A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Judy Mandl reflects on Hebrews 1:1-3 and reminds us that Jesus, who loved us enough to die for us, is also upholding us and we need to hold on to that truth.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: What Christmas Is All AboutMessage By Dr. Rick Mandl, December 18, 2020, Eagle Rock Baptist ChurchRecorded in Los Angeles, CA
Hey church family. Today I want to talk to you a little bit about worship, but before I do, I want to extend an invitation for you to join us this Sunday for our Night of Worship and the Word in our church parking lot at 4:30PM. It will be a great event for the whole family and I hope to see you there. And speaking of worship, I’ve got a question for you. So put on your thinking caps. My question is . . .
Do you know where in scripture is the first time that we’re told that Jesus was worshiped? Think about that for a moment Or think about that for 15 seconds. . . Alright. . . Pens down everyone. Did you come up with an answer? Whether or not you phrased it in the form of a question, the correct answer is . . . Matthew chapter 2 and verse 11, where these words are spoken in regard to the wisemen. . . . “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 is the first time in Scripture we are told that Jesus was worshiped.
Also don’t miss the fact that Matthew made sure to note that the wise men worshiped, “the child.” That’s significant because the title “child” at that time would have stood in stark contrast with someone who was a king or someone who was considered great. In the ancient world, where status was always important – children were at the bottom of the ladder. The word for “child” in both Greek and Latin literally means, “not speaking.” Children were supposed to be seen and not heard, much less worshiped. That just makes the wise men’s worship of this child all the more amazing.
The gifts they brought to the Jesus-child illustrate demonstrate their faith and give us insight into who He was. They presented Him with gold – which was the gift that was fit for a king. When they gave him this gift they were recognizing His royalty. They were unashamedly proclaiming, “You are not just a child in a mother’s lap. You are a King sitting on a throne.” The wise men also gave Jesus frankincense. That may not mean a lot to you and me but if you had gone to the Temple and attended a worship service you would have found the priest burning frankincense. It was representative of the prayers of God’s people ascending upward into the nostrils of the God who created the universe. It was a symbol of worship and we are told clearly that frankincense was to be used in the worship of God alone.
Besides giving this child their WEALTH in the form of gold, they were giving Him their WORSHIP in the form of frankincense. They were in effect saying, “You are not only a king…you are a god!” And then last but not least, they gave Jesus the most puzzling gift of all. They gave Him myrrh. They were supposed to be celebrating this child’s birth, but they gave Him a gift that is reserved for death. Myrrh was used for burial. What they were saying was, “You are not just a king and not just a god. You are the Savior!” And while they did not understand it all, they knew this child didn’t just come to be born and to live; but He came to die…and to die for us. As Christians this ought to be what we remember at Christmas, because this in fact is what Christmas is all about.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Judy Mandl looks at the words of the angel to Mary in Matthew 1:21 and reminds us that the promise he gave her, is one that we can still hold on to today, and use to encourage others.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Raquel looks at the names of Jesus as they’re presented in Isaiah 9:6 and encourages us to remember the many ways in which He is with us, and then invites us to embrace the one with which we most identify in our times of need.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: When You Feel Like QuittingMessage By Dr. Rick Mandl, December 17, 2020, Eagle Rock Baptist ChurchRecorded in Los Angeles, CA
Hey church family. It is one thing to be tempted to quit. It’s another thing to be told to do it, particularly when the ones who are telling you are the people closest to you – the people who should be encouraging you. Such was the experience of God’s servant Job. In the midst of his pain and suffering, when he needed a helping hand to lift him up, instead those the he loved and trusted the most put their foot on his neck. And yet the amazing thing in Job’s story is that in spite of all that he suffered In spite of all that he endured – Job continued to do the right thing.
Job 1:22 sums it up this way. It says . . . In spite of everything, Job didn’t sin by blaming God for doing anything wrong. If you know the story of Job, you know that later on in the book, Job will confront God, But he will never curse God. He will try to reason with God, but he will never reject God. He will try to stand up to God, but he will never walk away from God.
Try to put yourself in Job’s place. Try to imagine your best friend. . . Try to imagine your husband or your wife, basically telling you to commit suicide, to end your own life, and to do it while you are cursing God and shaking your fist in his face. That’s what happened to Job.
If there is one thing that Satan will always try to get us to do, particularly in tough times – It’s that he will try to get us to quit on God – he’ll try and get us to quit on our faith in God. Job didn’t wallow in self- pity. He didn’t walk away from God but rather ran to God in worship. No blame, no bitterness, no whining, no cursing, no “How dare you do this to me knowing what an upright man I’ve been.” Instead Job gave God the one thing that God always deserves in good times or bad – and that’s worship.
Job’s entire world had walked out on him, but he would not walk out on God. It’s alright to question God, but don’t you ever quit on God, because God never quits on you. When God starts a work in you, he finishes it. He promises he will. That’s why the Apostle Paul could tell us . . . “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 I pray that that promise would encourage us to keep on going when we might be tempted to quit.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Pastor Andrew looks at Philippians 3:15-16 and what Paul says about how we should be living in light of all that Christ has done for us.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” What do you do when you have a hard time reconciling what God says, with your circumstances? Judy Mandl reminds us of the response of Mary in Luke 1:38, upon hearing the news of God’s plan for her become the earthly mother of His Son, and challenges us to allow her response become a model for us.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Devotional Manuscript: He Hears Our CriesMessage By Dr. Rick Mandl, December 15, 2020 at Eagle Rock Baptist ChurchRecorded in Los Angeles, CA.
Hey church family . . . Most parents of newborn children quickly develop a sense of knowing what their child is crying about. Sometimes that child will cry because they’re hungry, or because a diaper needs changing. Other times they cry because they are tired. But every parent somehow recognizes their child crying because they are scared, or they need help. To someone else that cry may sound or feel the same, but a parent who knows their child well enough can recognize the difference.
Just like a parent, God hears the cries of His children. Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” God hears our cries. When we are hurt, or troubled, or in pain, He hears us. The next verse says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” Isn’t it good to know that when we cry, when we are in trouble, we can know that our Heavenly Father hears us and responds?
When a baby cries because she is in need, a chemical called cortisol is released in the brain. It’s a chemical that is harmful in the brain, and some neuroscientists describe it as toxic. If mom or dad don’t respond to the crying, the chemical, over time, hurts the baby’s brain development. When the mother or father responds to the baby’s crying and meets her need, a different chemical is released that brings the baby’s brain chemistry back into balance. This ongoing process of crying and having a need met creates a bond between the parent and the child.
When you have a need, the scriptures encourage you to cry out to God. It is in sharing our needs and our suffering with God that we find peace. God will hear our cry. He will respond when we pray. And that process repeated over time strengthens our relationship with God as we learn to trust Him more and more. God wants us to bring our troubles and concerns to Him so that our trust in Him will deepen and grow.
Are you crying out to God for help today over something in your life? I encourage you to listen in prayer and in your study of God’s Word to see how God is hearing and answering your cry. Because He promises that He will.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
A message from the series “Daily Devotional Videos.” Reflecting on the angel’s words to Mary in Luke 1:37, Judy Mandl encourages us to trust God even in those situations that seem impossible.
