We’re Not Worthy (COD Head 1 Arts. 1-5; Eph. 2:1-10)

The Apostle Paul tells us that faith is a gift. Is this a gift that we reach up and grab or is this a gift that is imposed on us? Why would this gift need to be imposed on us? What is fundamentally wrong with man that he would not want this gift and what does God ultimately do about it?

The Star of Christmas (Numbers 24:10-25)

Balak has been paying Balaam to manipulate and to change the promises of the Lord.  They have offered the Lord the highest and greatest offerings to win the favor of God.  The Lord has responded to the sacrifices, but not in the way that Balak had hoped.  The Lord has continued to restate His promises to this man.  Now, in this fourth oracle something that changed.  There are no sacrifices, but the Lord reminds these men, and us today that his battle plan is fixed.  What is the significance of this oracle?  What does this tell us about the Christmas story?

Christmas is Coming! (Numbers 23:25-24:11)

Balak is beginning to realize that he cannot control the Lord.  However, he still tries by bringing Balaam to the Lord’s enemy territory.  The diviner follows Balak’s lead by going to the enemy territory.  Is Balaam able to curse the people of God even as they are camping in the wildness?  Is Baal able to overpower our God?  How does our God  make clear that the Lord will establish the true Christmas day?

Christmas’ Covenantal Confidence (Numbers 23:1-27)

The Lord has made a promise to his people that he will bring them to glory.  His people have messed up really bad, and so does the Lord really desire to establish His people?  How do we know that the Lord can and will do this?  How strong is the Lord? Is there a god, a prophet, or another power that can derail the Lord’s promises?  Balaam and Balak think they can, but can they?

Christmas’ Weak Diviner (Numbers 22:22-35)

The Lord has made a promise to his people that he will bring them to glory.  Is the Lord really able to do this?  How do we know that the Lord can and will do this?  How strong is the Lord? Is there a god, a prophet, or another power that can derail the Lord’s promises?  Balaam and Balak think they can, but can they?