Christmas Fortnight Day 13

Continuing our look at some of the people connected with Jesus’ birth, today I’d like to look at the ‘wise men’.

We’ll look at portions of Matthew 2:1-12, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him….9 When they had heard …, they departed’ and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was…..10 …..they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 ….they saw the young child….and fell down, and worshipped him: and …..presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh……12 And being warned of God…..they departed into their own country ….”

Not keepers of the sheep, nor lowly men but ‘wise’ men.

Men who:

       Had great wealth,

              came from afar, and

                      brought gifts of great value.

Men who:

       Sought HIM diligently

              Rejoiced to see the star and find the Babe, and

                      WORSHIPPED THE NEWBORN KING!!!

How about you?

If you don’t know Him—seek Him and HE will be found, in fact He’s looking for YOU.

If you do know Him—

Seek Him, His ways and His will diligently and obey.

       Rejoice in Him always.

              WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING!!!!

                      WORSHIP THE SOON COMING KING!!!

                            The one born to die for You and Me!!!

Bible Ballistics: The Prince of Peace? December 22, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 6

 ***NOTE—we will begin our “Q & A” articles next week.  I already have several questions that have been submitted, but please feel free to submit your questions via email, facebook message, or blog message and we will answer questions at least once a month, on the last Sunday of the month.***

This week we look at the last of our names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, ‘Prince of Peace’.

“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.” 

Probably the most recognized of the names in this verse, I think the “Prince of Peace” is often the most misunderstood.  I say that because many use this name to advocate political “pacifism”, but I think this refers to something far greater.  Yes, it tells us here that the “government shall be upon His shoulders”, and when Jesus takes HIS earthly throne, there won’t be any wars under His reign.  But, I think we can find a different intent of this name.

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Here we see that we are justified (made right with God) by faith in Jesus, and being justified ‘by” Him, we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Chrsit“.  So much more than freedom from political conflict, this “peace” means we have received a right standing with God.  We have been made “SONS” (and daughters) of God,

John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Now, going back to Romans 5, we see how much we need this “Peace” with God, and why.  Romans 5:6,8 & 10-11 are so clear,

“6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly….8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the  atonement.”

WOW!!!

We were:

without strength

              ungodly

sinners

enemies of God

the reason that Jesus died

reconciled by Jesus death (made different, not enemies any more)

lost-but now saved by His life

in need of atonement (He paid our sin debt).

WOW!!!  All this because

“…God so loved the world that HE gave…..”  (see John 3:16)

He gave/sent Jesus to restore us to ‘sonship’.  Not to simply alleviate our conflicts.

Colossians 1:12-14 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which had made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Jesus sacrifice not only paid for my sins,

but brought forgiveness to me and  for me before God.

Gave me an inheritance in light—

God’s light forever

within and ahead for us.

He has delivered us from the ‘power of darkness’—and ‘translated us into” His kingdom.  If you would, He has changed my nationality, my language and my mindset.  We are  “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (see Hebrews 11:13).  We have our minds on heaven and glory is our future in Jesus.

That is ‘PEACE WITH GOD’—

regardless of the conflicts or wars going on around us here on this earth.

I have this “PEACE” no matter my circumstances.

As the angels proclaimed on that night of His birth,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

Oh, dear one, GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!!!  How we ought to praise our God for His most marvelous gift of all gifts.

JESUS—

THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR—

THE MIGHTY GOD—

THE EVERLASTING FATHER—

THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

Our ‘peace with God’—

bought at Calvary.

Worship this newborn KING—

born to die for ME.

For YOU.

Merry Christmas.

Glory to the newborn King.

HE is my ‘Prince of Peace’.

Do you know Him?

If not seek Him today.

He is still calling for you.

 

Christmas Fortnight Day 12

As we continue our look at some of the people connected with Jesus’ birth, how about the shepherds?   Shepherds, lowly shepherds.  Those with whom the “elite” didn’t care to spend time.

We’ll look at portions of Luke 2:8-16, “And…. shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them…And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born ….a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord…..13 And… there was …. a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men… as the angels were gone …. the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe.….”

Keepers of the sheep.

Shepherds—

the lowliest of the low

Were the first ones to hear the GOOD NEWS.

Had an angel appear to them —

Saw the glory of God around them, and –

Received the greatest ‘birth’ announcement ever–

       Heard the angel chorus praise God—

Then, speedily went and found it as GOD HAD SAID!!

Have you come to this ONE?

The Savior of the world–

The ONE who reconciles us to the Father—

       Who brings ‘peace’ with God—

Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Have you looked to this ONE as the shepherds did?

Do you have His “peace” in your heart?

Look to the Savior—

He still saves and changes hearts and lives today!!

 

 

Christmas Fortnight Day 11

As we continue looking at the birth of our Lord, let’s spend these last few days with some of the people connected with the event.  How about the ‘innkeeper’?  This famous person who was of unknown gender, age or heritage.  One who ‘had no room for Jesus’—an anonymous person we all remember.

Luke 2:7 records, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

But what about me/you? Do we have any room?  Do we have any time for Jesus?  Or are we like him/her, oblivious to the KING’s family knocking at his door.  At your door?

Jesus speaking to the church at Laodicea said,

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.“  Rev. 3:20.

This message was to the ‘church’, a ‘church’ that had no need for “Jesus”.  Who thought of themselves,

“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…”  Rev. 3:17a.

Ring any bells?  Many ‘so-called’ churches, Christians and media stars of ‘Christianity’ seem to have this same opinion of themselves.  But what did Jesus say?

“and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…”. 

The ‘church’, those who claimed His name, had decided they ‘had no room for Him and His ways’.

Jesus also said in Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

Until we realize our need—

that we are “poor in spirit”,

we have no need for a Savior!!!

As long as I see ‘ME’ as ‘righteous’, I don’t need Jesus.

How about you?

Do you have room for Jesus?

What is your legacy?

 Room?

 NO room?

Do you know ‘TRUTH’ or

have NO truth?

Jesus said, “I AM THE TRUTH”!! (Jn 14:6)