Prophesy Foretold

This past Sunday was the second Sunday of Advent.  The trees and decorations are up.  Celebrations are about to begin, if they haven't already.  This is truly the "Most Wonderful Time of Year", don't you think?  

If we're going to celebrate the coming of Christ this season, we must go deep into scripture to figure some things out.  Specifically, what I want to look at, is the prophesy of Jesus' coming.  God tells us all throughout the Old Testament about Jesus if we only look.  

First, I want to look at the prophesies regarding the lineage of the Messiah.  Genesis 17:19 says this, "God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him."  Then in Genesis 49:10, God tells us 

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."  
    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 of days,
     and they shall call his name Immanuel”


Then in Jeremiah 23:5, we are told “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."  

So, by those three passages, ranging from Genesis to Jeremiah, we can determine the lineage of the Christ child.  First, he is from the line of Abraham.  He will come from the Tribe of Judah and from the lineage of King David.  Now, let's look at the scripture in which those prophesies were fulfilled.  Matthew 1:1-2 tells us that " The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers".  Matthew tells us plainly that Jesus came from David, Abraham, and the tribe of Judah.  Then Luke 3:33 tells us that Jesus was a descendant of Judah.  

The second prophesy that I want to look at is that the Messiah would come forth from a virgin in the city of Bethlehem.  Isaiah 7:14 says, " Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."  Then Micah 5:2 says, 

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Now lets look at where these prophesies came to pass.  Matthew 1:18-23 says, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, andyou shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
(which means, God with us)."  

Luke 2:1-7 says, "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." 

Old Testament prophesies and New Testament realizations.  To me, there is no doubt about the birth of Christ.  We were told he would come.  It was a promise.  God sent His son, Jesus, to be born in a manger, in the little town called Bethlehem, to a virgin mother named Mary.  Love came down at Christmas.

Jesus also tells us that he will return one day.  It was also a promise.  We should look toward the eastern sky for his return.  If he promised it, you better believe it will come to pass.


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Let There Be Light

Can you believe it?  Only 25 days until CHRISTMAS!!!  It's hard to imagine.  Time seems to go by so quickly.  Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent.  We notice this normally by the Hanging of the Greens.  Churches opt to decorate for this Sunday.  But, what does "Advent" mean?  Well, it means "coming".  It refers to the coming of Jesus.  That's what, or rather, who this whole blog is about.  Jesus.  Name above all names.  He brings joy to the whole world.  

Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."  What is important about this verse is that Jesus was there in the beginning.  John 1:1-2 tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."  Jesus was right there with God the Father when the world was created.  

But then, in Genesis 1:3, God says, "Let there be light..."  Without light the world would have remained dark.  What kind of world would that be?  Can you imagine living in a world of darkness.  If you think about it, our life is nothing but darkness until we receive Jesus in our life.  Without God, our life doesn't have purpose.  It's just dark and without meaning.  When we give ourselves to Christ, we find our purpose, to Glorify Him.  

Have you ever heard the Christmas song "Let There Be Light".  If you haven't, take a listen.  And, if you have, listen to it again.  This season, Let There Be Light in your life.  

Let There Be Light by Point of Grace

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Times of Trouble

Well, it’s time for me to get back into the groove.  I’ve been absent from the blog long enough.  This just seems to be the busiest time of year, not just for me, but for everyone.  So, without further ado, let’s get immersed in God’s Word by taking a look at Psalm 3.

Notice, this Psalm is titled “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.”  If you’ve ever read 2 Samuel 15, it tells us of a time when Absalom, David’s son, wanted to be king, and he would stop at nothing to attain that goal.  So, Absalom plotted to have David killed.  His own son plotted his death, just so that he could become king.  Powerful is the temptation of power itself.  David finds himself fleeing Jerusalem to protect himself.  Now, put yourself in David’s position.  How would you feel if you own son was trying to kill you for a position of power?

David could have done what we all think about.  He could have taken matters into his own hands.  But, his faith allowed him to call out to God for help.  Do we call out to God in our times of trouble?  Sometimes the answer to that question is no.  But, David provides us a simple prayer that we can sing out to God when we are facing troubles in life.  Prayer begins when we realize that we cannot help ourselves.  This Psalm can be broken down into four sections.  Let’s look at each one.

The first section of this Psalm says,

“¹O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
² many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God"

David is saying that his situation is so bad that his companions think that he is beyond God’s help.  They didn’t feel that God was able to help him.  Have you ever felt that your situation is so dire that God cannot help you?  Or, that because of past sin, that you deserve this trouble?  Do your friends fell like you are just getting what you deserve?

Now look at the second part of the Psalm:

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill.."

Faith.  That is what David had.  He felt that his situation could and would be handled by God alone.  David says that God is his shield.  Like in war, if you’re under attack, you need a shield.  It is your first line of defense.  Notice, David isn’t asking God to be his shield.  This is a statement of fact, that God is David’s shield.  The image of God being out shield is mentioned several times in the Psalms.  David goes on and says that he is the “lifter of my head.”  David was recognizing that God is more than just his protection.  God is the one that shows him glory.  What do you find your glory in?  Fame?  Power?  Prestige?  Possessions?  Beauty?  Position?  Achievements?  David found his glory in the Lord.  David cried out to the Lord.  Charles Spurgeon said this, “Surely, silent prayers are heard.  Yes, but good men often find that, even in secret, they pray better aloud than they do when they utter no vocal sound.”  Do you cry aloud to God?  Sometimes I have a hard time saying my prayers aloud.  What if what I say doesn’t make sense to others?  I know God hears my heart rather than what comes out of my mouth when I pray to him.  But sometimes, I just find it difficult. 

The third part of this Psalm says,

“⁵ I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around."

David says that because God is able to sustain him, he is able to rest.  David was under a lot of pressure.  When you’re under pressure, you have a tendency of not being able to sleep, to toss and turn.  David also points out that he was able to wake.  When you’ve got a son out there trying to kill you, waking up is a blessing indeed.  God is also makes it possible for David to be unafraid even when ten thousand people surround him.  God makes it possible to stand against any foe or trouble that we may face.  God will deliver us in our times of trouble if we turn to Him.

The last section of this Psalm says this,

“⁷ Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked..
⁸ Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people!”

David’s faith was on what God had done in the past, this gave him the confidence of what God was going to do in the future.  David isn’t looking for just protection, but victory as well.  He knew that the victory was his if he relied on God to see him through.  When you face a threat, who do you rely on? 

What kind of trouble are you facing right now?  Use this Psalm to help you pray to God for help in your troubled time.  Place your trust in God to deliver you from your trouble.  God is the source of salvation and blessing to His people.

Prayer:  "Heavenly Father, you are a shield in times of trouble.  Thank you for providing protection to me when I face trials and temptations.  I ask that you continue your protection, even when I know I don't deserve it.  As the Psalm says, "Salvation" belongs to you alone.  Thank you for salvation from my enemies, from my troubles, and especially, thank you for your Salvation that was offered through your son, Jesus Christ.  Give us, O Lord, strength to stand against the enemy.  In Jesus name I do pray, Amen.

It's Shoe Box Time

This past Saturday, our church had our first ever Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party.  What is Operation Christmas Child, you ask?  Well, let me try to explain.  Operation Christmas Child is a mission of Samaritan’s Purse International Relief.  Samaritan’s Purse provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.  Their mission is to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel. 

Operation Christmas Child provides shoeboxes full of goodies to children around the world.  “A small shoebox can teach a child about the love of God, lead him or her to faith in Christ, inspire pastors, and plant new churches.  What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out is eternal.” - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

We’ve been collecting items to go into these shoeboxes for the last few months.  The idea is to get items that are fun, like toys, bracelets, and stuffed animals.  But, we also wanted to include in our boxes hygiene items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant.  We included socks, mittens, hair bows, and hair brushes.  And, let’s not forget, candy!  We had a great turnout for our Packing Party. 

This year we had a record of 159 shoe boxes filled.  That’s amazing, especially if you consider the size of our church.  We’re pretty small.  We normally have around 80 people, which include children, in our Sunday School classes.  We may have around 100 during worship service. 

On a personal note, there were several times during the packing party that I felt the tears well up.  I kept thinking of the children that might get one of our boxes.  What kind of living conditions they face?  Are they loved at home?  Do they have parents?  There are so many questions that I thought of while witnessing the packing of the shoe boxes.  I packed a few boxes, but I mainly focused on taking photographs to share with our congregation, as well as trying to keep the boxes sorted (boys/girls by age group). 

A few years ago, I went with our church to the distribution center in Boone, NC to help pack the boxes into larger shipping boxes so that they could be taken to their destination.  It’s a humbling experience.  There were so many boxes, and in some cases you can tell that people spent a lot of time preparing for these gifts.  There were homemade toboggans and mittens.  This makes me think, what can I do next year to let the child that receives my box know that they are loved.  Not just by me, but by God Himself. 

I hope that you and your church participate in Operation Christmas Child.  It doesn’t just bring a child joy, but it also brings joy to the giver. 

Here are a few photos from our Packing Party...

Activity books, crayons, school supplies

We ordered the boxes from Samaritan's Purse

Bagged candy

Yo-yo's

Packing the boxes

Making sure lots of love is added

Homemade bracelets

More love with stuffed animals

Thank you to all that came out

HA!

Times of Trouble

Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to die?  Especially, such a brutal, horrifying death.  Hebrews 2:18 tells us why.  It says “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”  Have you ever thought about that?  Jesus was tempted, suffered, and died so that he would be able to help us.  He is our help in trouble.

 

We are in the middle of revival at our church.  You’ve heard it a thousand times before.  You know the saying, “God will never put on me more than I can handle.”  Well, I had a revelation last night.  This is simply not true, nor is it biblical.  Roger Cook, a pastor and church planting catalyst for the West Virginia Baptist Association, said these words that brought that saying into very clear perspective:  If God never gave you more than you could handle, you’d never have a reason to call upon him.  So, God will give us more than we can handle, so that we can fully rely on him.

And, so, my reading in Hebrews 2 simply tells me the same in a different way.  Jesus is able to help me when I’m in trouble because he’s been there.  He’s been through temptation, trials, trouble.  He really does know what I’m (and you are) going through.  God in Heaven can aid me because he’s experienced what I’m experiencing.  Isn’t that comforting?  Psalm 91:1-2 tells us that “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’” 

If you are experiencing pain, struggles with life, troubles, take them to Jesus.  Jesus is there to love and heal you.  Just like the old hymn says,

“Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Take your problems to the Lord.  He’s there to help you!

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Superior

Hebrews is one of my most favorite books of the Bible.  I don't know who wrote it, but it has great insight as to who Jesus is.  Hebrews declares His superiority.  It just cannot be denied.  The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were being persecuted.  It was against the law to be a Christian, unlike being a Jew.  They thought about going back to being Jewish.  But, the author told them to hold fast and keep the faith.  This is a message that Christians must hear today.  There seems to be so many things that Christians are facing today that they have not in the not so far past.  Hold fast, my friends, and keep the faith.

God has always revealed Himself when humanity needed it.  It tells us this in the very first verse of Hebrews, "...in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets...".  See, He knows when we need to hear from Him.  He goes on to say that, "...but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, who he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."  Last days is not referencing "end times", but rather the time between Jesus' first coming and Jesus' second coming.  John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the word who explains the Father.  Jesus is the last and final prophet, the One who declares the Word of God like none other.  The writer wants us to realize that God is a personal God.  Not only does He reveal Himself, He knows us better than we know ourselves and He always chooses the best way to communicate to us.  

The writer wants to point out to us Jesus' superiority.  In verse 4, the writer says, "having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."  In the prior verses there are seven significant proofs that declare Jesus to be superior to the angels:

1.  Heir to all things (v.2)
2.  Creator of all things (v.2)
3.  Reflector of God's glory (v.3 - radiance)
4.  Revealer of God's character (v.3)
5.  Sustainer of the universe (v.3)
6.  Redeemer (v.3)
7.  Ruler of the universe (v.4)

Psalm 2:7 is quoted here in Hebrews 1:5.  It says, "You are my son, today I have begotten you".  2 Samuel 7:14 is also quoted saying, "I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son."  Jesus alone is the heir to all things.  He is not only "the firstborn", but also "the only begotten".  This right here proves that the angels are inferior to the Son.  

Psalm 104:4 is quoted in verse 7, "He makes his angel winds, and his ministers a flame of fire."  The role of the angels is to worship Him and it is their mission to minister to those who will inherit salvation.  

Hebrews 1:8-9 says this, "...Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."  Jesus is Eternal!

Hebrews 1:13 says, "And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'?"  Only the Son has been summoned to the right hand of the Father.  Being at the right hand indicates power, prominence, influence and prestige.  With this close proximity to the Father, the Son can intercede on behalf of the saints.  

As a result of Jesus' sacrificial death, we have a responsibility to share this good news with the entire world.  Even to a world that sometimes refuses to listen.    

Worship

What does it mean to worship?  Well worship is defined as "the reverent LOVE and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object."  God wants us to worship Him.  We worship God out of fear (not being afraid, but of awe), devotion, reverence.  How do we do that?  We can sing, shout, cry out.

Why do we worship?
For starters, we worship because of the blessings that He gives.  Second, we worship in spite of difficult circumstances.  And also, because of His grace and mercy.

Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had cherished iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

What kind of worshiper does God want me (and you) to be?  He tells us in Psalm 1:12:  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." 

Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty penned the song "In Christ Alone".  You may have heard portions of it from the Newsboys in a song by the same name.  It says these profound words:

"In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm."

Psalm 34 tells us how to praise and worship and the promise that comes from that action. 

Let's look at those verses:

Action                                                       Promise
(v.1)    extol (praise)                                always speak His name
(v.2)    boast                                              rejoice who God is
(v.3)    magnify                                         exalt His name forever
(v.4)    seek                                                deliver from fears
(v.5)    look to Him                                  never be ashamed
(v.6)    cry                                                  save from troubles
(v.9-10) fear                                              not lack good things

My final thoughts I will close with Psalm 103:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

prayer

I started a journal some time ago.  I haven't kept up with it.  But here was my first entry.  I used it during a Sunday School lesson on a Sunday that we didn't have a planned lesson.  I hope that you can take something out of it.  Journaling isn't one of my strong suits.  I'm not very artistic, so I don't do it very often.

prayer

1.  Prayer begins in solitude.

• "Solitude" means "the state or quality of being alone or remote from others".

2.  Prayer includes speaking honestly to God.

• When you are being honest verbally to God you deepen your relationship with Him.
• He already knows.

3.  Prayer involves asking God for help and thanking Him when he provides it.

4.  When tempted to complain, pray.

Solitude:

Psalm 46 and 62

verse 1 of Psalm 46:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"

verse 10 of Psalm 46:

"Be still, and know that I am God."

"Be still" is a Hebrew verb that can be translated "to relax".

verse 5 of Psalm 62:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him."

Matthew 9 is the Model Prayer

"The first thing we need to do when we get in God's presence is be still.  The second thing we need to do is be still some more.  Then we can begin to listen, and then we can begin to hear from Him and experience His power in our lives."  - Steve May, "Silence in Solitude"

Speak Honestly

Psalm 73:1, "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart."

Tell God your deep, dark, secret thoughts.

Asking & Thanksgiving

Psalm 13

David had four burdens:

1.  feeling forgotten by God

2.  feeling cut off from God's favor

3.  experiencing deep depression

4.  suffering the humiliation of losing

Be patient and wait for the Lord.

Temptation to Complain

When you're tempted to complain, use your temptation as an opportunity to ask for God's help and thank Him for His blessings and love.


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Creation

It's been a few days since I've blogged.  We've been on vacation.  I'll blog about that in the days to come.  But, since returning I want to start on Genesis.  I'm going to talk about Genesis 1 & 2 today.  This is the story of creation.  We've heard the story of creation so many times before.  But, maybe we can gain something out of if anyway.  

The word "Genesis" actually means "beginning" or "the origin or mode of formation of something."  It tells us in Genesis 1:1 that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  That means there was nothing to begin with.  It was void.  Picture an artist with a blank canvas, starting with just a blank white surface.  

When I read the creation story, I picture God as the master artist.  He started with a blank canvas.  His first creation was the heavens and the earth.  This would mean the creation of the galaxies.  All the stars and planets that we see today.  There are millions of them.  Then he created the earth. He designed the world in which we live.  It's immaculate and complex.  It was dark.  So, he created light, the sun, moon & stars.    Isn't it marvelous?  And, what is more amazing it is that He just spoke the words and it came to be.  Days, nights, weeks, months, seasons, years.  We are soon approaching fall.  Things will pass away and go into hibernation for the coming winter months.  Then, spring will come and bring everything new again.  He then created the "firmament."  Well, that's just another word for our atmosphere that creates the perfect conditions for vegetation to grow.   He separated the land from the sea and created vegetation.  He created the creatures of the land and sea.  He created us. 

Genesis 2:7 says this:  "then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."  Have you ever wondered why he created us?  Well, I believe that He created us specifically to have a relationship with Him.  He created us to LOVE us.  He created us in His image.  You want relationship with others.  If we are in His image, it begs to reason that He wants us to have a relationship with Him.   Have you ever wondered what it was like there in the Garden of Eden?  I can only imagine that God, Adam & Eve spent a lot of time together.  Relationship.  That's the reason, I believe, that God created this world.  Yet, we deny Him this relationship with us.  We have other things that seem to take priority over our lives:  a child's ballgame, the shopping mall, a television show, the list could go on and on.  How about, today, make God your priority.  He created us for this purpose.  

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful creation we call earth.  Thank you for creating me to have a relationship with you.  Forgive me, Father, for those times when I have placed greater importance on things other than you.  Help create a desire in my heart to spend more time with you.  In Jesus name, Amen.