WHO IS JESUS CHRIST

 

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel.[d]

 

1.      There are four things wish to share from this scripture today.  The first, is the Lord will give a sign.  Why did the Lord do this?  We all need a supernatural experience.  All here who have given your life came through a supernatural encounter.  You heard the word of God, by some means.  Tt entered your mind, your ponder it and then accepted it.  You chose by an act of will in your heart , to put your eternal and natural life in the hands of God.  Behind the scenes the Holy Spirit was working.  The Lord did this because you could not save yourself.  Mankind has been trying to recover paradise loss through on effort since the beginning.  Cain tried and failed.  Religions around the world are all about behavioral truth.  You follow a mantra, code, set of rules, person’s teaching y and you will have heaven or heaven on earth.  God saw that and knew we needed a savior.  That is why in Gen 3:15 right after the fall God told us the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.  Man lost it but God would restore it through Jesus Christ.  The Lord Himself we initiate and provide salvation. It would be through grace.  Christ riches at God’s expense.  We would through unmerited favor to live an abundant and eternal life.  Through the Old Testament there are 300 prophecies and promises about Jesus Christ.  Isaiah says it will be the Lord who will give a sign.

 

2.      There are three four reasons by a Virgin was the chosen reason for Jesus to be born.

 

a.      To Fulfil prophecy.  Gen 3:15, the seed of the women.  A woman does not have seed but an egg.  This said that the one born of the woman would have a supernatural origin.  Our scripture today points this out.  Also Isaiah 9:6-7, 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” (Isa 9:6).  The virgin birth fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah in order to establish the uniqueness and particular duties of this coming child. He will bring peace and establish an unending kingdom. It is not only a prophecy about the future. Rather, it is a prophecy that cements the identity of Immanuel.

b.      To establish is divine origin and identity.  God with us.  It shows that God will dwell among His people.  Isaiah 11:10 records, “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.”  The virgin-born Immanuel will do something that requires the miraculous power of God. And this power finds a root in the Holy Spirit: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isa 11:2).  In Luke’s account, Gabriel tells Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).  An angel tells the shepherds that the baby is “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The word “Lord” echoes the Old Testament’s primary title for God, “LORD.” What Luke intimates through the whole story of Jesus’s life, death, and especially his resurrection, John says quite plainly: “The Word was God” (John 1:1).  The virgin birth establishes Jesus’ divine origin through the Holy Spirit’s act in Mary’s womb. In some mysterious and glorious way, the Spirit unites humanity to the divine Word of God. Jesus is and always was the union of God and man: Immanuel, God with us.

c.      To confirm Jesus’ sinless humanity.  Given Jesus’ divine origin that the virgin birth underscores, we can now understand why Jesus could be like us in every way “yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). While the human flesh may be weak, the power of the incorruptible God is not. Christ as one person with two natures could withstand relentless temptation (without ever caving to temptation to relieve the suffering of temptation) because of his divine nature.  why God came to visit us. He came to redeem us from our sins, to overcome death, and to defeat the devil. Yet the question here concerns why God chose the virgin birth of Jesus. In answer, he did so to fulfill prophecy, to establish Jesus’ divine origin, and to confirm Christ’s sinless humanity.

d.      Sin was a manmade problem and an eternal problem.  Only an eternal man could solve it.  So Jesus the God man did this. 

 

3.      The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.  In my previous point I gave you the reasons why virgin born.  God became like us through Jesus Christ.  He was 100% and 100% God, the perfect union of the divine and natural.  His broken body and shed blood, his death, burial and resurrection would accomplish it.  Mary was the vessel.  I love the phrase, Mary did you know you are kissing the face of God.  Christmas is the story of this incredible scene.     God visited us in our frailty and weakness in order to save us from our sins. Had God not become what we are, then we would remain what we were—dead in sin, children of wrath. Instead, we have become by adoption (children of God) what Christ is by nature (the Son of God). By following his Spiritual birth, we too are all born of the Spirit. And we follow the firstborn of the new creation into heaven where we will have joy forevermore.

 

4.      He is called Immanuel.  Luke makes it clear that Jesus is God with us.  God dwells among us.  Jesus lived among us.  He got hungry, tired, had all the difficulties of mankind yet without sin.  He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit and only wanted to do the will of the Father.  What proved His claims was the resurrection.  He rose from the dead.  Christmas is the beginning but Easter is the end, yet also the new beginning.  This message I have spoken has changed the lives of billions of people over the centuries.  As we begin our Christmas celebrations.  Remember Jesus is the reason for the season. 

QUOTES FOR AUGUST 16, 2026

 

WHO IS PATRICK

Who is Patrick?

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

     I thought today that I would give you a little diversion from the events of recent days. It is okay from time to time to have a little escape and so this article is that.  Just recently we celebrated St. Patrick’s day.  People around the world, wear green, have parades except for this year and get together and wish each other well and talk about Shamrocks and four leaf clovers.  The problem is not very many people know very much about Patrick.  There are many myths about him.  He drove all the snakes out of Ireland and he loved the color green.  The truth is far from the myth.

     Patrick first of all was not Irish, but English.  He had been brought to Ireland as a young man during a raid by Irish raiders.  He spent seven years on the island as a slave.  He was able to escape slavery and walked some 200 miles at night to board a ship back to England.  During his time in Ireland, Patrick who had been a nominal Christian, rededicated his life back to Christ. 

     When Patrick returned to England he chose to be a clergyman.  He studied and became an ordained priest.  Then something extraordinary happened.  One night he had a dream where he saw an Irishman bring him a satchel of letters.  As he read each one of them they all contained the same message to come and help them.  As first Patrick wrestled with the dream but he then yielded to the call to Ireland.  He returned to Ireland with a small party of fellow priests and began his evangelistic work.

     The first obstacle for Patrick was the druid religion which had a strong control of the island.  The druids controlled the island through fear and darkness.  Patrick offered light and love which drew many people to Christ.  This included over time the king’s wife.  Through her influence many nobles left the darkness of paganism to the glorious light of Jesus Christ.

      Patrick’s compassion and love for those who once enslaved him was amazing.  Many described him as a walking example of Christ.   His fierce determination and courage in the face of overwhelming opposition was the biggest factor.  The forces of darkness were not going to give up Ireland without a fight.  There were many attempts on his life but God’s protection was at times miraculous. 

     The results of Patrick’s more than 30 years in Ireland were more than 5000 clergyman had been ordained.  More than 80,000 people were baptized.  For hundreds of years Ireland was the center of education, religious study and theological training in Europe.  Some have said that Patrick saved Christianity in that part of the world. 

     Some say we need another Patrick and I would not disagree.  So here’s the challenge today.  Go into your world and be a Patrick.  When I talk about your world, I mean your family, friends, co-workers and people that you meet and know.  Walk in love, compassion, courage and determination.  Bring Christ to your family and friends by what you say and how you lived.  Our world today is walking in fear and panic.  They need an example of faith and courage.  You can be that example and like Patrick you can make a difference in your world.

 

 

WHO IS MARY

 

Who is the real Mary ?

 

The Bible Answer:

 

The New Testament has some very wonderful things to say about Mary, the mother of Jesus. We know that she was a young woman when she first appears in the pages of scripture. Luke 1:26-27 says that Mary was a virgin and was engaged to Joseph before the angel told her that she would give birth to a son. The angel told her that she would be “overshadowed” by the Holy Spirit. That is how she would become pregnant with Jesus (Matthew 1:20-25). We know that her husband to be was Joseph (Matthew 1:24-25).

 

She said the Magnificat.  – Have Leora Read

 

Annunciation to Mary

Jesus was Mary’s first born child (Luke 2:7). We know that she later had other children (Matthew 13:55-56). The names of the boys were James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, but the names of her daughters we do not know. We know that her husband was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55).

 

She saw many wondrous things during her life because of all that happened to Jesus as well as the things that He did (Luke 2:19). Mary and Joseph saw Jesus listening and asking questions of the religious teachers (Luke 2:41-52). Everyone who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and answers. Some mothers would have been disturbed, but Mary “treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).” Mary had a most unusual son because Jesus grew up as a child who gained “wisdom, stature, and favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). He grew up as a child, but He was not like a normal boy or adolescent son.

 

When He as an adult, Mary saw Jesus turn water into wine (John 2:1-12). After that event the New Testament is silent about Mary until Jesus’ death. John 19:25-27 says that she saw Jesus die on the cross – she stood near the cross on which He died.  That Jesus loved His mother was evident by the fact that while He was on the cross, He asked His beloved disciple to take care of her upon His death (John 19:27). The final glimpse of Mary occurs in Acts 1:14 where we are told that she joined the disciples in prayer.

 

Gibbons summarized Mary’s life with,

 

Virginal modesty becoming the maid.

Conjugal fidelity and loyalty of the spouse.

Untiring devotedness of the mother.

 

t Mary also had a spiritual side. When God had asked her to give birth to Jesus, she responded with,

 

Behold the hand maiden of the Lord, be it unto me according to Your Word. Luke 1:38  (NASB)

Mary was a faithful, godly woman. She demonstrated her dependence on a savior when she added,

My spirit has rejoiced in God, my Savior. Luke 1:47 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

Mary was a godly woman and mother of our Lord and Savior. We can only imagine how great her reward will be in heaven for placing God above her own comfort. I am sure she suffered ridicule and gossip during her first pregnancy. She was thrilled at His birth, when the shepherds visited her later when the wise man brought gifts. She must have been thrilled to experience life and watch Him perform miracles.

 

Later, she suffered as she watched her son mocked and put to death. But what joy she must have had when she saw that He had returned to life. Mary is an example for every woman – to be godly, faithful followers of Jesus and for married women to be examples to their husbands and children in all that God brings their way.

 

Mary did you know?  Song

 

 

 

 

GLORIFY YOUR NAME

 

John 12:20-33

 

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

 

1.      This is the last week of Jesus ministry and this is just a day before Jesus faces all the pain, humiliation and death on the cross.  Some Greek who were at the Passover festival come to Philip who was Bethsaida in Galilee.  The told him they wanted to see Jesus.  Now Philip tells Andrew and they go to see Jesus about the matter.  Now what is interesting Jesus never meets with them but in the following monologue He reveals why they wanted to see Him.

 

2.      He first revealed that the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  All through John up to this point Jesus had refused to be trapped or tricked because His hour had not come.  This showed that He had complete control over His destiny.  When you trust in your Father’s will you will have complete control over your destiny because you only want to do His will.  You are obedient, faithful and trusting.  Jesus would be glorified because He would do the will of the Father.  He would exhibit and display God’s love, salvation and redemption.  Jesus by His act of obedience showed the character, essence and nature of the Father’s love.  When we do that in our day to day lives we glorify the Father.  That is why we should pray like the old song.  “In my life Lord be glorified.”  You want to exhibit Godly attributes because they show God is good.  We may say flippantly or sincerely that God is good but how it is practically shown by how we live and interact with those we come into contact with.  Don’t tell people how good a Christian you are show them.  By your fruit they will know.  Action always speaks louder than words.   You need an example as Jesus was a great example.

3.      Jesus uses the illustration of a grain of wheat  that when it falls in the earth either by plan or chance it dies.  It remains a single grain until it dies after it is placed in the ground it lives again and bears much fruit.  Jesus used this example because Israel at this time was an agricultural society.  If you want to talk to a farmer you use farm examples.   Jesus knew that and we should follow His example when we want to discuss eternal things.  Wisdom always meets a person where they are and what they understand.  This mean when you are talking to someone find the common ground and work from there.  Jesus used this example to reveal again that His broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection would bear much fruit.   We are products of this fruit.

4.      Those who love their life lose it.  When we pursue our agendas, choose to be selfish and be like old blue eyes, Frank Sinatra and do it our way we will lose our life.  Free will is such a gift but it has eternal consequences.  If you are your favorite person you have a problem.  Talk about when I was young I was conceited. 

5.      Jesus was laying out conditions for His service to the Greeks and the disciples.  It is the third time He talks about this.  Those who hate their life in this world will keep it and have eternal life.  Allegiance to this world will cost you everything.  True pilgrims know this world is not worthy of us.  We have to keep our eyes on the real prize.  We are to hate the things of the world.  The pleasure, passion, and pride, they are destructive and  swallow up and destroy all who seek them.  The list of casualties is endless.  The reward for losing your life in Christ is you keep your life and have eternal life.  True humility is giving up your autonomy and sovereignty to God.  To trust Him

with your past, present and future.  Rebellion is the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention..  The truth is you do not trust yourself, others and God.  You feel that you must take control even if you do not know what to do.   

6.      Jesus then presents them with a paradox and dilemma.  The world says that success, abundance and prosperity rely on self, significance and security.  John tells us that it works with pride, passion and possessions.  He then tells them they must be a servant.  Being a servant means you put the wishes and desires of others before yourself.  Service breaks selfishness, self interest and strikes at a basic drive towards self-importance.  Being a servant actually makes you valuable and elevates you.  Being selfish makes you a liability and brings you down.  They must follow Him and His example.  Jesus was a suffering servant.  He came to serve not to be served.  His example later is that He would wash the feet of His disciples.  Jesus never will ask us to do something He himself did not do. 

7.      Where He goes they will also.  Jesus said in the upper room discourse that He was going to prepare a place for them.  In His father house is many rooms.  One of the most exciting things is when we get to the other side of eternity is being met by Jesus. Having Him utter these words.  ‘Well done good and faithful service enter into my rest.”  We have so much waiting for us in eternity.  Keep your eyes on the prize church.  Heaven is wonderful.  You have so many friends and family waiting for you.  In fact they are pulling for you right now.  You have infinite love waiting for you.  Imagine a place with no sin, sickness, sorrow or pain.  A place of infinite beauty.  Where there is no darkness.  Where you know all things and understand why you went what you went through.  Your body is perfect and the life of God courses through you.  The music of heaven is beyond anything you could hear on earth.  Purity and perfection.  You will never feel alone or lonely.  Paul says in 1 Cor 13:12, we look through a glass darkly but one day we will see all and know all.  All will be revealed.  That is waiting.  Jesus says He goes to prepare a place for us. 

8.      Whoever serves the Lord the Father will honor.  God holds in high respect and great esteem those who serve Him.  Talk about the missionary who came home on the same ship from Africa with Teddy Roosevelt.   Remember the Pharaoh who opposed Moses no one knows who he is even though he built honors to himself but most of the world has heard of Moses.  The world know there was a king who ruled during Joseph’s time but they don’t know him but most people have heard of Joseph.  There were kingdoms and Kings during Abraham’s time but no one knows who the King of the Ur in Mesopotamia but they know Abraham.  God will distinguish you.  He will give you rewards, kudos and accolades.  You do not want the honor, respect and accolades of this world.  A little truth if you seek the approval of men in your acts of love and charity you have already been honored and God will not give your reward for that.  God has many rewards and honor waiting for you.  Keep your eyes on the prize.  You are looking for a city whose maker and builder is God

QUOTES FOR AUG 16, 2026

 

BRAND NEW

 

Robert Dean Steel

Cornerstone Community Church

 

     Well, it is another New Year and a new decade.  I was watching different news programs on New Year’s Eve with my family and the programs were talking about what happened over the past decade.  Exciting events like the building of Roger’s Place or the acquisition of Connor McDavid.  Worldwide events like the election of Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump.  Celebrity events like the marriages of Prince Harry, Justin Beiber.  Of course if we reflect over our own lives we think about family events like children or in my case grandchildren.  In the past decade I have had four of my seven grandchildren born.   Each unique and special in their own way.  I could never imagine life without them.  

    With the New Year, comes resolutions.  I asked the question on social media what were people’s New Year’s resolution?  The response was very interesting.  The majority said they were not making any resolutions because they just break them.  So I thought I would list first the top ten New Year’s resolutions people break and then list some good New Year’s resolution we should try to keep.

     First, the top ten New Year’s resolution people break.  Lose Weight and Get Fit, Quit Smoking, Learn Something New, Eat Healthier and Diet, Get Out of Debt and Save Money, Spend More Time with Family, Travel to New Places, Be Less Stressed, Volunteer and Drink Less.  Now each one of these is a great resolution to keep and do. 

     So why do we break New Year’s Resolutions?   1. You’re treating a marathon like a sprint.  Slow and steady habit change might not be electrifying but it’s a lot more effective than the “I want it ALL and I want it NOW!” mentality. Small changes stick better because they aren’t intimidating if you do it right, you’ll barely even notice them!  2. You put the cart before the horse.  Focus on the actions that produce the important results. If it’s not important, don’t worry about it.  3. You don’t believe in yourself and God’s ability.  A failure to act can cripple you before you leave the starting line. If you’ve tried (and failed) to set a New Year’s resolution (or several) in the past, I know it might be hard to believe in yourself and God’s help.   Doubt is a nagging voice in your head that will resist personal growth with every ounce of its being.  The only way to defeat doubt is to believe in yourself and the Lord.  Who cares if you’ve failed a time or two?  Borrowing from the movie Galaxy Quest, where the Captain’s catch phrase was, “Never give up, Never Surrender.”  Make that your moto. 

     So what are some good resolutions you should incorporate into your life.  First, you should invite the Lord into every moment of your life.  Notice I said, every moment.  There is an old hymn that says, “I don’t worry about tomorrow I just live from day to day.”  The reality is that we have no guarantee that we are even going to make it through the day.  I don’t want to sound morbid.  As a pastor, I have performed hundreds of funerals of people who thought they had all the time in the world.  You do not.  So enjoy the day that you have a live it to the fullest.  The Lord has promised not only eternal but an abundant life.  Live each moment to the fullest.  Be thankful, gracious, kind, gentle, loving, compassionate, forgiving and friendly each moment. 

     Secondly, focus on your private world.  I am talking about the real you.  Not the public persona you project.  What you do in private is the real you.  So focus on being a person of honesty, integrity, love, forgiveness and encouragement.  Spending time with God, praying and reading the Bible is the best way.  Resolve before you leave the house that no matter what anyone does to you, you will not do the same to them.  You will treat them no matter who they are or what they have done as you would want to be treated.   

     Next, focus on your family and friends.  The special people God brings in and out of your life.   Each day in His grace and mercy He brings people across you path.  They are there for a reason.  In that moment be grateful for them and nurture that relationship if it is long term.    If it is a onetime situation whether good or bad treat it as a growing experience.  Truth, be told we learn our best lessons through negative experiences.  They make up face our own weaknesses, short comings and failures.  They make us react either good or bad.  They challenge our abilities, our resourcefulness and creativity.  They challenge our mental, spiritual, intellectual and physical talents, skills and abilities.  In short they can make us a better person.  Make sure you tell and show love to those you care about.  Do it while they are around to hear and see it,  Well,  I see that my time to write is over.  Think about what you have read and have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.