FIVE TRUTHS ABOUT THE INCARNATION
 
Christmas is about the incarnation of Jesus.  Strip away the season’s hustle and bustle, the trees, the cookies, the extra pounds, and what remains is a humble birth story and a stunning reality of the incarnation of the eternal Son of God.
 
This incarnation, God himself becoming human, is a fact that is often neglected and forgotten among all the gifts, get-togethers, pageants, and presents.  It would do us good to think deeply about the incarnation, especially during this time of year.
 
Here are five biblical truths of the incarnation.
 
1. The Incarnation Wasn't The Divine Son’s Beginning 
The virgin conception and birth in Bethlehem doesn't mark the beginning of the Son of God.  But it does mark the eternal Son entering physically into our world and becoming one of us.  
 
John 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God."  
 
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
 
2. The Incarnation Shows Jesus’s Humility 
Jesus isn't a typical king.  Jesus didn’t come to be served.  Instead, Jesus came to serve (Mark 10:45).  His humility was on full display from the beginning to the end, from Bethlehem to Golgotha.  Paul glories in the humility of Christ when he writes.
 
Philippians 2:6-8 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
 
3. The Incarnation Fulfills Prophecy 
The incarnation wasn’t random or accidental.  It was predicted in the Old Testament and in accordance with God’s eternal plan.  Perhaps the clearest text predicting the Messiah would be both human and God is Isaiah 9:6.
 
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
 
In this verse, Isaiah sees a son that is to be born, and yet he is no ordinary son.  His extraordinary names, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, all point to his deity.  And taken together, the son being born and his name points to him being the God-man, Jesus Christ.
 
4. The Incarnation Is Mysterious 
The Scriptures don't give us answers to all of our questions.  Some things remain mysterious.  Moses wrote under the inspiration of God in Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever," 
 
Answering the question of how one person could be both fully God and fully man is not something that the Scriptures focus on.  The early church fathers preserved this mystery at the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) when they wrote that Jesus is "Recognized in two natures [God and man], without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of nature's being in no way annulled by union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ."
 
5. The Incarnation Is Necessary For Salvation 
The incarnation of Jesus doesn't save by itself, but it's an essential link in God’s plan of redemption.   Hebrews 2:17, we find the scriptures testifying to this, "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
 
The incarnation displays the greatness of God.  Our God is the eternal God who was born in a stable, not a distant, withdrawn God; our God is a humble, giving God, not a selfish, grabbing God; our God is a purposeful, planning God, not a random, reactionary God; our God is a God who is far above us and whose ways are not our ways, not a God we can put in a box and control; and our God is a God who redeems us by his blood, not a God who leaves us in our sin.  Our God is  great!
 
Pastor Carroll, Senior Pastor Sharon Baptist Church
 

​KEYS TO A SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
 
In vs)6 of this psalm, the psalmist prays for revival.  I hope that as a member of the Body of Christ, you have been praying for and desiring a heaven-sent Holy Ghost revival here at Sharon Baptist Church.  Our Thanksgiving Revival will begin on Wednesday, November 15th – Sunday, November 20th, with the Tidewater Baptist Youth Fellowship holding an area meeting on Saturday.  
 
As we look at this Psalm, would you pray with me that we may become burdened for God to send a Holy Ghost revival to our church?  Would you be bold enough to pray, "Let it begin with me?"  You may think, "Pastor, what are the keys to a spiritual revival?"
 
We must confess our need for revival. The psalmist’s prayer was a confession of that need.  It was only when he felt the need for revival that he prayed.  Think of the need for revival not only in terms of the world but also in our church and our own lives. Remember, revival begins within first, then bursts outward to the church and the world.
 
We must admit the possibility of revival. 
Do you believe that genuine revival is possible? The psalmist was! He reminded God of what He had done six times in vs)1-3. The fact that God has sent revival in the past demonstrates the possibility of revival coming again. Some people will not admit the possibility of revival coming in our day. But history and the promises of God prove the possibility of revival. 
 
We must recognize the source of revival.
Where does revival come from?  Verse 6 tells us, "Thou."  It comes from God; it's not worked up but sent down, and therefore our eyes must not be upon men, methods, churches, or the evangelist but on Him. (Psalm 62:5)
 
We must use the means for obtaining revival. 
What is the secret of revival?  It's prayer, notice in vs)6 "Will thou not?"  It takes passionate, faith-filled, and urgent prayer for God to send revival.  There has never been a revival in the history of mankind that wasn't preceded by great prayer. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
 
We must remove the obstacles to revival.
In vs)6, the psalmist prays for revival "that thy people may rejoice in thee."  This indicates fellowship, walking with God, and agreeing with God.  The greatest obstacle to revival is our sin.  Are you right with God? Is there sin in your life?  Are you living in obedience to the Lord so you can walk with the Lord? (Amos 3:3)
 
Many years ago, D. L. Moody heard Henry Varley say, "The world has yet to see what God will do with one man who is fully surrendered to Him."  Moody said, "By God’s grace, I’ll be that man!"  Will you begin to pray the same prayer for your church so that the world may see what God can do in and through you?
 
We shall enjoy the results of revival.
Read through the rest of the psalm and notice the results of revival that are mentioned. (Psalm 37:23)
 
May each of us at Sharon Baptist Church begin to prepare our hearts now so that God will send revival to us individually and the church corporately.
 

Ephesians 5:16 "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

All of us have become used to the name Daylight Savings Time, but there are only so many hours in a day, and changing the clock doesn't save time.  But there is another type of Daylight Savings Time.  Jesus said in John 9:4, "The night cometh when no man can work."  The text tells us to literally "buy up" our opportunities.  The only way we can save our working hours is to spend them in the service of God.  The only money we save is the money we invest in the souls of men, and the only time we don't use it is the time we use it to the glory of God.

The Psalmist prayed, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).  We sing that wonderful hymn, "Work For The Night Is Coming," but did you ever count up Him many hours in a day you spend on yourself and how little time for God and others?

It's time to save time.  We can run up a good bank account of hours knowing Christ better and making Him known.  It's not time spent but time gained, an investment, treasure laid up in Heaven.  I'm not just talking about "full-time Christian service."  Every Christian is called to full-time service.  Aren’t we all supposed to live for Him all the time?  

How much daylight have you saved by spending it on His glory?

- Pastor Carroll

​What a fast and furious couple of weeks it has been since my last update. Diana and I had as wonderful time with our sons and their family the third week of June. There was laughter, love, and excitement for everybody. The grandchildren spent most of the days and nights in the pool. Even little Emma has become quite a good little swimmer, with her vest on. After the first few hours, she was jumping in the water on her own accord and wasn't afraid to put her head under water. On Wednesday we were able to go to Bush Gardens with the family, thanks in part to the generous gift of tickets to veterans from the park. Let me just say the Vorbotlen is a scary roller coaster to ride, but the ride is worth every minute of it. Yes, I screamed like a little girl and am not ashamed to admit it.

The last two weeks were spent a Pleasure Island Bible Camp near Blacksburg, VA.  I look forward to this time of renewing old friendships and fellowshipping with campers. During the Junior week nine decisions were made for Christ. Five others made decisions to surrender their life to Christ to be used as He desires. One of those children was from our church. So far at Teen camp over ten young people have trusted Christ as their personal Savior. One of our own teens received assurance of their salvation and now has no doubts that she is a child of the King. Praise the Lord! Thank you for giving to make all this possible and the week is still not over.

The theme of this year's camp is The Old Path's.

Jeremiah 6:16a "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." 

You may be thinking, Pastor Carroll, what are the Old Paths? Quite simply, the Old Paths are the ways of God that are found in the Word of God and then lived out by faith.  

The Psalmist writes in Psalms 25:4-5 "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. [5] Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

These Old Paths contain the Old Path of conversion, of reconciliation with God, of personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The Old Path of belief in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, as our sufficient guide for faith and practice. The Old Paths of modesty, of purity, and separation from the world, and holy and Godly living. The Old Paths of soulwinning and evangelism as a means to reach people with the Gospel of Christ and grew the local New Testament Baptist Church. 

It's my hope and prayer as your Pastor that you will desire to stay on the Old Paths that have been laid before us. 

Proverbs 22:28 "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."

As a way of closing this update, let me say thank you for the great work that everybody did to make VBS a success. Souls were saved, lives were rededicated to the Lord, new friendship were made, and old ones were renewed. Diana and I anxiously await our return from Sabbatical on August 14th.

- Pastor Carroll, Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church

​I can hardly believe that is has been two weeks since the start of my sabbatical. I do miss each and every one of and pray for you regularly. This week I've read a book entitled, Forgotten Salvation & Martyrs by Ronnie Brown, while visiting with my mother in PA.  As I read about the salvation decision of men and women, I couldn’t help but be remined that God can save the vilest of sinners and the very pious steeped in their religion. God is "not willing that any should perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:26b)

Each of the stories of these testimonies followed a similar pattern but under different circumstances. That same pattern is available to any sinner who desires to be saved today.  It begins with conviction. The understanding that you have sinned against a righteous and Holy God. That conviction come from the Holy Spirt of God. In John 6:44a Jesus states, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." This conviction should bring about a Godly sorrow for our sin. Our sin must become a burden, a weight, we no longer desire to carry. We must see it’s offensive, a stench in God’s nostrils. Godly sorrow leads to us viewing sin the way God does. 

We then must confess our sins to God. Conviction of our sins should bring about repentance or turning from our sin to God. 

Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

That confession should push us to the point of turning from our sin and serving  A Holy God in holiness.  Just because we repent doesn’t mean the temptation to sin won’t happen again in our lives. We have to choose holiness and righteousness daily.  When I repented of my sin, I intentionally decided to walk in holiness daily. That decision required that I change who I saw, where I went, who I invited into my home, the music to which I listened, and the movies I watched. I had to guard my heart, my eyes, my ears, and my mind every day. You may have to do the same things.  

Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

Our salvation brought on by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, leading us to confess or sin to God by repentance, should bring us to a point in our lives where we desire to live a Holy life for God. Separated from the world, but drawn close to God by our regular communion with Him. Giving us the power to live a Holy life, "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16. 

2 Corinthians 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

​
​- Pastor David Carroll, Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church