The last two Sunday sermons reminded us of God’s generosity toward His people in the gifts or blessings that have been given to us. We reviewed the gift of grace given to all who choose to receive. Last week we spoke of the gift of reconciliation to those in the world. This week we want to look at a third blessing that we can celebrate at this wonderful Christmas time. That is that God has set us free!
In Galatians 3, the scripture tells us that the whole world is a slave to sin. We are in bondage to sin and every consequence/symptom that results from our separation from God. We are chained to the sin of greed and every symptom of depression and anxiety that comes about from the lust of either having or not having money. We are bound by evil arrogance and pride and the hate that stems from belittling others and the appetite for power. We are bound by wrath and the destroyed relationships and crippled souls this sin leaves in its wake. We are bound by lust, gluttony, sloth, envy and the consequences derived from these as well (Every sin has one or more consequences/symptoms and demons attached).
So where is the joyful Christmas tidings? It is found in Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” The Bible tells us that when we give ourselves to sin we become its slave (John 8:34). We are just as much, if not more, slaves needing deliverance as the children of Israel were under Pharaoh in Egypt. But the advent of Jesus our Lord brought about the key that unlocks the prison doors and loosens the chains that bind us. Let’s remember John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” When we see the Baby, Jesus lying in a makeshift manger this year, we are not just seeing one of many Christmas decorations. We are seeing a representation of our very own Deliverer who came to set us free and bless us with the gift of freedom!

Be blessed even more.

Pastor Chris Hayden
Central Christian Church

June 5, 2013 Chris Hayden

Last summer, a wonderful message adorned the Central Christian Church sign. It was taken from the scripture passage Mark 10:27 KJV, “And Jesus looking upon them saithe, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” This message conveyed to all of us that even when things seem impossible, God can always turn things around making things work in accordance with His will. When we are ready to give up in a situation because things seem too bleak, God is not even phased.

Throughout our time in this life we come across situations that serve to try our faith. Days when we experience suffering and loss, face persecution and hardship, battle circumstances that go beyond our ability to conquer or even control. Over the past year, most of you have become aware of the battle my son had been fighting that stumped doctors and eluded the intellect of the experts. In the past year, we have made several trips to Riley’s Hospital in Indianapolis trying to pin down what has been ailing my son. Out of all the difficulties my wife and I have experienced while in Huntington, none have even come close to rising to importance in comparison to this one. Several things have been beyond our control, but nothing like this. The thing is, I know that many of you have also experienced situations that have stymied you as much as this one did us.

Even though the previous paragraph is true, it is also true that God loves us very much. And while we face these difficulties, God is with us, He knows are hardship, and tells us we can trust Him. The theme of last summer’s Vacation Bible School was “We Can Trust God.” We can trust God know matter who we are. We can trust God no matter how we feel. We can trust God no matter what others may do to us. We can trust God no matter the circumstance. Why trust Him? We can trust Him because He loves us very much and because with God, all things are possible. No matter how difficult things become or what others may say or do, trust the Lord, because with Him, all things are possible.

Be blessed even more!

Pastor Hayden

A Holy Anointing

May 15, 2014 Chris Hayden

Sunday, May 19 (2013) was a special day at Central Christian Church as we honored and celebrated our men and women of the armed forces. It was a wonderful time of worship and remembrance as we gave allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ and thanked our troops for putting their lives on the line to safeguard the freedom that allows us to pursue a relationship with God, unhindered. I will never apologize for saying that our Church supports our troops even if we may have differences on the validity of our political leader’s mission (but I digress).

That day was also, what is known in the Church as, “Pentecost Sunday.” It is the day we celebrate and remember the impartation of the Holy Spirit to the Lord’s disciples and the beginning of His Church; the Body of Christ. It was now that believers were filled with the Spirit of God and received the power and promised Comforter that Jesus spoke of before His earthly departure. In the book of Acts 2:38, the Apostle Peter tells the listener to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is that same Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of in the first chapter of Acts as the promise of the Father that brings power to witness to the world. Without this anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we become spiritually impotent and anemic in our faith.

It is this very anointing of the Holy Spirit that turned a frightened fisherman, Peter, who was afraid to admit he knew Jesus, into one of God’s mightiest of apostles. It was this same anointing that took a persecutor of the Church, Paul, and made him into God’s apostle to the Gentiles. It was this Holy Anointing that healed the lame, opened the eyes of the blind, removed demons from those possessed and brought Lazarus back from the dead. It is this same anointing that draws us to God and gives us the power to do exploits in His Name. To say the least, we need the Anointing of the Holy Spirit now as much as we needed it then. Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to fill us to the full of His anointed presence.

Be blessed and be grateful,

Pastor Chris