Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace"
The gift of Christmas through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, was peace with the Father. We read in Isaiah 54:10 & 13 (Amplified), "For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you." Verse 13 says, "And all your (spiritual) children shall be disciples (taught by the Lord and obedient to His will) and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children."
As Christians, we are heirs of Christ and are the spiritual children spoken of in the last verse. We have been born again by the Spirit. The Father made a declaration concerning the cross is Isaiah 54:9 (Amplified) saying, "For this is like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not e angry with you or rebuke."
I asked the Lord what this verse meant and He told me that the cross would be to you and me like the rainbow was to Noah. Every time it rained, Noah could look at the rainbow and know there would never be another flood. Every time we look at the cross, we should know that God will never be angry or rebuke us like He did in the old covenant. Only then would we be able to walk in and enter into this peace and rest.
As Christians, we have failed to understand all that the cross brought to pass in our new lives. We are to labor to enter into this peace according to Hebrews 4. Jesus said in John 14:27 (Amplified), "Peace I leave with you; My peace (My Own peace) I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Read what Jesus said in John 14:27 in conjunction with what the Father said in Isaiah 54:14, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order); You shall be far from even the thought oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you, Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you."
The Hebrew word for "peace" as in Prince of Peace from Isaiah 9;6 and Isaiah 54:10-13 is listed in the Concordance as "shalom." The Hebrew word "shalom" means, "safe, happy, friendly, also welfare i.e. health, prosperity, peace, familiar, favor, friend, great, good health, perfect (such as to be at peace, all is well, be well, wholly, to be safe (in mind, body and estate), to be completed, (made) to be friendly, (to reciprocate) make amends, make and end to, finish, make good, beat peace, make restitution, restore, reward, surely."
When Jesus was born, the Lord sent angels to announce to the world that "God has made a peace covenant with men who would respond to His Prince of Peace." From the very moment you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Father declared that He was at perfect peace with you. All of the things we've blamed on God through the years, weren't from Him at all. Isaiah 54:9 (Amplified) says, "For this (the cross) is like the days of Noah to Me; As I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, So have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you."
I don't believe that Noah ever feared another flood. Every time it rained, he saw the rainbow and rested in God's promise. On the other hand, we Christians, should see Christ's cross and be able to "rest" in "Shalom," knowing that God's promise to us is that "I will not be angry with you or rebuke you." This is our Prince of Peace and is the fruit of our Savior. When Jesus paid our ransom, all debt was cancelled and "Shalom" was restored to God's people.
This "rest" was spoken about in Hebrews 4:3 (Amplified) which says, "For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those (who did not believe) should not enter My rest; and this He said although (His) works had been completed and prepared (and waiting for all who would believe) from the foundation of the world."
We know that Jesus is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." This peace (Shalom) was ours from the Father from the beginning and is now ours again through the cross. The next time you look upon the cross, let it be like the rainbow was to Noah and then rest in your faith of grace and Shalom.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Lesson 4 Unwrapping The Gift
As Christmas day approaches, we are faced with the truth of what Christmas is really about. The world views Christmas as a day-off from work with pay. The retail world sees their record books finally be in the black instead of red. Many people look at Christmas as an excuse to party and make merry. To the Church, those who know, Christmas is the time when the true life of God was once again imparted to mankind.
Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord." John 1:4 (Amplified) says, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the light of men." The forgiveness of sin also paid the wages of sin, which is death. Only He could pay the price for sin and death to restore Life to those who will believe.
As we unwrap the Christ Child in the manger this season, let's look upon the free gift that He is to all who will believe in Him. The tiny baby in the manger is God's Christmas gift of Life to a world that was dead in trespass and sin. Many of us believe that we never really did anything bad and don't need a Savior. But, Romans 3:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
This is why the Holy Spirit had Isaiah write Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) exactly like this, saying, "For unto us a Child is born to us a Son is given." He had always been the Son of God, but now Jesus is born to us as a gift of the Life of God. God's child, His only begotten Son has become His gift of life to men all over the earth. Jesus is the free gift of Life and the payment for sin in the world.
All of the Christmas decorations like trees, lights and bells are meant for celebrating life once again to mankind. We can now understand what Jesus told the people in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, til it overflows)."
All of the free gifts found in Christ Jesus won't do any good for someone who is dead. We must first understand and receive Life, before anything else will benefit us. And, because we never truly understand what "death" meant, we underestimated the full glory of the free gift of Life. Even though we had life in the natural body, we were shut off from the Life of God in our spirits. It didn't matter how many good deeds we performed or how we lived our lives free of sin, the death of sin (the spirit force that entered into man from Adam) was still at work in our spirit. We could never pay off the debt that the first Adam had incurred. As a matter of fact, the "late payment" penalty was building as the earth's population increased.
The Child who was born, was "born to us." God's Son was given to us. He was God's gift to us. Before there was a night of lights, gifts and merriment, there was a Silent Night. Only God could rejoice in the first Christmas. God announced His peace covenant with man to the world through angels. They announced "Peace on earth, God's will to man is GOOD." From the birth of Jesus to His resurrection to the present, God has declared a peace covenant with the world in Jesus Who is the Prince of Peace. Although the world might seem to still be at war with God, He is at peace with them, through Jesus.
A simple teenage girl and her husband shared the animal's manger in a stable with their newly welcome baby boy. There were no doctors or family members to share this miracle. There were only sheep, cows, and simply shepherds. But, the Father was full of joy about His Christmas gift and couldn't help announcing the birth of His Son Jesus to the world. Angels, surrounded by God's glory, announced that Life had come, peace was here and sin was about to come to an end. Where else would a Lamb be born, except for in a stable?
God's gift of a new birth from death to life was wrapped in swaddling clothes that first Christmas, along with freedom from the bondage of sin and the free gift of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "What good is all the gifts we could, to a dead man? Without receiving, first of all, the gift of Life by the payment for sin, what good are all the other things?"
Jesus came because John 3:16 (Amplified) says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His Only Begotten (Unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him, shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord." John 1:4 (Amplified) says, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the light of men." The forgiveness of sin also paid the wages of sin, which is death. Only He could pay the price for sin and death to restore Life to those who will believe.
As we unwrap the Christ Child in the manger this season, let's look upon the free gift that He is to all who will believe in Him. The tiny baby in the manger is God's Christmas gift of Life to a world that was dead in trespass and sin. Many of us believe that we never really did anything bad and don't need a Savior. But, Romans 3:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives (All) are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
This is why the Holy Spirit had Isaiah write Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) exactly like this, saying, "For unto us a Child is born to us a Son is given." He had always been the Son of God, but now Jesus is born to us as a gift of the Life of God. God's child, His only begotten Son has become His gift of life to men all over the earth. Jesus is the free gift of Life and the payment for sin in the world.
All of the Christmas decorations like trees, lights and bells are meant for celebrating life once again to mankind. We can now understand what Jesus told the people in John 10:10 (Amplified) saying, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, til it overflows)."
All of the free gifts found in Christ Jesus won't do any good for someone who is dead. We must first understand and receive Life, before anything else will benefit us. And, because we never truly understand what "death" meant, we underestimated the full glory of the free gift of Life. Even though we had life in the natural body, we were shut off from the Life of God in our spirits. It didn't matter how many good deeds we performed or how we lived our lives free of sin, the death of sin (the spirit force that entered into man from Adam) was still at work in our spirit. We could never pay off the debt that the first Adam had incurred. As a matter of fact, the "late payment" penalty was building as the earth's population increased.
The Child who was born, was "born to us." God's Son was given to us. He was God's gift to us. Before there was a night of lights, gifts and merriment, there was a Silent Night. Only God could rejoice in the first Christmas. God announced His peace covenant with man to the world through angels. They announced "Peace on earth, God's will to man is GOOD." From the birth of Jesus to His resurrection to the present, God has declared a peace covenant with the world in Jesus Who is the Prince of Peace. Although the world might seem to still be at war with God, He is at peace with them, through Jesus.
A simple teenage girl and her husband shared the animal's manger in a stable with their newly welcome baby boy. There were no doctors or family members to share this miracle. There were only sheep, cows, and simply shepherds. But, the Father was full of joy about His Christmas gift and couldn't help announcing the birth of His Son Jesus to the world. Angels, surrounded by God's glory, announced that Life had come, peace was here and sin was about to come to an end. Where else would a Lamb be born, except for in a stable?
God's gift of a new birth from death to life was wrapped in swaddling clothes that first Christmas, along with freedom from the bondage of sin and the free gift of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "What good is all the gifts we could, to a dead man? Without receiving, first of all, the gift of Life by the payment for sin, what good are all the other things?"
Jesus came because John 3:16 (Amplified) says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He (even) gave up His Only Begotten (Unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him, shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
Monday, December 15, 2014
Lesson 3 Unwrapping The Gift
Many people argue about the actual day Jesus was born. Some believe He was born in the springtime, while some say He was born in the wintertime. Most, though, agree He wasn't born on December 25th. Personally, I don't think it matters when Jesus was born, but rather that He was born. Whatever day that was, it's the right day.
2Timothy 2:23 (Amplified) says, "But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels)."
Satan has devised many ways of dividing and destroying the Church using religious doctrines. We argue over which one is right and which is the best, when we should simply, "give no place to the devil" and "redeem the time wisely" and walk in the victory of Christ.
Whatever day or night Jesus was born, the important thing is that He was born. We, the Church, have allowed satan to obfuscate many of the most important days in Christianity and rule them. We gave over Christ's resurrection day (whatever day that was) to the devil and glorify rabbits, chicks, eggs and Easter bonnets. We gave Christmas over to a fat man and his flying reindeer, snowmen and elves. We've allowed All Saints Day to be ruled by witches, goblins, devils and darkness.
I don't care what any is because every day is the "day that the Lord has made" and we should "rejoice and be glad in it." Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." Why must we surrender any day to the enemy? We might not know the exact day Jesus was born, but His Father knows. He remembered and gave a birthday gift to His Son in Luke 3:21-23 (Amplified) which says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My Beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." Verse 23 goes on, "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age."
Wouldn't it be great if everyone simply believed God's Word instead of making our own doctrines about it? We don't unwrap the Christmas Gift and find a note saying, "Batteries not included." Everything ever needed was included in the God's gift.
Some in the Church believe that the gift of righteousness was not included, but it was. Some don't believe that the gift of grace was included, but it was. We don't need any batteries or extra parts for the Perfect Present of God's Son. It was made to meet every need from the foundation of the world.
Many of us stopped unwrapping before seeing the complete gift. I promised my son a pony for Christmas one year, but couldn't put one under the Christmas tree in our living room. So, I put the pony's halter, lead rope and saddle under the tree. The excitement was great when those gifts were unwrapped, but was not complete. As he unwrapped the last gift, he found a note explaining how he didn't open all the gifts and the rest of the gift (the pony) was outside in the barn.
Many of us have never taken time to unwrap the complete gift. We've put them off to some other time, person or place. We say that the gift of righteousness is for when we die and go to heaven with the Father. But, the Word says that we now, through Jesus, have this gift of righteousness in Romans 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting themselves into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
When God gives a gift, He makes sure it's complete. He gave us the gift of His Son in Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) which says, "For to us, a Child is born, to us a Son is given." Everything man could ever need was given in this first Christmas Gift. We need to unwrap Christmas completely and dig below the wrapper to find all the gifts that are hidden for us from our Father.
2Timothy 2:23 (Amplified) says, "But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels)."
Satan has devised many ways of dividing and destroying the Church using religious doctrines. We argue over which one is right and which is the best, when we should simply, "give no place to the devil" and "redeem the time wisely" and walk in the victory of Christ.
Whatever day or night Jesus was born, the important thing is that He was born. We, the Church, have allowed satan to obfuscate many of the most important days in Christianity and rule them. We gave over Christ's resurrection day (whatever day that was) to the devil and glorify rabbits, chicks, eggs and Easter bonnets. We gave Christmas over to a fat man and his flying reindeer, snowmen and elves. We've allowed All Saints Day to be ruled by witches, goblins, devils and darkness.
I don't care what any is because every day is the "day that the Lord has made" and we should "rejoice and be glad in it." Jesus said that we "Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." Why must we surrender any day to the enemy? We might not know the exact day Jesus was born, but His Father knows. He remembered and gave a birthday gift to His Son in Luke 3:21-23 (Amplified) which says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My Beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." Verse 23 goes on, "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age."
Wouldn't it be great if everyone simply believed God's Word instead of making our own doctrines about it? We don't unwrap the Christmas Gift and find a note saying, "Batteries not included." Everything ever needed was included in the God's gift.
Some in the Church believe that the gift of righteousness was not included, but it was. Some don't believe that the gift of grace was included, but it was. We don't need any batteries or extra parts for the Perfect Present of God's Son. It was made to meet every need from the foundation of the world.
Many of us stopped unwrapping before seeing the complete gift. I promised my son a pony for Christmas one year, but couldn't put one under the Christmas tree in our living room. So, I put the pony's halter, lead rope and saddle under the tree. The excitement was great when those gifts were unwrapped, but was not complete. As he unwrapped the last gift, he found a note explaining how he didn't open all the gifts and the rest of the gift (the pony) was outside in the barn.
Many of us have never taken time to unwrap the complete gift. We've put them off to some other time, person or place. We say that the gift of righteousness is for when we die and go to heaven with the Father. But, the Word says that we now, through Jesus, have this gift of righteousness in Romans 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting themselves into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
When God gives a gift, He makes sure it's complete. He gave us the gift of His Son in Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) which says, "For to us, a Child is born, to us a Son is given." Everything man could ever need was given in this first Christmas Gift. We need to unwrap Christmas completely and dig below the wrapper to find all the gifts that are hidden for us from our Father.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Lesson 2 Unwrapping The Gift
I often gave my growing children one large Christmas package that was stuffed with lots of little packages. Likewise, when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we need to begin unwrapping the package God sent us on that very first Christmas and discover all the gifts God placed in Him for us.
Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The tiny gift of the Christ Child incorporated many varied gifts, one of which is the gift of righteousness. This gift is so very important for Christians to unwrap because without this gift, we find ourselves in a place outside where the Father intended us to be.
We seldom think about all the gifts God placed in this one small package of flesh in the manger. But, in Jesus we find all the gifts of God to mankind that are yet to be unwrapped or revealed to us and by us. Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord."
Many of us unwrapped the gift and received our salvation, but then stopped there. The gift of eternal life is not for when we arrive in heaven, but is to be experienced here and now. When you received that gift, eternal life began living in you instantly. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) tells us that, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came by (not from your own striving) but it is the gift of God."
I often thought that scripture was referring to my salvation as being "the free gift of God." The more I studied this scripture, the more I learned how the grace, the faith and the salvation were all the gifts of God. When unwrapping the present, I found many, many more gifts inside.
John 1:16 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift."
Acts 2:38-39 (Amplified) says, "And Peter answered them, 'Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Verse 39 goes on, "For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself."
The gift of grace is the helper to unwrapping all the other gifts in Christ. Until we unwrap grace, the other gifts seem to be too much to accept. The gift of righteousness cannot be believed and received without first accepting the gift of grace. We can only believe we are now in right standing with God only by faith in His grace.
The gift of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2, is to reveal the gifts of God to His children, through our union with Jesus. Without receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will not understand how to operate in the other gifts. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the gift of grace to us. 1Corinthians 2:12 (Amplified) says, "Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to) the world, but the (Holy) Spirit Who is from God (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God."
When we don't receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as He is intended to be received, we still walk in the spirit of the world or the mere natural man. The Holy Spirit has come to reveal all these gifts to God's Church. All of these gifts are in Christ Jesus, but we must unwrap the present of God in order to receive them.
Jesus, still in the manger, is just the promise. When you receive Him, then you receive the gift of the promise. In Him are all things affiliated with life and Godliness both now in this life on earth and in the hereafter.
Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as Kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
The tiny gift of the Christ Child incorporated many varied gifts, one of which is the gift of righteousness. This gift is so very important for Christians to unwrap because without this gift, we find ourselves in a place outside where the Father intended us to be.
We seldom think about all the gifts God placed in this one small package of flesh in the manger. But, in Jesus we find all the gifts of God to mankind that are yet to be unwrapped or revealed to us and by us. Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord."
Many of us unwrapped the gift and received our salvation, but then stopped there. The gift of eternal life is not for when we arrive in heaven, but is to be experienced here and now. When you received that gift, eternal life began living in you instantly. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) tells us that, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came by (not from your own striving) but it is the gift of God."
I often thought that scripture was referring to my salvation as being "the free gift of God." The more I studied this scripture, the more I learned how the grace, the faith and the salvation were all the gifts of God. When unwrapping the present, I found many, many more gifts inside.
John 1:16 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift."
Acts 2:38-39 (Amplified) says, "And Peter answered them, 'Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Verse 39 goes on, "For the promise (of the Holy Spirit) is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away (even) to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself."
The gift of grace is the helper to unwrapping all the other gifts in Christ. Until we unwrap grace, the other gifts seem to be too much to accept. The gift of righteousness cannot be believed and received without first accepting the gift of grace. We can only believe we are now in right standing with God only by faith in His grace.
The gift of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2, is to reveal the gifts of God to His children, through our union with Jesus. Without receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will not understand how to operate in the other gifts. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the gift of grace to us. 1Corinthians 2:12 (Amplified) says, "Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to) the world, but the (Holy) Spirit Who is from God (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God."
When we don't receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as He is intended to be received, we still walk in the spirit of the world or the mere natural man. The Holy Spirit has come to reveal all these gifts to God's Church. All of these gifts are in Christ Jesus, but we must unwrap the present of God in order to receive them.
Jesus, still in the manger, is just the promise. When you receive Him, then you receive the gift of the promise. In Him are all things affiliated with life and Godliness both now in this life on earth and in the hereafter.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Lesson 1 Unwrapping The Gift
Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given."
The wonderful gift has been given to us on the very first Christmas. It wasn't wrapped in pretty paper and silk ribbons, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It's amazing how so much can be placed in such a tiny package.
In the tiny package of Love the Father gave to us on that first Christmas, there are so many gifts for all who will receive them. Some hate to spoil the beauty of the gift by removing the wrappings and trimmings. Many still think of this gift as a small newborn lying in a manger, like when God gave the gift. And many others still don't receive the gift in all that it is.
This Christmas gift was all inclusive in its purpose and the unwrapping is a continuous thing. I've been unwrapping all of the gifts and blessing that came in this small package for forty years. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) was revealed to me during the unwrapping saying, "He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace." All these things were encapsulated in the tiny Baby in the manger.
As I continued unwrapping, I found in John 1:16-17 (Amplified) how from this tiny Baby, "Out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 goes on, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ."
The first Christmas gift to us is a gift that can never be exhausted in its giving. However long you have this gift, it's always new and is revealing new things in its giving. Many of us have simply removed the swaddling rags and haven't delved deeper into the package. We can't simply untie the ribbons and remove the wrappings, we must open the box to see all it contains.
Some wrap smaller gifts individually in tissue paper and then place them in the same package. My wife likes to do this in order to create many surprises for the person unwrapping that gift. She places tissue paper around several individual gifts so that they have to be unwrapped separately. It was fun watching my young children's surprised elation when opening the package that held many smaller gifts.
If they had just opened the package without searching through the tissue paper, then they would have only found the presents that were readily available. But, if they began seeking farther into the package, then they would find new and exciting things. The deeper they dug into the package, the more they found. Proverbs 2:3-5 (Amplified) tells us, "Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understand, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and Godly wisdom as for hidden treasure, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God."
The deeper you dig into the package, the more gifts you find. They were always there, you just had to seek beyond the wrapping. The small Christmas package placed in a manger contains the good things of our loving Father to bring delight, blessings and joy to His children for eternity.
We've had mixed and sometimes heated discussions about this small package in the manger. Some have only admired the wrappings and trimmings without ever opening the package. Some unwrapped the package, but never looked inside to see what it contained. Others have unwrapped and looked inside the package, but never sought as far as the treasure told. No matter how long or how deep you dig into this package, you will always find new and untold riches.
Some people believe this package came to bring entry into God's house at the time of their leaving earth. Some of us have looked deeper inside the package and have found the gift of grace that brings forth salvation. Some place the package on display once a year and then put it into storage for the rest of the remainder of the year. Some are satisfied with letting others open the gift and relate what's inside instead of seeing for themselves.
The wonderful gift has been given to us on the very first Christmas. It wasn't wrapped in pretty paper and silk ribbons, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It's amazing how so much can be placed in such a tiny package.
In the tiny package of Love the Father gave to us on that first Christmas, there are so many gifts for all who will receive them. Some hate to spoil the beauty of the gift by removing the wrappings and trimmings. Many still think of this gift as a small newborn lying in a manger, like when God gave the gift. And many others still don't receive the gift in all that it is.
This Christmas gift was all inclusive in its purpose and the unwrapping is a continuous thing. I've been unwrapping all of the gifts and blessing that came in this small package for forty years. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) was revealed to me during the unwrapping saying, "He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace." All these things were encapsulated in the tiny Baby in the manger.
As I continued unwrapping, I found in John 1:16-17 (Amplified) how from this tiny Baby, "Out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 goes on, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ."
The first Christmas gift to us is a gift that can never be exhausted in its giving. However long you have this gift, it's always new and is revealing new things in its giving. Many of us have simply removed the swaddling rags and haven't delved deeper into the package. We can't simply untie the ribbons and remove the wrappings, we must open the box to see all it contains.
Some wrap smaller gifts individually in tissue paper and then place them in the same package. My wife likes to do this in order to create many surprises for the person unwrapping that gift. She places tissue paper around several individual gifts so that they have to be unwrapped separately. It was fun watching my young children's surprised elation when opening the package that held many smaller gifts.
If they had just opened the package without searching through the tissue paper, then they would have only found the presents that were readily available. But, if they began seeking farther into the package, then they would find new and exciting things. The deeper they dug into the package, the more they found. Proverbs 2:3-5 (Amplified) tells us, "Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understand, If you seek (wisdom) as for silver and search for skillful and Godly wisdom as for hidden treasure, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of (our Omniscient) God."
The deeper you dig into the package, the more gifts you find. They were always there, you just had to seek beyond the wrapping. The small Christmas package placed in a manger contains the good things of our loving Father to bring delight, blessings and joy to His children for eternity.
We've had mixed and sometimes heated discussions about this small package in the manger. Some have only admired the wrappings and trimmings without ever opening the package. Some unwrapped the package, but never looked inside to see what it contained. Others have unwrapped and looked inside the package, but never sought as far as the treasure told. No matter how long or how deep you dig into this package, you will always find new and untold riches.
Some people believe this package came to bring entry into God's house at the time of their leaving earth. Some of us have looked deeper inside the package and have found the gift of grace that brings forth salvation. Some place the package on display once a year and then put it into storage for the rest of the remainder of the year. Some are satisfied with letting others open the gift and relate what's inside instead of seeing for themselves.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Lesson 5 The Reason for Creation
We have determined from the Word that the reason for creation was the earth and the reason for the earth was man. We now come to the crutch of the matter; what was the reason for man?
The reason for man was the heart of the Father God. Genesis 1:1 tells us that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The word "God" in Hebrew is "Elohim." This word is plural and reveals the Trinity at work in the creation. We find in John 1:1-3 that Jesus Christ played a major role in all creation. Both Psalm 104:30 and Genesis 1:2 tell us that the Holy Spirit was also at work in all that was created. The Trinity or the three persons of God or the totality of God is revealed throughout the Old and New Testament.
In Matthew 3:13-17 at Jesus' baptism and in Matthew 28:19, we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father God created the heavens and the earth in the very beginning and had the Father nature in the very beginning.
It's easy to see the love of a father even in today's world. A father's heart is for his children. Ephesians 3:14-15 shows how a human father is an archetype of our Heavenly Father. Earthly fathers love because our Heavenly Father God is eternally and infinitely a Father and we're made in His Image. It simply stands to reason that as a Father, God would long for a family to share in His love.
Ephesians 1"4-5 (Amplified) says, "Even as (in His love) He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His Own) in Christ before the foundations of the world (that we should be holy consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love." Verse 5 says, "For He ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His Own children through Christ Jesus, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent)."
Romans 16:25 (Amplified) reveals the same truth to us that had been hidden until now saying, "Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages." 1Corinthians 2:7 (Amplified) says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God (that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence)."
Jesus came to do exactly that very thing in His ministry, He often said, "He came to reveal this God to men as the Father." Can you imagine the comments and the hassle that erupted when Jesus taught them to pray saying, "Our Father, Who is in heaven" in Matthew 6:9? These people held the Name God as being so holy that they wouldn't write or speak it. Even today, many Jews write God as G-d because of reverence. And Jesus said they should call God Father.
Jesus said in John 14:6 (Amplified), "I am the way, and the truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except (through) Me." He said in John 17:26 (Amplified), I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very self, and I will continue to make (you) known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them (felt in their hearts) and that I (Myself) may be in them."
Jesus repeated that very statement in John 10:9 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the door; Anyone who enter in through Me will be saved ( will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely) and find pasture." Jesus is the door we pass through to return to the presence of God as Father and not only God. Jesus became our door back to a place of sonship with the Father. Did you notice how Jesus said in John 14:6 that "No one comes to the Father except through Him?"
Many people have come to Jesus, but still haven't entered the other side of the door into the Father's presence. We stand at this side of the door and address God as "God," but won't pass through the door and address Him as "Father." We read the Lord's Prayer and pray, "Our Father,"but still act as though He is distant. Our fellowship and sonship connection has been made if we will accept it.
The entire reason for everything that exists, was the Father and His family. Enter through the door of Jesus, into the throne of Grace and to the presence of your Father. Make Him Father and not just God. This is His heart and His dream fulfilled.
The reason for man was the heart of the Father God. Genesis 1:1 tells us that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The word "God" in Hebrew is "Elohim." This word is plural and reveals the Trinity at work in the creation. We find in John 1:1-3 that Jesus Christ played a major role in all creation. Both Psalm 104:30 and Genesis 1:2 tell us that the Holy Spirit was also at work in all that was created. The Trinity or the three persons of God or the totality of God is revealed throughout the Old and New Testament.
In Matthew 3:13-17 at Jesus' baptism and in Matthew 28:19, we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father God created the heavens and the earth in the very beginning and had the Father nature in the very beginning.
It's easy to see the love of a father even in today's world. A father's heart is for his children. Ephesians 3:14-15 shows how a human father is an archetype of our Heavenly Father. Earthly fathers love because our Heavenly Father God is eternally and infinitely a Father and we're made in His Image. It simply stands to reason that as a Father, God would long for a family to share in His love.
Ephesians 1"4-5 (Amplified) says, "Even as (in His love) He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His Own) in Christ before the foundations of the world (that we should be holy consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love." Verse 5 says, "For He ordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His Own children through Christ Jesus, in accordance with the purpose of His will (because it pleased Him and was His kind intent)."
Romans 16:25 (Amplified) reveals the same truth to us that had been hidden until now saying, "Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages." 1Corinthians 2:7 (Amplified) says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God (that wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us into the glory of His presence)."
Jesus came to do exactly that very thing in His ministry, He often said, "He came to reveal this God to men as the Father." Can you imagine the comments and the hassle that erupted when Jesus taught them to pray saying, "Our Father, Who is in heaven" in Matthew 6:9? These people held the Name God as being so holy that they wouldn't write or speak it. Even today, many Jews write God as G-d because of reverence. And Jesus said they should call God Father.
Jesus said in John 14:6 (Amplified), "I am the way, and the truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except (through) Me." He said in John 17:26 (Amplified), I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very self, and I will continue to make (you) known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them (felt in their hearts) and that I (Myself) may be in them."
Jesus repeated that very statement in John 10:9 (Amplified) saying, "I Am the door; Anyone who enter in through Me will be saved ( will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely) and find pasture." Jesus is the door we pass through to return to the presence of God as Father and not only God. Jesus became our door back to a place of sonship with the Father. Did you notice how Jesus said in John 14:6 that "No one comes to the Father except through Him?"
Many people have come to Jesus, but still haven't entered the other side of the door into the Father's presence. We stand at this side of the door and address God as "God," but won't pass through the door and address Him as "Father." We read the Lord's Prayer and pray, "Our Father,"but still act as though He is distant. Our fellowship and sonship connection has been made if we will accept it.
The entire reason for everything that exists, was the Father and His family. Enter through the door of Jesus, into the throne of Grace and to the presence of your Father. Make Him Father and not just God. This is His heart and His dream fulfilled.
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