDREN OF GOD WHO ARE CLAIMED AND WASHED IN THE WATERS OF BAPTISM. WE ARE SENT OUT TO BE BEACONS OF LIGHT OF CHRIST, SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S LOVE TO ALL PEOPLE.

MY PASTOR ASKED A GREAT QUESTION OF THE CONGREGATION TODAY. SHE FIRST ASK WHAT MADE THE MAGI FOLLOW THE STAR? AND THEN SHE ASKED WHAT MADE YOU COME TO CHURCH TODAY? THE MAGI WERE NOT COMPELLED BY ANY HUMAN FORCE TO FOLLOW THE STAR, NOR WAS I TO COME TO CHURCH.
THE READING SAYS THEY WERE OVERJOYED WHEN THE STAR STOPPED AND THEY FOUND THE TREASURE OF CHRIST IN THE MANGER. JUST AS I COME TO CHURCH TO RECEIVE THE TREASURE OF CHRIST FOUND IN THE WORD OF CHRIST. THE WISE MEN WERE COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO FOLLOW THE STAR, JUST AS THE SPIRIT COMPELLED ME TO GO TO CHURCH AND RECEIVED THE WORD.

"THEREFORE, BROTHERS, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION - BUT IT IS NOT TO THE SINFUL NATURE, TO LIVE ACCORDING TO IT. FOR IF YOU LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE, YOU WILL DIE; BUT IF BY THE SPIRIT YOU PUT TO DEATH THE MISDEEDS OF THE BODY, YOU WILL LIVE, BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE SONS OF GOD. FOR YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A SPIRIT THAT MAKES YOU A SLAVE AGAIN TO FEAR, BUT YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF SONSHIP. AND BY THE SPIRIT WE CRY, "ABBA, FATHER." THE SPIRIT HIMSELF TESTIFIES WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN. (Rom.8:12-16)

MY BROTHERS IN CHRIST, GOD'S SPIRIT COMPELS THE WISE MEN AND US TO COME TO HIM. FOR THE JOY TO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

"HUMILITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR TRUE WISDOM."

MAY THE GOD OF PEACE, WHO THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP, EQUIP ME WITH EVERYTHING GOOD FOR DOING GOD'S WILL, AND MAY GOD WORK IN ME WHAT IS PLEASING TO GOD, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER." AMEN! (Heb.13:20-21)

I HAVE FOLLOWED JESUS TO GOD THE FATHER WHO NOW TEACHES ME HOW TO LIVE LIKE JESUS, HOW TO BE A SON LIKE JESUS,HOW TO LOVE LIKE JESUS. WITH GOD AS MY TEACHER I HAVE NO DOUBT I WILL GET IT RIGHT.

"CHRIST IS THE PATTERN FOR MY LIFE, AND GOD IS TRANSFORMING ME TO THE PATTERN. SO I SAY THANKS BE TO GOD." AMEN!