It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Archive for December, 2016

Christmas demonstrates humility – God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Christmas demonstrates humility. God humbled Himself and He left His throne in heaven and became flesh to live among sinful man. Jesus was born in humble circumstances, a child of an unwed mother, born in a barn, a storehouse where the animals were kept and His bed was a feeding trough, a manger. Jesus was wrapped in pieces or strips of cloth and not in fine linen or silk that royalty wears. The Creator became flesh as one He created that He may save His creation.

It may sound lofty in the Christmas stories we hear but the Creator of the entire world and the universe was reduced to being born in a shed because there was no room for him in the inn. It appeared as though the whole known world was busy taking care of their own concerns of work, their homes and government situation of being counted for the census and no one recognized the God of all creation had come to be counted among men. People are still too busy with the cares of the world, the gifts and the lack thereof to receive Jesus as the greatest gift of all.

Luke 2: 6         So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

God is still sending His messengers to people who are too busy to recognize the King of kings and Lord of lords has arrived to be their Savior. There were many noble kings and wealthy merchants in that day but God chose to send His message to country shepherds, people living out in the fields. The Angel with the very glory of God shinning around him told the shepherds of the good report that the Savior who is Christ the Lord was born in the city of David.

God’s ways are not like man’s. God sent His son to be born in poverty that we may receive His riches. God announced Jesus’ birth to people of humble means, shepherds living in the fields and not to those living in palaces and mansions. In this world the birth of royalty is announced in the most esteemed places to exalt the arrival to the child’s birth. But God chose the way of humility, to send Jesus as a servant, that He may save many.

Luke 2: 8, 10-12         Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

God sent Jesus to earth at the appointed time to save humanity. God is still sending His children, at this appointed time, to be witnesses to humanity that God is still on the throne and He is seeking to save those who are lost. Jesus came born of a woman under the law and government of His day to redeem or purchase back those who were born in sin so they may be adopted into the family of God. In the fullness of God’s time we too are being sent out by our Father to release, emancipate and set free the minds of people who are chained and enslaved to the thoughts and practices of this world.

As a believer in Christ we are God’s Christmas gift to humanity. We have the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God in us to help us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that we may no longer live as slaves to sin, pride and un-forgiveness. We can call out to our Abba Father so that when we demonstrate a life that displays the power of God with humility others may want to receive the gift of everlasting life.

 

Galatians 4:4-7           But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth th Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Though Jesus was a King, He humbled Himself to be born of flesh to become involved with mankind that He may provide a solution for us. It would be impossible to find a king who would give up their high position of living in a palace to live in a stall or to give up their riches for his people and servants. Our God, Our Father gave His best, Jesus our Lord and King so that we may become children of God, heirs to His kingdom. The Christmas story is a story of humility. Jesus is the One who gave His all so that many may be saved. This is still the Christmas story that we too may humble ourselves, to die to self, that others may see in us a reflection of our Father in heaven and want to receive eternal life

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The Gift of Grace is the Gift of Christmas – Jesus is our Gift of Grace

The spirit of Christmas is Grace! Grace is showing favor, kindness, goodwill and love to someone who is undeserving and it is unmerited and unearned. Love is expressed through kindness, goodwill and favor we show to someone who may not deserve it but we give it anyway. Love gives its best and expresses and shows the love it has for those they love. God so loved this world He gave His Best, Jesus, to save us even when we were not being our best. He loved us while we were lost and did not care or love Him and He expressed that love in the Gift of Christ our Savior. Love is a sacrifice; love gives even though it may not receive.

Jesus emptied Himself of all He had a right to, positional as the Son of God, and humbled Himself to be born as a child. Jesus was born of flesh and blood and restricted to a life set in time for the service of others to show the Grace and Love God has for us.

Luke 2: 10-11  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

When God gave His Best, Jesus Christ our Lord, men responded in worship and wise men sought Him and gave gifts to honor the King of kings. Wise men are still seeking Jesus and giving gifts to honor our Lord and King. When these wise men went looking for the Christ there was much cost and much preparation. They came from a far country to search out where the King was born and they had prepared great costly gifts to give a King who was worthy of all they had and more. These gifts to show honor to the God in heaven and were given to a carpenter and his wife. We honor our God when we honor His children. We give to God when we give to the least of these, our brothers and sisters, who are in need on the earth.

We should decide to give the gift of Grace, the Spirit of Christmas to those who may be undeserving and who have not earned this gift. We give this gift of Grace and Love to honor our Lord and King. We express the love He has shown to us to those around us.

Romans 5:6, 8 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus walked in the Grace of God as a man, to fulfill His purpose drawing on the same power of the Holy Spirit that we have access to today. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and the command to love others as He has loved us. We should determine we will give this gift of grace and predetermine how we will express this Spirit of Christmas to those around us. This time of the year the world softens its heart and expresses kindness to one another. How much more should we, who are in the household and family of God, express His Grace to others?

Jesus is our example and He was led by the Spirit of God to give the good news of the gospel, that God’s kingdom has returned to the earth and we can now be set free. He showed the love of God to the brokenhearted; they did not have to be alone, fore they can receive God as their Father and the Holy Spirit as their companion and guide. To those who are enslaved to addictions and the appetites of the flesh, they too can be set free by the power of the Holy Spirit. We also can help those who are blind to the truth of God’s word by showing the love of God in our actions. Those who are oppressed through injustices of this world system or live under the tyranny of social and cultural hatred can be set free by the Blood of Jesus and the love of God. Now is the acceptable time to receive from God this precious gift of Grace.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

The Gift of Grace is the Gift of Christmas. Jesus is our Gift of Grace – our reason for Christmas. Jesus came and provided what we could not provide for ourselves. Let us be the provision someone may need during this Christmas season. Let us, as the wise men before, prepare our gifts for our Sovereign King and predetermine how we will show honor and worship to Him, through the people we serve. Let us give the Gift of Christ in a word of encouragement, in an expression of concern, in the displaying of love to those who may be unlovable and may be in desperate need of His love.

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Christmas: When Heaven Came to Earth- Jesus Dispelled Darkness

Jesus brought another government to the earth, a spiritual kingdom that operates on the earth for God’s people. Jesus established a kingdom where we can walk in the light of good news of Christ where He has broken the yoke of sin and the rod of the oppressor. We are no longer chained to the sins of our past or the tyranny of men. There is a spiritual government, a heavenly kingdom, that we now have access to through the belief and faith in the completed work of Christ.

Isaiah 9:2,4,6,7a         The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden. And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian.

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end…

Prior to Jesus’ birth we were in our fallen state with our authority taken by the trickster-Satan, living and walking in darkness not fully aware of the depraved and corrupt conditions we were living in. God had given Israel a vision of Himself and called them as a people and nation to be an example on the earth as to how man should serve their God, Lord and King. Israel, like everyone, fell short of displaying the majesty, love and compassion to a world that was in desperate need of grace and mercy.

In the likeness of a human body the child Jesus was born to walk and live on this earth just as we have. He experienced all the pain, sorrows and trials we have experienced living in this fallen world. Jesus came as a man to fellowship with us and to show us He understands what we are going through because He experienced it all, the rejection, hurt, pain and even one of the most horrific deaths, the death of the cross.

To us was given the Son of God, The Son of The Most High God was given for payment of our sin. Only the Son of God could pay the debt owed for the rebellion against God that plunged us into a dark and fallen system of government on the earth, where Satan had become the prince of darkness. Only the sinless Blood of Jesus, the Son of God, could atone for the sin of mankind and though it was a great cost to God, He gave us His Son so we could become sons of the Most High King. We can now call God, Abba Father because He is our everlasting Father; He is Good Father Who meets our every need and gives us our daily provisions.

God is Wonderful; He is full of wonder, He is amazing, He is breathtaking, He does marvelous acts. He takes delight in giving to His children. God has given us His Holy Spirit as our Counselor and guide so if we lack wisdom in any situation we may ask God and He will give the answer liberally. They call Him Almighty God; there is nothing above Him in power and might.

We have seen some mighty and powerful people but God stands above them all and when we stand in faith and in trust of the Mighty God, we serve we will have a Peace the surpasses understanding. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. God did not want man to live in fear of Satan, sickness, death, the wickedness of men or in fear of lack and poverty. Jesus came so that we may have in this world provision, protection and authority over our circumstances. We are no longer under the curse of sin and death but we have been set free and who the Son set free is free in actions, thought and deeds.

The key in God’s Peace is where we put our trust. So many of us say we believe God and we trust in His Word but most do not know God and know little of His Word. This is why they are full of fear and doubt; their minds have not been renewed to the new way of thinking, which is crucial to living in the kingdom of God. As babes are born into this natural world they must learn how to navigate this world system to live successfully on the earth.

The same is true in God’s Kingdom; we who are God’s people should be operating God’s government/kingdom while we are on the earth. Kingdom citizens, those who are re-born, have access to the spiritual kingdom/government of God on the earth. Many are ignorant of their authority and how to operate successfully in the Government/Kingdom of God.

When we are full of fear our minds are filled with the cares of this world. When our minds are full of the wonders of God, His Majesty and Sovereignty we are living and operating in God’s kingdom. We will then display the Peace of God in our lives that most people will not understand.

The Kingdom of God is increasing with every person that enters into the family of God through the belief and confession of faith in Jesus. God’s Kingdom on the earth is increasing in numbers. The knowledge of God’s word is where the power, authority and transactions in this kingdom and how to operate successfully are displayed.

So many rely on the fables of men and the traditions of their parents, to teach them how they should function in the kingdom of God. Unfortunately most people are living in lack of knowledge of the truth of God’s word. This is the reason we see so many people who call themselves Christians destroyed. Some have more knowledge of the worldly systems and more faith in the government of this world than they have knowledge of God’s kingdom or faith in His word. We see those who do evil things, even in this time of thanksgiving and celebration of our Lord and Saviour, because they are still in darkness and the Light of this world has not entered into their lives.

Those who know their God shall be strong and do great feats, deeds and achievements. Remember we are under a new Government and New King with power and authority over present circumstances because we belong to a different Kingdom.

This is the reason we are celebrating the good news of Jesus who brought God’s Kingdom to earth!!

Daniel 11: 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery;

but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

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