Category Archives: Christ IS Alive!

A Christmas Fortnight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #295

09 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Choices And Consequences, Christ IS Alive!, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas Ponderings, God With Us!, SIN, Sin IS the issue

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A Christmas Fortnight???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #295

 

Due to an injury to my finger, I’m not very able to type right now, so I will be sharing a series of Christmas Fortnight articles from the past.  I pray that they will be a blessing to you.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #116  A Christmas Fortnight-God With Us!!!

The season of Christmas is upon us, and I’ll be sharing a “Christmas Fortnight” again this year but with a twist.  I’ll be sharing my take on Christmas in each article, but instead of writing a short article each day of the fortnight (2 weeks), I’ll be sharing on the regular days plus Christmas Day, and that will equate to a fortnight!  I hope this will be a blessing, as well as be informative for each of us.

We’ll begin with a simple passage from Matthew 1:21-23:

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name Jesus:

for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”

The Promise of the Messiah!!!

He shall be called Jesus!!

He shall save His people from their sins!!

He fulfilled the promise!!

                             He was born of a virgin!!

                                   He shall be called Emmanuel!!

Jesus came to Redeem us from SIN!!  Sin is the issue—we are all sinners, and Jesus came that we might be saved from our sin! ‘God with us’—here to redeem sinful man.  Do you know HIM?  If not, He’s here for YOU!!  Look to the Cross!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

The Hope Of The World??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #293

02 Monday Dec 2024

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IS Alive!, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Lights, Christmas Ponderings, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Salvation, The Word

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The Hope Of The World???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #293

As we go into the month of December, it is a month where the weather changes for many of us, a time when we think of gifts, and food and gathering of families.  But sometimes we get so caught up in the glitter of celebrations and sharing, we forget who or what we are celebrating.  I just want to start this time off clearly saying that I celebrate Jesus; His coming as a baby born of a virgin, a child who would grow to become the Redeemer of the world—for all who will respond to Him in repentance of our sin and faith/trust in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary!  The manger always points to the cross; so let’s spend a few minutes together looking at some of the promises that Jesus fulfilled.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;

Behold, a virgin shall conceive,

and bear a son,

and shall call his name

Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14 

A promise and a prophecy that Jesus fulfilled.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is, God with us.”   Matthew 1:21-23

Most who were around when these events took place had no clue, but there were those who, just like today, were listening to God!  And knew who this child was.  Are you one?  Do you know the babe born in a barn (he was placed in a manger not born in one!!  Just saying!), who went to Calvary as a man to die for you and me?  HE. Is. Christmas.!

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem,

whose name was Simeon;

and the same man was just and devout,

waiting for the consolation of Israel:

and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost,

that he should not see death,

before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple:

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,

to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he him up in his arms,

and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart

in peace,

according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared

before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles,

and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled

at those things

which were spoken of him.”  Luke 2:25-33

But that isn’t all, there was a woman named Anna, who also recognized the work of God in this baby boy!  A temple full of people who knew about God but missed the message!

“And there was one Anna,

a prophetess,

the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser:

 she was of a great age,

and had lived with an husband

seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow

of about fourscore and four years,

 which departed not from the temple,

but served God with fastings and prayers

night and day.

38 And she coming in that instant

gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,

and spake of him

to all them that looked for redemption

in Jerusalem.”  Luke 2:36-38

Two who were looking, saw and shared what they had seen!  What have you seen?  Have you seen the Savior-King?  Do you know Jesus?  Have you seen the Redeemer, “The Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world” on that cross meant for me and you?  Or have you kept the babe in the manger?

Will you believe the promises and come to The One who came to save us from our sin; who came to give us life?  I pray that you see the real Jesus during this month of celebrating His arrival as a man!  Paul describes the import of it, may you “let this mind be in you”!

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 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.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:5-11

In closing let me just add, that the question is not, “will you bow?” for the scripture clearly says that “every knee should bow”!  The question is “when will you bow”!  Will you bow before Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary, or reject Him now, and bow before Him when He returns as judge?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received of my Father.”  John 10:17-18

He was born to die for you and me; I pray that you will come to the Savior/Redeemer/King and let Him transform your life.  He has mine; and I thank Him for it.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you didn’t stay in that manger, but you walked up Calvary’s hill to die for me!

Amen and Amen!!!

The Time Between??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #203

30 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, Are you in between?, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IS Alive!, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Resting In Jesus, Restoration, Resurrection, The Time Between

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The Time Between??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #203

 

Isaiah said it best:

“He is despised

and rejected of men;

a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces

from him;

he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne

our griefs,

and carried

our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded

for our transgressions,

he was bruised

for our iniquities:

 the chastisement

of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes

we are healed.

6 All we like sheep

have gone astray;

we have turned every one

to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him

the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:3-6

Isaiah prophesying of the coming Messiah, painted a picture of sin and its penalty on “All we”, and God had already appointed a Redeemer, a Lamb of God, a perfect sacrifice to atone (Pay for) for all our sin.  We are all “sin sick” and that is the disease that we all need to be healed from.  It’s why God says that “with his stripes we are healed”; for without Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Himself– the beating, the nails, the rejection of men, the spitting, the cursing, the shame, the shedding of HIS own blood—we would have no hope, no cure for this disease of SIN!  But “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me.

But I want us to think about something else; as it’s Saturday and the disciples and followers of Jesus are full of grief; this One whom they believed was the Messiah, The Deliverer, The Chosen One, is now dead!  Hope was seemingly gone.  Have you ever gone through that “Time Between”?  The time between hopeless fear, and the joy of The Lord?  The time between loss and renewal?  The time between life-absorbing grief and renewed hope and peace and restoration from the hand of The Lord?  Most of us have suffered that grief of sudden, unexpected loss, and without Jesus, I can assure you, I couldn’t have gotten through mine!  But by the grace of God, and the saving power of The Blood of “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” my heart was sustained in many times of sorrow and loss, but especially the murder and loss of my precious daughter.  BUT GOD!  Oh, my friends, the “BUT GOD”s of my life are innumerable, yet I have found Him faithful.

Think of the followers of Jesus, full of grief, sorrow, and unexpected horror; what could save them now.  They are hiding from the leaders who killed Jesus—fearing they might be next.  Even though Jesus had tried to prepare them, how could our feeble human minds comprehend His resurrection.  How about you?  When was the last time you went to a funeral, or sat by a loved one who died in your presence, that you expected them to arise from the grave?  Not me!  The disciples couldn’t comprehend what The Master wanted them to see—HE would arise.  Let’s see how scripture describes it from two who were walking to Emmaus just after the news came of the resurrection.  And while I know this is a lengthy passage, I think if more worthy of your time than my feeble words.  These were living the “time in between”!  How about you?  Have you met The Master?  He’s alive and well and loves you too!  I pray that you will ponder this passage and if you know Jesus, rejoice in it.  If you don’t know Jesus, I pray that you will call upon Him today—He is still in the life-changing business.  He saved me and has done wondrous things to make me who I am today, and He will do the same for you.

“And, behold, two of them went that same day

to a village called Emmaus,

which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together

of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that,

while they communed together and reasoned,

Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden

 that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them,

What manner of communications

are these that ye have one to another,

as ye walk,

and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas,

answering said unto him,

Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem,

and hast not known the things

which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them,

What things?

And they said unto him,

Concerning Jesus of Nazareth,

which was a prophet

mighty in deed and word before God

and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests

and our rulers

delivered him to be condemned to death,

and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he

which should have redeemed Israel:

and beside all this,

to day is the third day

since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company

made us astonished,

which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body,

they came, saying,

that they had also seen a vision

of angels,

which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us

went to the sepulchre,

and found it even so as the women had said:

but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them,

O fools, and slow of heart to believe

all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,

and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,

he expounded unto them in all the scriptures

the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village,

whither they went:

and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him,

saying, Abide with us:

for it is toward evening,

and the day is far spent.

And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them,

he took bread,

and blessed it,

and brake,

and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened,

and they knew him;

and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another,

Did not our heart burn within us,

while he talked with us by the way,

and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour,

and returned to Jerusalem,

and found the eleven gathered together,

and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed,

and hath appeared to Simon.”  Luke 24:13-34

I can’t imagine the change of the environment when they saw and knew that Jesus was/is alive!  My friend, no matter your sorrow, grief, or feelings of hopelessness, I assure you that Jesus is LORD of all, and He can bring new life, hope, joy and restoration to your heart, mind, and soul.  He’s done it for me, and He will meet you where you are.  But by His saving blood HE won’t leave you there, He’ll lead you into His truth, love, and grace; just look up and believe in The One who died for YOU!

May you have a blessed and joy-filled time rejoicing in the victory that Jesus won at Calvary.  Rejoice in the Lord by joining His people in church tomorrow (and yes, the church is imperfect and full of hypocrites, but I’d rather go to church, in obedience to my Savior, with a few hypocrites than spend eternity in hell with them!)!

A Blessed Resurrection Day to you all.  HE IS ALIVE!!!  And HE IS COMING AGAIN!!!

Amen and Amen