The Birth of the Ancient of Days

 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37)

This is a great Christmas text even though it comes from the very end of Jesus’s life on earth, not the beginning.

Notice: Jesus says not only that he was born, but that he “came into the world.” The uniqueness of his birth is that he did not originate at his birth. He existed before he was born in a manger. The personhood, the character, the personality of Jesus of Nazareth existed before the man Jesus of Nazareth was born.

The theological word to describe this mystery is not creation, but incarnation. The person, not the body, but the essential personhood of Jesus existed before he was born as man. His birth was not a coming into being of a new person, but a coming into the world of an infinitely old person.

Micah 5:2 puts it like this, 700 years before Jesus was born:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

The mystery of the birth of Jesus is not merely that he was born of a virgin. That miracle was intended by God to witness to an even greater one; namely, that the child born at Christmas was a person who existed “from of old, from ancient days.”

And, therefore, his birth was purposeful. Before he was born he thought about being born. Together with his Father there was a plan. And part of that great plan he spoke in the last hours of his life on earth: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37).

He was the eternal Truth. He spoke only the truth. He acted out the greatest truth of love. And he is gathering into his eternal family all those who are born of the truth. This was the plan from ancient days.

WORRY NOT ABOUT THESE TWO DAYS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2023.

SUBJECT: WORRY NOT ABOUT THESE TWO DAYS!

Memory verse: “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43 vs 18)“

READ: Proverbs 27 vs 1; Matthew 6 vs 34; James 4 vs 13 - 15:

Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

James 4:13: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year, and buy and sell, and get a profit”;

4:14: whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

4:15: Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

INTIMATION:

There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One is yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains, and so on. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we have spoken. Yesterday is gone.

The apostle Paul said, “Brethren I count not myself to have laid hold. But one thing I do, ‘forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things that are before.” (Philippians 3 vs 13.) The apostle Paul had reason to forget the past, which if he had continued to reflect on, it will greatly hurt his future. He had been a persecutor of Christians. But when Jesus arrested him on his way to Damascus things changed; he turned out to be the foremost of Christ’s early apostles. He therefore, needed to put that past behind him. 

We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ. We do not allow the things of this world to detract us from our goal of eternal dwelling. 

The other day we shouldn’t worry about is tomorrow. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendor, or behind a mask of clouds but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.  In one of the passages we read today, Jesus is encouraging us not to be overly concerned about the future. In other words, we must not add worries about the future to the responsibilities of today. Worry works against faith (see James 1 vs 6). We must assume through faith that all things work together for good (Romans 8 vs 28). And thus we must work by faith (Second Corinthians 5 vs 7). The more one walks by faith, the less worry there is in his or her life. 

This leaves only one day, Today. It is easier to carry the burdens of one day than adding that of yesterday and tomorrow. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. There is no guarantee of how tomorrow may come, therefore, one should fully appreciate each day of his life. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad, it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. 

The psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118 vs 24) Everyday is a privilege in the life of frail men, hence we should be happy with each day as it comes. Moreover, God’s provision is daily, not all at once. We cannot store it up and then cut off communication with God. And we dare not be self-satisfied.

There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. But no matter how we felt, we should always be honest with God, telling Him how we truly feel. And as we talk to God, we should praise Him for who He is, and what He has done and can do. You will discover that God will give you a reason to rejoice. Even that day is a gift from God, for you to live and serve Him, therefore, be glad and rejoice!

It is good to have goals, but goals can disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist because the future is in His hands. We can plan ahead, but we must hold on to our plans loosely. If we put God’s desires at the center of our planning, He will never disappoint us. Planning for tomorrow is a time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. 

The beginning of good planning is to ask, “What would I like to be doing ten years from now? One year from now? Tomorrow? How will I react if God steps in and rearranges my plan? Don’t let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today. Worriers are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You care for us day by day, and every new day is an opportunity to get closer and draw strength from You. Daily will I empty myself before You that You fill me in with Your grace to function in accordance with Your precepts, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Christmas Solidarity

 The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

The assembly line of Satan turns out millions of sins every day. He packs them into huge cargo planes and flies them to heaven and spreads them out before God and laughs and laughs and laughs.

Some people work full-time on the assembly line. Others have quit their jobs there and only now and then return.

Every minute of work on the assembly line makes God the laughingstock of Satan. Sin is Satan’s business because he hates the light and beauty and purity and glory of God. Nothing pleases him more than when creatures distrust and disobey their Maker.

Therefore, Christmas is good news for man and good news for God.

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). That’s good news for us.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). That is also good news for God.

Christmas is good news for God because Jesus has come to lead a strike at Satan’s assembly plant. He has walked right into the plant, called for the Solidarity of the faithful, and begun a massive walkout.

Christmas is a call to go on strike at the assembly plant of sin. No negotiations with the management. No bargaining. Just single-minded, unswerving opposition to the product. We won’t be a part of making it anymore.

Christmas Solidarity aims to ground the cargo planes. It will not use force or violence, but with relentless devotion to Truth it will expose the life-destroying conditions of the devil’s industry.

Christmas Solidarity will not give up until a complete shutdown has been achieved.

When sin has been destroyed, God’s name will be wholly exonerated. No one will be laughing anymore.

If you want to give a gift to God this Christmas, walk off the assembly line of sin and don’t go back. Take up your place in the picket line of love. Join Christmas Solidarity until the majestic name of God is cleared, and he stands glorious amid the accolades of the righteous.

CONTEND FOR THE FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20, 2023.

SUBJECT: CONTEND FOR THE FAITH!

Memory verse: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3.)

READ: Philippians 1 vs 27 - 29:

1:27: Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

1:28: and not in any way terrified by your adversaries: which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

1:29: For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

INTIMATION: 

It is required of true believers to agonize in defense of their faith; fighting with everything they have in them for the faith entrusted to them as a gift to guard and cherish, and protecting the faith against assault or subversion. They should contend earnestly for the faith that has once and for all been delivered to them with godly passion. Godly passion is having goals, and energy to accomplish those goals. Such is the thinking of, and lifestyle of the disciples of Jesus. All believers are by extension evangelists. And the function of an evangelist among the lost is laborious. Anyone who is lazy and timid cannot carry out the struggles of warfare in which a disciple is constantly engaged. 

Some think that Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act. On the contrary, we must have an active faith, training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what we know is right. Christian service, like athletics, requires training and sacrifice. Our discipline and obedience largely define whether or not we will be contributors or merely spectators. How would other believers rank your contributing role on Christ’s team? 

To “contend earnestly for the faith” today we should emphasize the following ideas:

(1) We can contend for the faith by knowing the truth. We do that by studying the Bible. Don’t ever imagine that pastors and teachers of the Word like seminary professors hold a monopoly of this task. Without study, you cannot know what to defend. You must understand the basic doctrines of the faith so that you can recognize false doctrines and prevent wrong teaching from undermining your faith and hurting others.

(2) We can contend for the faith as we grow personally with Christ. While knowledge is important, your personal relationship and fellowship with Christ is absolutely essential. Through that relationship and fellowship, God has given you the Holy Spirit as a teacher. Unattached to God, you may know everything but understand nothing. Attached to Christ, you are given spiritual understanding as well as experiences with Christ that underscore your faith. Remember the word of Christ, “...for without me you can do nothing.” (John 15 vs 5.)

(3) We can contend for the faith by remaining unified on the essentials. While Christians can certainly disagree on many non-essentials (music in worship, methods of worship, methods of outreach), we must always defend the truth of the basics of our faith as found in God’s Word which are the essentials. Any additions to or subtractions from the Word, expressly or impliedly must be resisted.  

Jesus warned, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book; And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22 vs 18 - 19.)

This warning is given to those who might purposefully distort the message in the Bible. Moses gave a similar warning in Deuteronomy 4 vs 1 - 4. We, too, must handle the Bible with care and great respect so that we do not distort its message, even unintentionally. We should be quick to put its principles into practice in our lives. No human explanation or interpretation of God’s Word should be elevated to the same authority as the text itself. 

Contending for the faith might involve suffering. And suffering for Christ is a privilege, though we do not by nature consider suffering a privilege. Yet when we suffer, if we faithfully represent Christ, our message and example affect us and others for good. Suffering has these additional benefits: (1) It takes our eyes off earthly comforts; (2) it weeds out superficial believers; (3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure; (4) it serves as an example to others who may follow us. When we suffer for our faith, it doesn’t mean that we have done something wrong. In fact, the opposite is often true; it verifies that we have been faithful. Use suffering to build your character. Don’t resent it or let it tear you down. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of total commitment and absolute faith in You, and give me the grace to earnestly contend for the faith, ready for whatever the defense of the faith may bring my way, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Christmas Is for Freedom

 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Jesus became man because what was needed was the death of a man who was more than man. The incarnation was God’s locking himself into death row.

Christ did not risk death. He chose death. He embraced it. That is precisely why he came: “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

No wonder Satan tried to turn Jesus from the cross — in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11) and in the mouth of Peter (Matthew 16:21–23)! The cross was Satan’s destruction. How did Jesus destroy him?

Hebrews 2:14 says that Satan has “the power of death.” That means Satan has the ability to make death fearful. “The power of death” is the power that holds men in bondage through fear of death. It is the power to keep men in sin so that death comes as a dreadful thing.

But Jesus stripped Satan of this power. He disarmed him. He molded a breastplate of righteousness for us that makes us immune to the devil’s condemnation. How did he do this?

By his death, Jesus wiped away all our sins. And a person without sin cannot be condemned by Satan. Forgiven, we are finally indestructible. Satan’s plan was to destroy God’s rule by condemning God’s followers in God’s own courtroom. But now, in Christ, there is no condemnation. Satan’s treason is aborted. His cosmic treachery is foiled. “His rage we can endure, for, lo, his doom is sure.” The cross has run him through. And he will gasp his last before long. 

Christmas is for freedom. Freedom from the fear of death.

Jesus took our nature in Bethlehem, to die our death in Jerusalem — all that we might be fearless in our city today. Yes, fearless. Because if the biggest threat to my joy is gone, then why should I fret over the little ones? How can you say (really!), “Well, I’m not afraid to die but I’m afraid to lose my job”? No. No. Think!

If death (I said, death! — no pulse, cold, gone!) if death is no longer a fear, we’re free, really free. Free to take any risk under the sun for Christ and for love. No more enslavement to anxiety.

If the Son has set you free, you shall be free, indeed!

THE BANE OF IMPURE MOTIVES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2023.

SUBJECT: THE BANE OF IMPURE MOTIVES!

Memory verse: "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.” (Matthew 23 vs 5.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 1 - 6, 17 - 18: 

6:1: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

6:2: Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

6:3: But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

6:4: that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 

6:5: And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

6:6: But you when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

6:17: But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

6:18: so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret  place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

INTIMATION:

Motive is something—incentive, purpose, intention—that causes a person to act. Therefore, a pure motive is devoid of any form of selfishness. When we pray, when we fast, and when we give, the Bible says that we must be pure in our motives. If you do any of these things being self-centered other than being God-centered, then your motive is impure. God abhors anything that we do that takes Him out of the first place in our lives. 

For instance, when you do something for the sake of being seen by others, your motive is impure, and Jesus said that being seen by others is our only reward. If, however, we do what we do in obedience to God—putting God and His desires first—then our motive is pure, devoid of any selfishness, and God will reward us. Obedience to God is key to receiving from Him: “If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures” (Job 36 vs 11).

Therefore, believers should avoid doing their deeds of righteousness in order to receive recognition of men. If they do, then they have received their rewards. Believers let their light shine, but not for the purpose of drawing attention to themselves. Believers should give in a manner by which they do not intentionally seek the praise of men. Their giving should be as private as possible in order that one’s motives for giving be kept pure. The hypocrites do good, but their hearts are far from God. 

It’s easier to do what’s right when we gain recognition and praise. To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity, prayer, and fasting. These acts should not be self-centered but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. 

Impure motive Jesus calls ‘hypocrisy.’ The term hypocrisy, as used in the Scripture, describes the acts of people doing good for appearances only—not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may be good, but their motives are questionable—empty and self-serving. These empty and self-serving acts, wanting to boost their ego, are their rewards. But God will reward those who are sincere in their faith, obeying and serving Him sincerely.

Our relationship with God is personal, hence Jesus requiring us to be private in our dealings. When He says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, He is teaching us actions in pure motives. It is easy to give with mixed motives, like doing something for someone if it will benefit us in return, or doing things for selfish ambitions, like public recognition and applaud. Jesus teaches that believers should avoid all forms of scheming, but rather our actions must be in response to God’s love, and obedience to Him.

Some people really don’t care about holiness, as demanded by God, but likes looking holy, or be seen as holy in order to receive people’s admiration and praise. Such people like public prayers where they speak on top of their voices and gyrate as if under the power of the Holy Spirit, just for public recognition. The essence of prayer is not public style, but private communication with God. There is a place for public prayer (corporate prayer), but to pray only where others will notice you indicates that your real audience is not God, but rather self-recognition, which is an impure motive.

Some may conclude that Jesus’ directions about private prayer calls into question all public prayers. That is an obvious misunderstanding of His teaching. The Gospels recorded Jesus praying both privately (Matthew 14 vs 23) and publicly (Matthew 14 vs 18 - 19). Jesus did not condemn public prayer, but praying in order to be seen of men. 

Jesus was only drawing attention to the motives behind actions. The point really wasn’t a choice between public and private prayer, but between heartfelt and hypocritical prayer. When asked to pray in public, focus on addressing God, not on how you are coming across to others. Believers should pray often in a quiet environment in order to express their innermost feelings to the Father. 

Fasting should not be in order to draw attention to one’s performance of religious rites. Fasting is to be directed toward the inner self in order to focus one’s mind on God. By concentrating on the inner spiritual part of man, believers should give no outward indication of their fasting. The purpose of fasting is to inwardly humble oneself before God in order to proclaim one’s dependence on the work of God in his or her life. In humbling ourselves before God, we manifest our dependence on God in order to plead for His work in our lives.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to be pure in my motives in all I do, especially in my prayers, that I may please You in my supplication, and o eschew compromises of any form in my life, that I may not to be a friend to the world, and an enemy to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Christmas Model for Missions

 “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18)

Christmas is a model for missions. Missions is a mirror of Christmas. As I, so you. 

For example, danger. Christ came to his own and his own received him not. So you also. They plotted against him. So you. He had no permanent home. So you. They trumped up false charges against him. So you. They whipped and mocked him. So you. He died after three years of ministry. So you.

But there is a worse danger than any of these which Jesus escaped. So you!!

In the mid-16th century the missionary Francis Xavier (1506–1552), wrote to Father Perez of Malacca (today part of Malaysia) about the perils of his mission to China. He said,

The danger of all dangers would be to lose trust and confidence in the mercy of God. . . . To distrust him would be a far more terrible thing than any physical evil which all the enemies of God put together could inflict on us, for without God’s permission neither the devils nor their human ministers could hinder us in the slightest degree.

The greatest danger a missionary faces is not death but to distrust the mercy of God. If that danger is avoided, then all other dangers lose their sting.

In the end God makes every dagger a scepter in our hand. As J.W. Alexander says, “Each instant of present labor is to be graciously repaid with a million ages of glory.”

Christ escaped this danger — the danger of distrusting God. Therefore God has highly exalted him! As he, so you.

Remember this Advent that Christmas is a model for missions. As I, so you. And that mission means danger. And the greatest danger is distrusting God’s mercy. Succumb to this and all is lost. Conquer here and nothing can harm you for a million ages.