Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2025
September 2025
 

"Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel."  Luke 2:26 (KJV)

How is the heart prepared to receive Christ for who He really is?  Consider how Simeon prepared for the coming Messiah.  God prepared and prepares a person to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation and redemption that can come only from Christ.  We can see in Luke 2:25-52, that this was true of his first coming--Simeon and Anna were longing for the consolation and redemption of God's people, and they were granted the privilege of recognizing and receiving the Christ into their arms.  And we can see the same truth in relation to Christ's SECOND coming to complete the redemption He began more than 2000 years ago.  Hebrews 9:28 says, "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him."  Paul said something very similar in 2 Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there is laid up for me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."  Jesus came and He is coming.  Let us prepare as we celebrate Christ's first coming and anticipate His second coming.

Adapted from:  https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/preparing-to-receive-christ-looking-for-the-consolation-of-israel

"...Even so come, Lord Jesus!"  Revelation 22:20b

Matt Erickson shared his childhood memory of Christmas.  He said, "one of the greatest moments of anticipation was Christmas."  He couldn't wait for the chance to decorate, eat Christmas cookies, and, of course, open presents on Chrismas Day.  For Matt, Christmas Eve was always a struggle when it came to bedtime.  He confessed that the anticipation and wonder of Christmas morning were like adrenaline coursing through his body.  Can you identify with Matt's memory?

We are thankful for memories, but what about the present day experiences?  As we grow older, most of us lose some of our wonder.  The novelty of Christmas starts to wear off, at least a little bit.  Along with that, our anticipation gets trampled down under the weight of responsibilities, the rush of preparations, and, at times, the heaviness that comes on those of us for whom the holidays bring sadness.

Is there a remedy for the lost wonder and trampled anticipation?  It might begin when we step back enough to realize what we have lost, and then going through a journey of recovery.  The recovery is possible when we take time and spend time, focusing on the Advent.  The word advent means "appearing."  Advent looks back with wonder at Jesus' birth over two-thousand years ago, while also looking forward with anticipation to His future return at the end of human history.  May you recover some of the wonder of the Advent this Christmas season - the wonder of Christ's first coming and the wonder of His second coming.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Adapted from:  https://www.preachingtoday.com/skills/2019/november/recovering-the-wonder-of-christmas.html

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, reJOYce!"  Philippians 4:4

Joy is a word we use so much in church that it can sometimes lose its impact.  Joy simply means to have intense feeling of happiness or delight in something.  When you think about joy, what first comes to mind?

Maybe excitement about receiving a new gift.  Maybe happiness when you spend time with someone you love.  Maybe comfort when you are feeling lost or alone and are joined by a friend or family member.  Joy is all these things and more!  Jesus came to bring us the fullness of joy when we believe in Him.  But joy also ushered in His birth.  The birth of Jesus caused all of heaven and earth to sing with abundant joy and worship!  The angels appeared and shouted praise to God and the stars erupted with explosions of light announcing His arrival.

It's hard to imagine visible joy like the shepherds experienced on that night in Bethlehem.  Can you imagine seeing all those angels and stars bursting with joy in the sky?

For Christians, our joy is rooted in our delight in the story of Jesus and the triumph of what He did for us.  And it all begins with the amazing Christmas story about a baby in a manger.  Just like heaven and earth were filled with joy the night Jesus was born, we too can be filled with joy - a joy that causes us to worship Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords.