BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH – THE LAMB

Good Morning Everyone - May your Christmas Day Glorify the LORD and may your New Year be filled with Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit

The next Devotional will be on 12/27/2016 if the LORD tarries.

BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH – THE LAMB

Historical Truth

Matthew 1:18-25

Biblical Prophecy

Isaiah 7:14 @ 750 BC Isaiah gives us prophecy about the virgin birth of Messiah/Jesus and Matthew 1:23-25 reveals to his readers that the angel (probably Gabriel) quoted this prophesy to Joseph that the BABY in Mary’s was and is the Messiah and that His name would be JESUS.

Isaiah 9:6 Explains that the Name of Jesus has five Characteristics with one goal but duel purposes

As MESSIAH, the KING, His Name is:

WONDERFUL – The Messiah, although expected is a mystery of revelation that is WONDROUS to all who believe God through faith.

COUNSELOR – The Messiah is POWERFUL, He is coming again to DESTROY and to SAVE

THE MIGHTY GOD – The Messiah is ABOVE ALL gods, He is THE ALL POWERFUL ONE

EVERLASTING FATHER – The Messiah is the ETERNAL and ONLY GOD

THE PRINCE OF PEACE – The Messiah is the CAPTAIN, THE KEEPER OF PEACE.

Luke 2:1-7 and John 1:29 Explains that the Name of Jesus has five Characteristics with one goal but duel purposes

As JESUS, the LAMB, His Name is;

WONDERFUL – Jesus – The WONDROUS revealing of the BABE in a manger (a feeding trough for animals and to keep Him warm He was wrapped in narrow bands of cloth.

COUNCILOR – Jesus – all who will seek The LAMB by FAITH. He saves them to the UTTERMOST – Hebrews 7:25

MIGHTY GOD – Jesus – He is the Champion sacrifice (Author) of our Salvation; Acts 4:12 and Heb 12:1-2

EVERLASTING FATHER – Jesus – is The Father and the Son who are ONE; John 10:25-30 and Jhn 14:1-6.

PRINCE OF PEACE – Jesus – is the KEEPER OF PEACE, and to all who believe in Him by FAITH and He shares that PEACE with them – John 14:25-31 and Romans 5:1-5.

A Daily Devotional – The Battle is the LORD’S – The Eternal Word (30)

A Daily Devotional – The Battle is the LORD’S – The Eternal Word

Comment: Yesterday, on the phone my wife and I were discussing Proverbs 21:30-31; oddly we failed to read together that morning since we were running late. There is no way to describe the oneness of being ‘like-minded’ in our relationship with each other and in Christ our Savior. If you have this gift of grace from the LORD you understand what I am saying. Okay, by now you have read the two verses above and may be thinking! What have these verses to do with relationship between the three of us – Jesus, a husband and a wife? 

Devotional: The value of a friend is precious as Solomon explains in Ecclesiastes 4. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall (physically, spiritually or mentally) one will lift up his (or her) companion. But woe to him (or her) who is alone when he (or she) falls, for they have no one to help. Again, if two lie down they will keep warm; but how can they be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him (or her), and a ‘threefold cord is not easily broken’, verses 9-12.

“There is NO wisdom or understanding, or counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD”. For most who read the Holy Bible it is not to personalize the words for daily use, and if scripture is read at all, the reasons can be the number of rocks in a pile, just pick the rock that applies to you.

There are troubles in the world around us, if you do not know this then shame on you. The wisdom of the world that is not of God is to say the least ‘dangerous’, those who understand this wisdom are neighbors, companions at work and maybe a friend. These people know how to prepare their day of battle. They counsel one another with the information highway of the day so they are saddled up and ready for war against those who have a like-minded friend and a friend named Jesus – John 15:9-17.

All troubles in the world around us pale when the people of God are friends with Jesus. Jesus is the LORD, He is the LORD of Hosts (Armies) - (Isaiah 47:4 taken out of context). So, if God be for us (and He is) who can stand against us? In Ephesians 6:10-20 the apostle Paul reveals to us how to stand with the LORD Jesus in the heat of all battles of life.

A Daily Devotional – Days, months – The Eternal Word (29)

A Daily Devotional – Days, months – The Eternal Word

Comment: Yes, today is the first day of winter; that is if you are wondering if I knew that from a previous devotional! But was it yesterday for those who live in places like New Zealand or Australia? I think not, since for these folks it is the first day of summer. What is common with all, is that our Creator is the SAME God of yesterday and today, even for tomorrow and forever. His Name which is above all names is JESUS. He was humbled by obedience to His Father God and in the same manner He is exalted because He is God: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.; Philippians 2:5-11 in context.

Devotional: The apostle Paul reveals in Galatians 4:8-20 that he feared for the church of Galatia because he sees the church returning to the weak (powerless) and beggarly (worthless) elements of religion. That is the observation of days, months, seasons and years. He goes on to say in this context that his labor of Christ’s love for them (by what he sees and hears) might be in vain. I wonder what he might say about the Church of our day, here in the United States of America?

We do have observations in the Church; but are they ordained of God or of men? No doubt all will be judged, some justified and some condemned at the bema seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-11). As we approach this season of winter or summer for some, the Christ was not born on December 25 as tradition dictates. From my personal studies, I have a date, but from seeking to know answers to questions such as dates, seasons an times I have been reminded over and over; time is relative and eternity is absolute.

It is important, that is; what the apostle has to say in Galatians 4:21-31, there are two covenants in this section explained. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael of the bondwoman (slave), her name was Hagar, she was not married to Abraham. Also, Abraham had another son, Isaac born of Abraham’s wife; Sarah, the woman of Promise, (See Isaiah 54:1). My point! 

While the world around us is brittle with religion, and religion is bound by time. However , you and I, the children of God must “Stand fast therefore in the liberty of by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage; Galatians 5:1 and if Christ has made us FREE then we are FREE indeed to worship God in Truth.

A Daily Devotional – Fear of the LORD – The Eternal Word

A Daily Devotional – Fear of the LORD – The Eternal Word

Comment: There are but two avenues of intellect, however; there are many voices that travel one of these pathways. Notice if you will, there is one avenue of wisdom called the ‘Fear of the LORD’ and the other called ‘Pride and arrogance’ Proverbs 8:13. Pride and arrogance has an extension off the main road called the ‘perverse mouth’. Satan and the unregenerate person oppose the ‘Fear of the LORD’ and they willing pervert the sound Wisdom of God by shaming the Truth. They do so by suppressing the Truth in the unrighteous deeds of pride and arrogance; Roman 1:18-32. 

Devotional: The avenue of the ‘Fear of the LORD’ travels the voice of ONE, notice Psalm 119:105. The psalmist writes, “Thy Word is a LAMP (singular) to my feet, and a LIGHT (again singular) to my path. In our soul where the ‘Fear of the LORD’ resides we have ‘confirmed’ by an oath of FAITH to keep the righteous judgements of God.

How do we keep a faithful ‘Fear of the LORD’? First, God is faithful since our days are afflicted with those who travel the ‘pride and arrogant’ avenue by extending every evil perversion of Truth our way. Only the prudence and discretion of God’s Wisdom ‘Fear of the LORD’ resident in our soul will deliver us; study the entire Word of God using the spiritual tools of Proverbs 8:1-36 and be revived by the Wisdom of His Word.

Also, be aware that the adversary, the devil seeks to destroy YOU, so like the psalmist PRAY and ask God to ‘accept’ the freewill offering of your mouth. God is merciful and full of grace. His love for you and me overflows, He will teach us His Righteous Judgments. In meditation, this morning we have seen that the pathway of the Wisdom of God winds upward to the high calling of God in Christ, therefore we must keep pressing on; Philippians 3:12-16.