God’s Branch Office
November 25, 2012 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We are to be representatives of God on Earth.
Focus Passage: Matthew 2:19-23
Introduction: Whenever I walk in to any Arvest Bank, I’m not really walking into THE Arvest Bank, for it is in Bentonville, AR. However, when I walk into any Arvest Bank, I’m walking into a branch office, a full representative of the bank, where I can accomplish anything I want to accomplish rather than driving all the way to Bentonville. I am a full customer at any of the branches and any of the branches has access to my savings and checking accounts.
I. Nazarene – Name of Scorn
a. "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' (Acts 22:8 NASB)
b. Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip *said to him, "Come and see." (John 1:46 NASB)
c. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53:3 NASB)
II. Netzer – the vine or shoot
a. "and there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and נצר, "a branch shall grow out of his roots"; a prophecy owned by the Jews (e) themselves to belong to the Messiah, and which was now fulfilled in Jesus; who as he was descended from Jesse's family, so by dwelling at Nazareth, he would appear to be, and would be "called a Nazarene, or Netzer, the branch - John Gill
b. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (John 15:1 NASB)
III. The Branch Office of God
a. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB)
b. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NASB)
Invitation: Be a full service Branch Office for God, not just an ATM or an office that’s only open on Sundays. God’s branch offices are supposed to be open 24/7-365.
