We are Special

Thank you Patty. I was beautiful with all rice, please for the call to worship.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God the firstborn over all creation to all who believe in his name. He gives the right to become children of God.

Sad, but born of God the Holy Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

From one man. God made all people so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.

You have taken off your old self with its practices and it put on the new self which is being renewed in the image of its creator in Christ. Jesus to do good works.

Okay.

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M31

then God said let us make Mankind in our own image in our likeness so that they may rule over the fish of the Sea and the birds in the sky over the livestock stocking all the wild animals in over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created Mankind in his own image in the image of God. He created them male and female. He created them and God saw what he had made and it was very good the word of God for the people of God.

I suspect that the vast majority of us. If not every single one of us are familiar with the Genesis account of creation. It starts out with these words. In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. Then over the next 24 vs. It delineates for us the process in which God did that how he created the heavens and the earth and the stars and the moon created all of the plant life on the entire planet. Created all creatures on land in the water and those that fly. Think about it. It is just absolutely amazing. And when we look up on it, it is beautiful. And God felt the same way because when he finished creating all of this, he said it is good. It is good. Then God said let us make mankind humankind in our image. In the image of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit to give them dominion over everything that we have created. You notice it said let us make humankind in our image. We know that the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ were there at the creation because the Bible tells us the second verse in the Bible after it says God created all of the heavens and all of the earth. It says and the spirit of God the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters. And first chapter of Colossians, it tells us that Jesus is the firstborn over all of creation. All things were created by Him and for him.

And so after God had finished creating us. the human race man and woman he said it is very good. Not just good, but very good.

all of creation is beautiful it's amazing and it's wonderfully complex. But God has created us the human race as something very very special to himself as something very precious to himself virtually of the same mind and heart and spirit of God does not equal with God.

all the creatures of the Earth God created us only to be in relationship with him. The Bible tells us this God made all people so that they would seek Him and reach out for him and find him.

We are the only beings in all of creation that can actually relate to God. You can comprehend God and we can even know God. And the scripture tells us that God has even entrusted us with dominion over all of his creation.

moved by these thoughts the psalmist David wrote these words when I consider the works of your fingers the moon and the stars, which you have set in place what is mankind that you are mindful of them human beings that you care about them. Yet you have made them a little lower than the angels and Crown them with glory and honor and made them rulers over all the works of your hands.

Virtually all of the other creatures of this world. Within their species are pretty much exactly alike. There may be some little slight variations, but if you if you look at a herd of say Angus Cattle. If you look at a school of fish, if you look at a flock of birds, they all look and act pretty much alike.

But every human being is a unique creation. There are no two of us exactly alike there never has been there never will be. No, two of us ever look exactly alike. Think exactly alike or behave exactly alike not even twin.

and God knows each and everyone of us personally and individually. And God loves each and everyone of us personally and individually. And God desires to have a relationship with each and everyone of us personally and individually. Whether we choose to acknowledge Him or not.

Now even though the human race as a whole has fallen totally out of favor with God because of our sinfulness. God still loves us. God still wants to have a relationship with us. Because God does love us so much and because we are so very special to God he devised the way whereby we can become reconciled to him. We can be restored to that original relationship that that humankind had with God before sin came in the world. We can be forgiven for our sinfulness. We can be given to power through the Holy Spirit to resist sinfulness. And we are giving the promise when our life in this world comes to an end that we will have eternal life with God.

And this is God's plan. He sent his own son. Jesus Christ to become flesh and blood. Just like you and me. Recreated in a chance and I say that with caution to be recreated incense in our image. So that he could take upon himself the guilt of the entire human race. And consequently reconcile us with God. and restore our broken relationship with.

If we have face that Jesus Christ is in fact Our Savior and Lord.

The Bible tells us this and these are words spoken by Jesus himself for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him. Shall not perish but have eternal life. And Paul wrote these words. Because of his great love for us God made us alive in Christ, even when we were dead in our sin. And he also wrote these words God reconciled us to himself through Christ.

Let me ask you something. Do you think it might be safe for us to say that? We as Believers or something quite special to God?

Let me just give you an idea of how special we are to God the Bible tells us to all who believe in Christ name. He gives the right to become children of God born of God. In another place. It says see what great love the father has lavished upon us that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ God actually adopts us and makes us a part of his personal family is eternal family.

All of creation is special to God because we are all created in God's image. But those of us who have received and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord accepted to be in a relationship with him rather than rejecting him. We have been given the Assurance of Salvation and eternal life. we are so special to God has adopted us and made us his own children. part of his own Eternal family

So with all of this understanding in mind. We have some questions. I believe that it would do us all some good to contemplate. An answer for ourselves not for anybody else answer these questions for ourselves. Are we regularly doing what it takes to nurture a relationship with with God by going to him in prayer? And reading his word and seeking and contemplating his purpose for our lives. Are we living our lives in such a manner that we are truly acting like we are children of God.

would be proud to say that you're one of his children.

I want to close with these thoughts. Don't ever let anybody and that includes yourself trying to convince you that you have no value. That you're not important. The God you are incomparably special and precious. Let me tell you something. That's more important than what anybody in the entire world. Might think about you.

You are precious in the sight of God. So live your life like you believe it. Like you know it. a man

if you will now, please turn in your hymnals to page number 12. And we will join together in the sacrament. of Holy Communion

Christ Our Lord invites to his table all who love him. Earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore let us now confess our sin before God and one another merciful god we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will we have broken your law? We have rebelled against your love. We have not loved our neighbors and we have not heard the Cry of the needy or give us we pray for us for joyful obedience through Jesus Christ Our Lord a man. Are the good news the good news? Is that Christ died for us? While we were yet sinners and that proves God's love toward us and so in the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven.

Orayta, God a man. The Lord be with you.

lift up your hearts Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you father almighty creator of Heaven and Earth. And so with your people on Earth and all the company of Heaven We Praise Your Name and join there on ending hymn. Holy holy. Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest blessed. Is he who comes in the name of the Lord hosanna in the highest? Only are you and blessed is your son Jesus Christ by the baptism of his suffering death and Resurrection you gave birth to your church delivered Us From Slavery to sin and death and made with us a new covenant by water and the spirit.

On the night before Christ gave his life for us on the cross. He and his disciples gathered in the upper room for the Passover meal. And as they began he took the bread and he gave thanks to God the father. He broke the bread he gave it to his disciples and said take eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me?

And after they had completed the meal he then took the cup. And again he gave thanks to the father and he handed the cup to his disciples and he said take drink this all of you or this is my blood of the New Covenant poured out for you. And for many for the Forgiveness of sins do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.

And so in remembrance of these your acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves and praise and thanksgiving as a holy and Living Sacrifice in Union with Christ offering for us as we proclaim. The mystery of our faith Christ has died Christ is risen Christ will come again. Your Holy Spirit on all of us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine make them before us the body in the blood of Christ that we may be for the world the body of Christ Redeemed by his blood. By your spirit make us one with Christ one with each other and one in Ministry to all the world until Christ comes in his final Victory and we Feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit in your holy church all honor and glory is yours Almighty father now and forever.

And now with the confidence of children of God, let us pray that prayer that Jesus taught us Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation. But Deliver Us from Evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

With those persons who are going to serve communion this morning. Please come forward.