RRD Outreach Ministries International Rev. Dr. Robert M. Wright

Dr. Wright was blessed to be able to preach the 5 AM morning service

Luke 3:15-17 (NRSV) 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

The brief account of John's proclamation indicates that he was a stern preacher of righteousness and judgment. For him the coming of the Messiah meant that the ax was "laid unto the root of the trees." He challenged the widespread assumptions that religion was a matter of race and ritual. He demanded a practice coherent with profession.

The need began early in Genesis....The prophecy came in Isaiah.....The Fulfillment began in Luke....In this sermon preached at the Purcell Methodist Church Saturday Morning 25 December , Dr. Wright speaks on the need of Man touching the plan of God!

. Jesus Christ meets all the qualifications of the perfect Person. Jesus Christ is the great High Priest who stands between God and man. He meets all the qualifications of a true high priest, and He differs from all other priests in one critical area: He is perfect. He perfectly meets all the qualifications. He is not just a high priest; He is the great High Priest of God and man.

We live in a world where many people doubt that God can be known and where there are many conflicting philosophies and religious viewpoints. Even amongst professing Christians there are sometimes claims of further revelation that contradict or claim to go beyond Scripture.

However, Hebrews leaves us in no doubt about the fact that God spoke decisively to Israel through the prophets and that he has fully and finally revealed his character and will by his Son (1–2). The OT revelation came at many times throughout Israel’s history and in various ways such as dreams, visions and angelic messages. But the ultimate revelation has come in these last days of human history, through Jesus Christ.

Psalm 124:1-8 (NRSV)

THE WORST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS (124:1–5): “If the LORD had not been on our side—”
A. The wicked would have swallowed Israel up (124:1–3).
B. The waters would have engulfed Israel (124:4–5).
II. THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS (124:6–8): “Our help is from the LORD.”
A. They are not torn apart by their foes! (124:6).
B. They are delivered from their foes, as a bird escapes a hunter’s trap (124:7–8)