Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus was giving God His Gift.
What do you want for Christmas? Jesus held children on His lap and spoke to us.
And what will we give our Children?
My younger Christmases were put around a book or a time in History. The gifts had a theme my father thought would be fun to shop around. When I was 4 years old, Daddy chose King Arthur and Barbie was purchased with Ken. I got my first car. A Peach Jaguar with turquoise seats for Ken and Barbie - Arthur and Guinevere. Arthur arrived in silver flakey leotards - armor.
Another year was Sherlock Holmes. And my father said he would try to include every Christmas with a gift I'd have forever. I still have the Sherlock Holmes books.
We gave our sons baseballs signed and signed Presidential books. Discussions arrive today saying I bought too much of one President or another for one son and not the other. Pretty table clocks were another thing they, sort of, say they are glad for.
What does the USA want for Christmas?
Or more - Aptly put... What would Father God enjoy for Christmas?
Or your nation? The Glory of being part of prayer communion all over the world! The Communion of Saints 365 24 7.
What if we gave God Baptism?
The USA is seeing Church attendance rise and be steady. And we have something new in the USA, new for the first time in 160 years in USA Households - family numbers are rising. Families live together in multi-generations. And we, the USA, are considered to be a G7 nation, the population is not growing to replacement even if our median age is low. Legitimate births are vastly on the increase. Householders hold and live together.
A unique part of the Spiritual Life in the USA is changing denominations to better be served - according to those who move - to better be told the actual Word of God. To know the actual Scriptures and not just ideas.
Bringing us to something else unique.
Since 2013, continuing to 2017 - Christian USA Spiritual statistics indicate some Baptisms are 14 people to 1 Baptism and other Churches across the USA even have 37 people to 1 Baptism.
For some reason, our youth group of almost 37 years ago decided to go into the reasons for Baptism. We spent Months on Baptism. After learning about Baptism for months I finally said, "Oh, please can we move on?" And as the result of the odd little variation in regular Youth Ministry, I could converse with you on immersion and all the aspects and philosophies of Baptism.
Maybe you would enjoy the summarization instead of the details? Yes, very probably.
Baptism. Yes, God is for Baptism. Bingo.
Jesus decided as God's exact nature... One of the most Beautiful Verses of Scripture...
Hebrews 1:2-4
But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word.
After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.
Ok. Why not Baptism? Now here, I think we have the real Bingo.
A. People are changing denominations. Not what Mom, Grandmom, Aunt and Uncles did.
B. Someone is going to be offended over dunking or sprinkling and age.
C. No four foot Christening Gown.
D. Their party was better than we want to throw. We are busy with relevant things.
E. Our family isn't Churchy - no one is going to attend. No one is going to buy Airfare tickets.
F. I'm not Baptized - someone is going to ask why I'm not Baptized in the middle of a Church. That's not fun, pleasant. I can't get my kid baptized and be asked about me.
G. I'm embarrassed I'm not Baptized. It's not Relevant.
H. Hell - doesn't this focus on sin and Hell? Not really. More about Redemption. Renewal.
Ok What would Jesus Do?
Jesus was baptized to say Living Water be in me. When we all long to know about God's House and God's Kingdom of Heaven - we find Father God makes sure to say forget pesky Oceans where Jesus is in a Storm. Father God wants the Jordan River. A small stream of Shining Water. We find Father God has gone very artistic to arrange trees and Living Water right at His Throne.
Poetic? Really we live in a rare time in History when we are Visual Learners.
God has what He calls Shining Water to honor His Son. To say their streams flow together in Beauty and Harmony.
The Beginning of the Jordan River
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,
‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive
Weddings and Baptisms are Sacraments. According to Luke 2, Weddings take Preparation. Jesus had to help the Preparation. According to John the Baptist and to Jesus and to the Book of Acts - Baptism is supposed to be spontaneous. A pure act of Joy between Father God and His Creation - you. Baptism is sometimes with entire families.
In all of the Scripture, this act of Joy is not fussed over. No one is recorded at being upset. It's as if Jesus would wish the the Concerts for Christian Music had a Baptism Station. Baptism is not ever recorded as being done over and over. A one time event of Love for God. The Acts of the Apostles say, "Do you believe Jesus is God's Son? YES! Then be baptized!" Spontaneously. Large Groups.
Is what we do ok - to make this Sacred. YES. Our Baptisms today, as we do them now, are Sacred to God. The Point being - this is a Gift Jesus gave His Father.
What further Scripture could we read?
Amos 5:24
Let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amos 5, we face God as Father. The way Archie Bunker decided his grandson was being Christened. We have to always allow God to be God.
The valid points God makes are clear.
1 Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:
We have to want to Rise.
The numbers who want to Rise have fallen and this is tragic.
For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel:
Seek God and Live.
Put away that which is deemed relevant and is very temporal. What we see every day is not eternal. God is New. Redemption. Fresh. Living. Abundant. Not the usual.
Seek God and Live.
What we see as Eternal are like the Cities Jesus said would not exist and, now do not.
We are so very familiar with the Christmas Story of the Heavenly Host Singing - but God made the stars themselves, He knows them intimately and calls them all by name.
The Lord is His Name. God is God. Jesus is His Son. His only Son.
Seek Good.
So the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you
Establish Justice
to live in the Graciousness of God.
Why would God want a drawn-out ceremony? Jesus Himself told us not to heap up empty Phrases. God is Abundant. Alive. Verdant. Living. The Book of Acts Honors God as Living and Baptism is a Spontaneous Gift.
God of the Shining Water is Living. Merciful.
God is not the God of the ceremonial to be trodden to. God wants Eager, Open Hearts. To see His Eternal Kingdom. Not to be mired in the everyday repeat of commercial ways and culture. Renewed minds. God is Merciful, see sorrow here forever decreases, or what we see in God. The Parable of the Talents is to say See God as Merciful. Read God expecting to Agree with Him and His Love.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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