Christmas Eve Service

Housekeeping Items and welcome

Welcome to Engaging Heaven Missoula. My name is Derek and I am the lead Pastor here.

If this is your first time here, welcome. Engaging Heaven is a place where we realize that we are imperfect people but serve a perfect God. Although we may not have it altogether, we press into His presence knowing that we are changed by the Fire of God.

Bathrooms

Tithe’s and offering

Candle’s are for everyone

We will lift the one’s on the end and then you can light the candle to the person next to you.

We will be streaming tomorrow’s service on Facebook and Youtube. Unwrap presents with the kids and worship as a family together.

Why are you here?

I am a big believer that there are no such things as coincidences. You may have come here because someone wanted you to come to church on Christmas Eve or because that’s what you do on Christmas Eve is go to church but I want to tell you that you are here because God has made an appointment with you.

We know that He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. If He were to speak to you, what would do you think He would say? Do you think that he would bring up all the mistakes you have made? Do you think he would tell you about everything that you didn’t do this last year? I have talked to people that feel afraid like they may burst into flames if they stepped foot into a church. Let me read you a verse that may calm your fears

Isaiah 43:1–2 ESV

1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Not enough evidence how about this one

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You might be saying “Wait a minute, I came to hear about Jesus. Why is this guy bringing me into this?”

But if we go back to the beginning of time we can see that it has always been God’s plan to commune with us.

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The bible talks about how God planted Adam and Eve to work the garden. It was a dwelling place with man and the Father. A place was heaven on earth. This was always God’s plan. To be with man.

Then we see Adam and Eve eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan had deceived Eve telling her that she wouldn’t die if they ate of the fruit. So she trusted the serpent and didn’t die physically but instead died spiritually. Because of their disobedience and sin God removed them from their dwelling place. There was now sin that was passed down from generation to generation. There was now a separation between man and God.

But God always had a plan.

Fast Forward

We fast forward to the birth of our savior and it was prophesied 700 years before jesus was born by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Immanuel means God with us.

You don’t have to do life alone.

Humans were created for relationships. Life was not supposed the be lived alone. Life is meant to be shared with others. Which is why we gather together for holidays.

Just as we desire human connection there is also a spiritual connection that each of us desire.

For thousands of years men and women have tried to connect with a higher power or spiritual forces. Unfortunately alot of people that are spiritual haven’t tapped into the source.

Humans for thousands of years have been seeking the source of life and have come up short. Life isn’t found in things, it isn’t found in a religion, only true life is found in Jesus. Which is why we are all here. We are here to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

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.

Can I tell you that there are so many benefits about not just knowing of Jesus but following him. With Jesus you get a counselor, a mighty God, an Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

Can I tell you there is HOPE. I know that the world may grow dark and don’t get me wrong, I look at what’s going on in the world and I can get down too. But can I tell you that when all hope seems to be lost there’s one thing I always come back to, BUT GOD.

You may find temporary relief when the economy comes back around, or if your favorite politician is elected, or if you get that promotion or if your marriage is restored but unless you have Jesus you don’t have true life. Let me show you what happens when you put your hope in the Lord

Isaiah 40:28–31 NLT

28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

please stand and grab your candles

John 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.