That You May Believe

 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.

How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.”

Perhaps the galactic movie thrillers of our day can do at least this good for us: they can humble us and bring us to repentance, by showing us that we really are capable of some of the wonder and awe and amazement that we so seldom feel when we contemplate the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ and a real living contact between them and us in Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read.

Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God.

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds the Son of Man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.

These things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world.

THE SHEPHERD OFTHE RIGHTEOUS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2023.

SUBJECT : THE SHEPHERD OFTHE RIGHTEOUS!

Memory verse: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27 vs 1.)

READ: Psalm 23 vs 1 - 6:

23:1: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

23:2: He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 23:3: He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. 

23:4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

23:5: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 

23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

INTIMATION:

The Lord is the shepherd of the righteous. The Scripture in the 'New Testament' calls Jesus the good shepherd (John 10 vs 11); the great shepherd (Hebrews 13 vs 20); and the chief shepherd ( First Peter 5 vs 4). When one submits to the shepherding of God, he trusts that God will provide all that is necessary for survival. Because of the Lord’s care over us, we are satisfied with the spiritual food that comes from Him, and thus we take our rest in the shadow of His care. The righteous know their God, and He leads them according to His will to places of security. 

Jesus is the good Shepherd, who tends to us—His sheep—out of love, and is committed to us, even to the extent of laying His life for us. As the Lord is a good shepherd, so we are His sheep; not frightened and passive, but obedient followers, wise enough to follow one who will lead us in the right places and right ways. As calm waters naturally soothe one’s mind in times of trouble, so God takes us to places where the turmoil of life can be endured. By the calm waters our inner man is renewed and refreshed. 

The Lord leads us down paths that take us to that which is good for us. The two significant results of the death and resurrection of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, our great Shepherd, is found in His work in us to make us the kind of people that would please Him, and He equips us to do the kind of work that would please Him. Consequently, 'He restores our souls, and leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name sake: "Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway." (Psalm 85 vs 13.) He does this in order that His name be glorified among the nations. He is holy, and therefore, desires that His people be holy. 

We can trust that God will always meet the needs of the righteous. Whatever they need on earth He will supply, even if it is the courage to face death. Whatever they need in heaven He will supply. The psalm we read today is probably the most quoted of all the psalms simply because in a few words it portrays the life of the righteous. Though the righteous must live in a world that is plagued with suffering and turmoil, they must put their faith in God as they struggle through life. The psalm is a sublime utterance of those who are focused on staying close to God.

God has complete ability to meet our needs. Just as the sheep is dependent on the shepherd to meet its needs, so are we to our Father in heaven. He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep (flock). The sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. We must remember, however, the difference between our wants and our needs. Most people want to feel good and avoid discomfort or pain. We may not get all that we want. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting His provision and power to live for Him.

When we allow God our shepherd to guide us, we have contentment. He knows the "green pastures" and "still waters" that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following Him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd's leading is actually rebelling against our own best interests. God works in us to make us the kind of people that would please Him, and if you are obedient, you will eat the fruit of the land: "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7 vs 17).

Even in death, He is with us. Death casts a frightening shadow over us because we are entirely helpless in its presence. We can struggle with other enemies; pain, suffering, disease, injury, but strength and courage cannot overcome death. It has the final word. Only God—the God of life—our shepherd, can walk us through death's dark valley and bring us safely to the other side, and ensures our eternal comfort amidst life's uncertainties. God offers protection even when enemies surround us, and believers will dwell with God. 

The perfect shepherd and host, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into His house forever. The psalmist says, "One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For in time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon the rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me..." (Psalm 27 vs 4 - 6.)

Prayer: Abba Father, in You I live, and move, and have my being. You are my strong tower, I run into You and am saved. Give me the grace to hear Your voice and follow You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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!