Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - The Eyewitnesses

 

Luke 2:20

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it was said to them.

Returned where? To the flock and the undershepherds. After all, someone had to stay behind and watch over the sheep when the head shepherds went to see if what the angel had told them was really true. 

The trainees couldn't go and check out this unbelievable news: they were young and inexperienced. And if it was true, the lead shepherds would have needed to see for themselves. By going on ahead, they were able to confirm that that which the angel had informed them of had indeed come to pass.

Upon their return, and more than likely, during their return, the shepherd were glorifying and praising God. They had been privileged to be invited to come and see and worship the newly born King of Israel. Now the air is filled with great joy. The undershepherds could hear them before they could see them, confirming in their ears and their hearts that such magnificent news was truth. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 134

Praising: to praise, I praise; to extol 

From the Greek word 'aineó' (pronounced ahee-neh'-o). To sing praises in honor of God. Used only eight times in the New Testament.

Luke 2:13, 20

Luke 19:37

Acts 2:47

Acts 3:8, 9

Romans 15:11

Revelation 19:5

These men testified of what they had heard and seen. They brought the wonderful news back to their colleagues in their work places. There would be no sleeping that night for all the wondrous descriptions of the glory of God in a manger would surely have kept them up talking for the rest of the night. Sleep could wait: the Messiah who would save Israel had arrived.

Heaven Has Come by Young Oceans

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Treasured Words

 

Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4933 & 4820

Treasured: kept close, kept safe, kept in mind, preserved

Pondered: to consider

While the word  'ponder' has many more definitions than this, in the context of this verse, this is what that word means.

Not a hidden treasure like buried gold, but kept near the surface of thought treasure, like beautiful words which delight one's soul and are thought of often. 

TREASURED & PONDERED

What things was Mary treasuring and pondering?

Well, first of all, as soon as Jesus was born, a great and beautiful star appeared in the night sky. There were no angels above the stable to light the way, for they had disappeared back into heaven having completed their task of delivering the birth announcement to the shepherds. 

Secondly, if strangers dressed in their work clothes came to see your newborn baby and began to kneel and worship Him, I would think that their actions and words would bear repeating to one's self after they had left. And I'm sure they talked to the new Mom and Dad about the message they had been given regarding their new baby boy. That kind of excitement is impossible to contain.

When we first see Jesus, we, too are filled with an uncontainable joy and excitement. Our hunger for His presence is satisfied only when we are near Him. And come near Him, we must. He draws us to Himself with cords of Love, a love that is all encompassing. He wants to be with us even more than we want to be with Him. 
Being filled with such joy and wonder causes the love of God in Christ to pour out of us in testimony: Look what the Lord has done! See what a change He has wrought in my heart! As the psalmist wrote, "O give thanks unto the Lord! for He is good, for His mercy endures forever!" (Psalm 118:29) This I know, for He extended His mercy to me. 

THE WORD HID

His Word is hid in my heart, too. I treasure His Word. I ponder, I meditate on, His Word. Psalm 119:11 "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." I hear great and mighty things of what the Lord has done and my soul is flooded with an awestruck wonder at His power and lovingkindness towards us, towards me. 

THE WORD INSCRIBED

The Word in Matthew 6:21, says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The Word is my treasure. Therefore, the Word is in my heart. Not because I put it there through Scripture memorization, but because God through the power of His Holy Spirit, acting on my faith in His Word, inscribed His Word on my heart. It really is joy unspeakable you know. 

1 Peter 1:8, 9

8. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

9. now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Even in the midst of our trials, our sorrows, our pain, our whatever it is we are going through situations, we can have this joy, too. Only we can prevent this joy from being in us. Those who reject Christ as Lord and Savior, reject joy. They reject His peace, His love, His flawless design for their lives. The happiness they know in this life is brief and fleeting. But joy in the Lord is permanent in a believer's heart. 

Do you know this joy? Do you want to?

Joy Unspeakable  

Joy by 4 King & Country (try to watch on full screen or theater mode) 

Joy To The World by Phil Wickham

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Spreading The Gospel Message

 

Luke 2:17, 18

17. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 

18. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4487

Message: a word, the spoken-word of a living voice; thing spoken

From the Greek word 'rhéma' (pronounced hray'-mah). Most commonly used in the New Testament 'for the Lord speaking His dynamic, living word in a believer to inbirth faith'.

A new King of Israel had been born. Who got the first birth announcements? Shepherds. Blue-collar laborers who worked with their hands taking care of sheep out on the hillsides. Living near the sheep, breathing the same air as the sheep, watching over their flocks in the night. And what did they do after they got over their terror from this unexpected night visit which lit up the skies? These shepherds hurried to the city of Bethlehem, searched for the newborn child and began to praise God when they saw Him. Upon which they immediately left and began to tell everyone what they had just seen and heard. 

Something amazing  and wonderful had befallen these shepherds and they couldn't wait to tell anyone and everyone all about this wonderful new King who had been born. They were excited to spread the gospel message. Even if no one else believed them, they couldn't stop talking about Him. 

And who would believe a bunch of scruffy shepherds? Men who smelled like they'd been living outdoors among animals. Who deigned to hear what a bunch of shepherds had to say? Starting rumors about the Messiah being born in a barn? That couldn't be the Messiah all of Israel had been waiting for. The shepherds were delusional. But let them rave on about their King; who's going to believe them anyway? 

Perhaps, if it had only been shepherds who saw Jesus, who heard angels, the story would have eventually faded away. But we know that didn't happen. Here it is 2022, nearly 2000 years since He first arrived in Bethlehem and people are still talking about Jesus Christ the Messiah of the whole world. People are still spreading the gospel message after receiving it. People are still hearing voices sing praises to the Most High King of Kings. 

I'm one of those people. I'm a servant, a praiser, a worshiper, a seeker, and a finder. 

I'm here to tell you about God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ, whom He sent to this earth to deliver both Jews and non-Jews from the bonds of sin and oppression. 

God's plan of salvation began in the garden of Eden and it will end when God's enemies are destroyed at the end of this world. Not a fairy tale. Not a story. Fact. 

Genesis 3:15

 "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Romans 16:20

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

John 3:16-18

16. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

18. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

And what is the prayer of we who preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified for those who have yet to believe? "Lord, save them, deliver them, bring them near to Your heart. Open their eyes to see You that they may open their hearts to receive You. As Your Word says in Revelation 3:20, You stand at the door of our hearts and knock, hoping someone will let You in. This we pray: that someone will let You into their hearts, giving You control, handing You the reins to lead and direct us, over our lives. Whatever it takes, Lord, whatever it takes. We pray Your will be done in their lives."

In Jesus' Beautiful Name,

Amen

I SPEAK JESUS by Here Be Lions

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Seeking Jesus

 

Luke 2:15, 16

15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 

16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 429

Found: to find out; I find by seeking out

From the Greek word 'aneuriskó' (pronounced an-yoo-ris'-ko)

SEEKING JESUS

Before we can find Jesus, we have to want to find Him. 

The cry of the heart is, "Show me Jesus!" It is a gut-wrenching cry, a pitiful sound that God hears and then sends someone to show the Way, to be the Light that shines into the darkness and leads that person crying out for Jesus to see Jesus.

Matthew 2:1, 2

1.  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.

Wise men. Wise men came from a far distance seeking the newborn King. Are we wise men? We have come from a far distance, too. After all, Jesus came a long way to meet us: all the way from heaven, a place so vast and distant we cannot comprehend its entirety in our own human understanding. 

Darkness is separated from Light. The distance there is a chasm so deep and wide that one can only cross it by believing on the Name of  The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. 

To cross this chasm one must first see clearly the cross where Jesus died for us; and second, walk through the blood that it may be applied to us and go beyond the cross, to position one's self behind it. "Hide me behind the cross, Lord." And He does. 

LONGING FOR GOD'S PRESENCE

Our journey here is short, though our days may appear to be long, years quickly fly by. Yet in these days we yearn for the eternal presence of God. Our hearts, now filled with His Word, but not replete, hunger with an even greater hunger for God: to be near Him, to see Him.

Isaiah 26:9

My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Psalm 63:1

A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

Luke 10:23, 24

23. Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 

24. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

LISTEN TO OUR HEARTS 

NOT FOUND

Not Found By The Unbeliever

Not everyone who seeks for, looks for, will find Jesus. Because their hearts are not in the right place when they go looking for Him. Only they who seek Jesus with a desire to know Him fully will find Him. But people who seek Jesus to destroy Jesus will never find Him; for their hearts are not sincere in seeking Him out. 

Luke 2:3-18 describes the secret intent of King Herod, who wanted to kill the new baby King.

The people who do not believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation will never find Him.

John 7:34

"You will seek Me and will not find Me; and where I am, you are not able to come."

Not Found By The Believer

And when Jesus spoke on this subject with His disciples, He reiterated what He had said to the Jews earlier.

John 13:33

Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’Where Jesus went in His death, the believer cannot go in their death. For in death Jesus Christ conquered death and the grave. There is now no more death and grave for the believer in Christ. Death is swallowed up in Victory (1 Corinthians 15:54; Isaiah 25:8). Therefore, the believer cannot go to death and the grave! 

So, we must ask ourselves and search our hearts: Why are we seeking Jesus? What is our motive? On which side of the coin are we hoping to find Him? 

SEEK FIRST

THE MORE IS SEEK YOU

 

Thanks Be To God - - For HIs Kingdom

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 2:4, 5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 932

Kingdom: sovereignty, authority, realm; the realm in which  a king sovereignly rules

From the Greek word 'basileia' (pronounced bas-il-i'-ah). 

The word 'kingdom' refers to any location wherein a king rules with sovereign power. Whether that location is a physical location; for instance, on a map, where you can pinpoint a kingdom. Kingdoms are built and kingdoms are destroyed. Be careful who is ruling in the kingdom of your hearts. If God lives in you by the Power of Christ, the God is your King. If, however, God does not live in you, then Satan is your king. 

If we are God's servants, we wear the armor He has provided for us (Ephesians 6:10-20). Such armor makes it possible for we who are of God's kingdom to take down and overpower the kingdom of darkness, where spiritual wickedness rules (Ephesians 6:12).

If we are living righteous lives according to the righteousness of God and His Word, then the kingdom of God is, indeed, in our midst. 

Luke 17:21

Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

And what do the Scriptures say is the kingdom of God? =

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CHRIST

1 Corinthian 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIFE IN THE HOLY GHOST 

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE DESTROYED BUT WILL ITSELF DESTROY 

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OF THIS WORLD

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Have you asked God to set up His kingdom in Your hearts? Have you repented of your transgressions against His laws? Are you letting His Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost direct your steps. Are you soaking in God's presence by reading and studying His Word? If we don't make time for God now, why would He make time for us later? We need God now. We need Jesus Christ now. We crave the indwelling of the Trinity within us: to feed us, to lead us, to raise us up. 

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to be my Savior; to be the King of my heart and the Lord of my life. Lord, I want Your kingdom built up in me. Take my heart to be Yours and reign in me.

O God, hear our prayer! Hear the cries of our hearts! Come, Lord Jesus, and take up residence in our hearts. We/I want to be Your people, Your children, Your servants, Your friends. I want to hear You say that I am Your friend. I long to hear Your voice say that I have been a good and faithful servant. 

O Father, set up Your kingdom in me: reign forever in me. Be my God and I will be Your holy nation. Move through me, through us. We are a kingdom of workers. Our legs go where you direct our feet to walk. Our mouths open to speak the words of Your heart. Our arms are raise in worship, our hands are stretched out before us in surrender to You.

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

 

Kingdom Medley playlist

Thanks Be To God - - For The Resurrection

 

JESUS. Though He suffered and died, He still has the victory. He has the victory over death and the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

 He did that for us, ALL OF US. Not just for Israel's descendants, but for ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: CHRIST died and CHRIST Lives! He walked out of the grave. Such a resurrection! He was given the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). 

At the instance of His death, saints who had been long dead came out of their graves and were seen by the yet living (Matthew 27:50-53). 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 386

Resurrection: stand up again, a raising up, rising

From the Greek word 'anastasis' (pronounced an-as'-tas-is). referring to the physical resurrection of the body. 

DEATH & THE GRAVE END

David in his day had faith to know that God would not leave his soul in the grave.

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

Hosea, chapter 13, speaks of the coming judgment on a rebellious people, but God promises a ransom that will be paid and a redemption that will cause those whom He has redeemed to belong to Himself. Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

Isaiah 25:8 speaks millenia ahead of what is promised in Revelation 21:3,4.

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Revelation 21:3,4

3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

CHRIST IS CHANGED

Without the cross there'd be no resurrection. Christ had to suffer: Someone had to atone for sin and God chose Him. 

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 

Jesus was just as unrecognizable after death as He was in death. But in a different way. At His mock trial He was given the death penalty; He was beaten, His beard was plucked out of His face, a thorny crown was forcefully put on His head, He was whipped across His back in public humiliation, and even with such loss of blood He was expected to carry the heavy cross beam across His shoulders. (Isaiah 50 & 53; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22 & 23; John 19).

But AFTER the Resurrection He was given a glorified body. 

John 20:10-18, specifically verses 14 and 17.

14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

17. “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ 

1 Corinthians 15:19-22

19. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Acts 2:24

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

WE WILL BE CHANGED

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52. in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

What preparations must be undertaken before we even reach that stage?

I.

In Matthew 4:17  Jesus called people to repentance. That hasn't changed. 

Romans 1:16,17

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

II.

Romans 10:8-10

8. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9. that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

III.

Romans 3:22-23

22. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Dear God, My Heavenly Father,

I recognize that I have sinned against You, against Your Word. As I repent, as I turn from my wicked ways which grieve You, forgive me of all my unrighteous actions and the hurtful words I may have spoken without thinking. 

Take not Your Holy Spirit from me, but pour even more so into me that I may walk this path which You have laid out before me with dignity and integrity. May Your Light and Your Love shine through me, drawing people to You. Whether or not I see the results in my lifetime, I lift up those You have placed in my life to be strengthened in You and filled with Your Holy Spirit, that they, too, would walk in Your power to reach the goals You have set before them. 

Whatever it takes, Lord, save and fill our loved ones. Save and fill the unlovable. I was unlovable once and You loved me out of the darkness of this world into Your glorious Light. You call us to change, Lord, not just after death but here and now. 

Change me, O Lord, mold me and transform me in every way which glorifies Your name: make me holy, that I may be in Your presence forevermore. For You are a Holy God and Your Very Presence and Your Name demands a holy people. Make us Your holy people, Lord.

As we submit to Your will, O Lord, help us to stand against the enemy of our souls; help us to humble ourselves to be Your people; help us to preach/share/proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to whomever You lead us to.

In Jesus' Lovely Name, I pray,

Amen

Thanks Be To God - - For His Revealed Love

 

1 JOHN 4:9

This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5319

Revealed: make visible, make clear, make known, manifest, illumine, make apparent

From the Greek word 'phaneroó' (pronounced fan-er-o'-o)

REVEALED LOVE OF GOD

1 John 4:7-10

7. Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

8. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

9. This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

10. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:16

And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Isn't it amazing how much God loves each one of us?! It's a beautiful love, too. He wrapped His Word in mere flesh, called Him His Son, and sent Him to die an ugly death on the cross, to liberate people from the bondage of slavery to sin: to set free those who would choose to believe on the only Name that could save us from the consequences of our sinful natures.

THE NAME OF GOD'S REVEALED LOVE

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Jeremiah 23:6

In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

John 1:29

The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

THE METHOD OF GOD'S REVEALED LOVE

A mock trial ensued after the Lord was blindfolded, beaten and mocked. Having been found guilty by those who hated Him, Jesus was then flogged 39 times across His back. 

Isaiah 53

Matthew 27:24-31

Mark 15:16-20

Luke 22:63-65

John 19:1-3

Though Pilate tried to have Jesus released, he saw that the crowds were riled up demanding that Jesus be crucified because He had said He was God. And for them, that was just too much to take.

God's method of His revealed love was for The WORD to die on the cross. Such a death as this, because He was the sinless LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29), would take away the sins of the world. Not just my sins. Not just your sins. Not just the sins of people we know in our own lives, but of The WHOLE world: from times long past, from this present time, from the times to come: JESUS died on the cross. 

It was God's Perfect Plan which had been set in motion back in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned against Him. What JESUS did on the cross was foretold to happen.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman, and between your seed (sons of the devil [John 8:44]; generation of vipers [Matthew 3:7]) and her seed (sons of the heavenly Father [ Matthew 5:45]; generation of  the Lord [Psalm 22:30, 24:6]) . He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

Dear God,

Thank you So MUCH for sending Your Son to die in my place. I could never have gotten this far in my life without You IN my heart and my life. I am Yours. May I continue to the best of my ability the work You have set before me. All the days of my life and then some I am Yours to command. 
Strengthen these feeble knees, make sure my steps, that I may walk with You without delay, for time is surely our enemy. But an eternity with You is very much better than even one moment without You.

I give You my heart: it's Yours. Make Yourself at home here, LORD. I give You my body to do with as You will. Be glorified through me. I give You my life: You gave Your Son's life so I could live beyond death, beyond the boundaries of time: in eternity with You. Thank You for this wonderful blessing of Eternal Life in You. 

O God, SAVE our Families! Deliver our children from the hands of the enemy into which they have placed themselves. Some in ignorance, some willfully, boastfully. BUT YOU O GOD can break their hearts, that their willfulness would pour out and Your brokenness be writ in. We who pray for the lost and the dying know that there is still time left for them to surrender their hearts and their lives to YOU. 

O God, You are My GOD. You are my Everything. In You I am blessed. In You I am saved. In You I am loved. In You I shine. Shine in me, LORD and through me to a dark and dying world.

In Jesus' Priceless Name, I pray,

Amen

GOD WITH US by Mercy Me

REDEEMED by Big Daddy Weave

GOD REALLY LOVES US by Crowder, Maverick City Music

Thanks Be To God - - For His Everlasting Love

 

JEREMIAH 31:3

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an Everlasting Love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5769

Everlasting: of long duration, antiquity, futurity, forever, perpetual, permanent, ancient

From the Hebrew word 'olam' (pronounced o-lawm')

Occurs 438 times in the Old Testament

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4900

Drawn: extended, lifted up, stretched out 

From the very beginning God has loved us. Before we were ever born, He knew us. 

Job 10:11

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

Psalm 119:17

Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

Psalm 139:13

For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

God loves us even now in this present day and age. 

GOD IS THE BEGINNING, THE NOW AND THE ENDING

Genesis 1:1 

"In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

John 1:1

"In the Beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God."

Revelation 1:8

"I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

GOD IS EVERLASTING 

Genesis 21:33

Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, The Everlasting God.

Exodus 3:14, 15

14. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

15. God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

Lamentations 5:19

You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.

Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

THE LOVE OF GOD

Leads Us & Feeds Us

Hosea 11:4

I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

Covers Our Sins

1 John 2:2

He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool."

Isaiah 43:25

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

John 1:29

The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

Is For Everyone

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:12, 13

12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.

13. for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

We are wooed by God. He calls us to come near to Him. He calls us to submit our wills and desires to His will and desire. God calls us to follow His Light and leave the darkness of this world behind. He calls us to repentance and reformation: to turn away from sin and learn to be holy. 

God leaves the mature sheep in the pasture and goes looking for the lost sheep to bring it into the pasture, where it will feed well and grow up in His pasture. 

God calls the wayward child to come home. He throws great parties when a person returns to His arms and is restored. 

God extends His arms to us, ever reaching for 'just one more'. Just one more soul. Just one more lost sheep. Just one more child to pick up and hold near His heart. 

God draws us to Himself gently, whispering our name, waiting patiently for us to turn to Him and choose to be with Him above all else. Waiting for us as a father waits for his wayward child to return home.

 No matter how far away from God we are, when we come home to Him, He is more than happy to see us. We see this in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11=32

Luke 15:20

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

It's time for you to come home. It's time for you to listen to God's whisper and run to God's embrace. 

Dear God,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for saving me and waiting patiently while I figured things out. Thank You for Your warm, loving embrace, when I chose to listen to Your whispering voice in my heart. 

Thank You for saving our children and their children, and, if the return of Your Son is not soon imminent, their children, as well. You have said in Your Word that Your mercy extends to a thousand generations. That's a lot of people. 
Please guide our families into Your grace, that none be left behind. Help us to forgive those who have done us wrong, that we may grow in Your heart, the way You accomplish Your works in us. For Your Word has said that 'as much as we have forgiven others You will forgive us'. 

Bless our witness as we testify of Your saving grace. Bless our testimony as we tell of what You have done for us. May Your kingdom increase as we continue to serve in Your fields.

May Your Name truly be glorified in all that we do, Lord. 

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

Whisper by Jason Upton

Softly and Tenderly - Classic Hymn

Love Lifted Me - Classic Hymn

 

Thanks Be To God - - For His Continued Presence

 

HEBREWS 13:5

Let your manner of life be without covetousness, being satisfied with the present; for He Himself has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

LIFE LIVED IN PEACE

Conversation means lifestyle, manner of life. We are to live peaceable lives which glorify God. Lives lived in such a way do not covet, desire, what is not theirs to have. It's okay if we don't keep up with the Joneses of this world. We have God for our God and He is Enough.

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

LIFE LIVED SATISFIED

We are to live a satisfied life, a life that says, I am content with the God who provides for me. As long as I follow His Word, His lead, He will be my God and I will be of His people. 

Philippians 4:11-13

11. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

12. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.

13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

LIFE LIVED FEARLESSLY

We are to live our lives in Him, with Him and for Him: for He is with us always, as long as we are with Him. 

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

LIFE LIVED IN HIS PRESENCE

We are to give this life we have been given back to the One who gave us life. Romans 12:1 tells us to 'surrender our bodies a living sacrifice'. God wants us to live in Him and He wants to live in us. 

If we want to live fearlessly in this world, we need to live life according to God's Word and maintain a loving, working relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is the foundation on which we build satisfied, fearless lives. 

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My Righteousness.

LIFE LIVED IN CHRIST

If we want God to remain with us, we need to remain with Him. Once saved, always saved is not a viable option. His Word warns us against leaving Him, for without His continued presence amongst His people, His wrath will fall on us. We will be judged and found lacking. But when we obey His Word and follow His Spirit, we will lack nothing, for He is with us. 

John 15:4

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 

Romans 12:4, 5

4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,

5. so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3306

Remain: stay, abide, wait for; I stay, I wait for, I abide; not depart, not leave, continue to be present

Dear God, 

As Sarah said, You Are The God Who Sees. See me, see my heart and prepare me to face those who will come against me as I follow You in Your Word. Strengthen my heart to be better equipped to serve You. 
Lord, I long to see Your face and hear Your voice: help me to do so. With joy I search Your Word and ask You to reveal Yourself more everyday. Be strength for those who have walked this journey before me, whom I have loved and admired. Be their memories and their wisdom; remove not their testimony, nor their witness. 

As our elders leave us, meet us where we are and bring us to where You are. Though our hands are weak and our knees are feeble, You are our Strength: You impart Yourself to us and we are made the stronger for it. You give us vision for the days ahead, wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. 

Help us to glorify Your name wherever we are or may go. As we strive to remain in You, may we be more aware than ever that You are with us. Even now.

In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,

Amen

Nothing Without You by Will Reagan

Whom Shall I Fear? by Chris Tomlin

Thanks Be To God - - For His Testimony

 

Psalm 19:7

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the Testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5715

Testimony: ordinances, warnings, witness

From the Hebrew word 'eduth' (pronounced ay-dooth')

Used 59 times in the Old Testament. 

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3141

Testimony: witness, reputation, evidence

From the Greek word 'marturia', (pronounced mar-too-ree'-ah)

Used 37 times in the New Testament.

Deuteronomy 4:1-6 reminds the people of God that obeying the laws which God had set up would lead them to (v1.) Live; gain entrance into the land He promised them and take possession of it. (v2) All laws must be followed, not just some of them. (v3) Reminded to remember the judgment God had against the people who did not obey His Law. (v4) They who had clung tightly to the LORD were they whom God let live. (v5) God's people had been taught the statutes and ordinances that they would follow them when they entered and possessed the land. (v6) [our primary verse here] Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding."

1 John 5:9-11

9. Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.

10. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

11. And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:14-18

14. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15. that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

The Testimony of The LORD God is The Law Written On Stone Tablets, AND The Testimony of The LORD God is His only begotten Son Jesus Christ: The Living Word which is written on the hearts of we who believe that Jesus Christ Is LORD. 

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endures for ever.

Wisdom is to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, to believe in one's heart that God sent Him to die a horrible death on the cross, thereby taking the punishment for our sins upon Himself. Wisdom is to fear the LORD, to be in awe of His majesty and His glory. And to be amazed and awestruck by His lovingkindness towards us who know we deserve no such grace, but are nonetheless very thankful that God's grace has been extended to us through His Son Jesus. 

Understanding is to repent and turn away from the evil we have done by not following God's commandments, by not believe that His Word is Faithful And True.

Understanding is to turn our backs on the sin-filled lifestyles we once lived before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives; it is to follow the path of holiness which the Lord has laid out for us to walk in. We must simply read the Scriptures and pray about we are reading, that God would reveal to us Himself and what He wants us to know. The Book of John is a good place to start, if you are not sure where to start.

Whoever has Jesus has Life Eternal and will enter into the promised land which God has prepared for them. Whoever does not have Jesus has eternal death and will be disinherited.  

Dear God,

I am so very thankful that I answered Your call on my life. I am thankful that You tugged at my heart-strings and gently led me from a dark place into Your glorious Light. Father, forgive me of any and all unrighteous acts or words I may have misspoken this night and day. 

Lead me through Your Word to become the servant You want me to be that I may glorify Your Name in all that I say and do. May words of peace, words of hope, words of compassion and mercy, words of love flow through me into the ears and hearts of they who need to hear You. 

In Jesus' Name, I pray,
Amen