ADVENT: Day Thirteen – December 13, 2013

Luke 1:67-80:  “[68]Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, [69]and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant.  [79]’To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,’ to guide our feet into the way of PEACE.” (quote from Is. 9:2; 59:8)

At the birth of his son, Zechariah begins to prophesy regarding GOD’s great plan of salvation.  He not only rejoices at the birth of his son named John the Baptist, but also in the gift that his son points toward, the MESSIAH.  GOD has remembered His promise.  The MESSIAH is coming and He will lead GOD’s people out of the valley of death and darkness and into PEACE and JOY!

This is the message of Christmas.  Through JESUS the MESSIAH sent by GOD, born in a manger on Christmas Day – all who believe will be delivered from darkness into Light and their [Sin] will be washed and cleansed by the blood of The Sacrificial Lamb of GOD!  The paths of those who believe will lead to an eternal intimate love relationship with GOD.  The LORD’s purpose for creating us will be completed.  This is the pathway that leads to ultimate PEACE.

Celebrating with great Joy & Peace . . . the Light of the World has come!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Twelve – December 12, 2013

“[2]But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clams of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.  His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.  [4]And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His GOD.  And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth.  [5a]This One will be our peace.” – Micah 5

Micah is prophesying about One who will come who will be a king who will bring PEACE.  This shepherd king will bring GOD’s PEACE to all people who believe. 

On Christmas Day JESUS was born.  JESUS is the One Micah spoke about.  At times our lives may feel hectic and out of control and anything but peaceful and secure.  Today, we are reminded that we have an eternal security in and through JESUS, the Messiah, and the Promised One.

Celebrate this greatest gift of all . . . eternal security . . . everlasting PEACE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Eleven – December 11, 2013

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” –Isaiah 9:6-7

GOD’s promise of PEACE is found in a child.  This child is the long awaited King of David.  This child is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.  His reign will never end.  He will come on Christmas Day!  I cannot wait!

GOD does not shrink back from this fallen dark world or our horribly messy lives.  On the contrary, He meets it head on and He loves us while we are in the very midst of our brokenness and messiness.  Through this child He introduces a new kind of King and a new kind of kingdom. 

Part of the Christmas message is that GOD is inviting us to be citizens in this new Kingdom as we bow the knee to this new King.  It is a kingdom of never ending peace.  It is life in an eternal intimate love relationship with GOD Himself!  WOW!  How amazing is that!

I am just about ready to explode with anticipation and excitement!  How about you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Ten – December 10, 2013

Ezekiel 37:26-28:  “[26]I will make a covenant of PEACE with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them.  And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.  [27]My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their GOD, and they will be My People.  [28]And the nations will know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”

In the midst of this present darkness and evil GOD is moving to fulfill His everlasting promise of PEACE on earth.  His desire continues to be to have intimacy of relationship with us and to give us His PEACE.  This covenant will never end.  For all eternity we will live in intimacy of relationship with Him and we will dwell in His PEACE.  The beginning of this covenant occurred when JESUS was born at Christmas, and it will be consummated when JESUS comes again.

I want to encourage you to meditate on this truth throughout this Advent and Christmas season:  The birth of JESUS CHRIST on Christmas Day ushered in the beginning of GOD fulfilling His eternal promise of reconciliation between Himself and fallen humanity . . . between Himself and YOU!  The birth of JESUS CHRIST on Christmas Day ushered in the beginning of GOD fulfilling His heart’s desire . . . to have an eternal (never ending) intimate love relationship with all who believe.  Do you comprehend this unbelievable truth?  Your soul purpose for existence is to fulfill the deepest longing of GOD’s heart . . . to have an eternal (never ending) intimate love relationship with GOD.  That’s why GOD made YOU!

Overwhelmed with the PEACE of GOD!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Nine -- December 9, 2013

Yesterday (Sunday) was the eighth day of Advent and the lighting of the second Advent candle. This candle is purple and is often known as the Bethlehem candle and represents peace.  So the focus for week two of Advent is PEACE.

Read Genesis 3:1-7:  “[7]Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”

You may be wondering what this passage has to do with Christmas.  GOD created us to live in PEACE with Him.  He created us to have intimacy in relationship with Him.  When Adam and Eve sinned they said “no” to this intimate relationship with GOD and, therefore, they said no to PEACE with GOD.  They said “no” to having an authentic intimate love relationship with Him.  Their sin was an act of rebellion.  But, in the midst of our rebellion, GOD’s plan of peace and intimacy remained.  Thousands of years later, in the little town of Bethlehem, a baby would be born who would restore our PEACE with GOD and our intimacy with GOD.

Oh my!  This is why we celebrate Christmas in a BIG WAY and in absolute craziness!  GOD’s plan for our PEACE and for His desire to have intimacy in relationship with us was not thwarted by the Enemies’ evil ploy!  GOD intervened!  GOD send His only Son, JESUS, so that we can live in PEACE with Him and so that we can experience intimacy in relationship with Him!  This has been GOD’s desire . . . His heart from the beginning of time.

Christmas . . . GOD’s plan for the fulfillment of His heart’s desire . . . you and me!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Seven -- December 7, 2013

Matthew 1:18-25:  “[23]Behold, the virgin shall be with Child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, ‘GOD with us.’”—Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14

As I think about JESUS being born of a virgin and named “Immanuel” I think of John 1:14:   “And the WORD became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  Folks, this is one of the most significant historic events ever in the entire world!  It is important that we understand the magnitude of this event. 

JESUS was GOD from all eternity and yet joined Himself to sinful humanity in the Incarnation.  The GOD-man possessed all the attributes of deity and the attributes common to humanity (apart from sin), and He will exist forever as the GOD-man in His resurrected body.  Only the GOD-man could be an adequate Savior; for He must be human in order to be able to suffer and die, and He must be GOD to make that death effective as a payment for sin (the fallen nature as opposed to sinful behavior).

Can you understand why it is so important that we make much of Christmas and that we celebrate this Christmas season in a very big way?  Indeed, the Christmas event is equal only to the resurrection of JESUS in significance. 

GOD became man and pitched His tent among us!  CELEBRATE WILDLY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADVENT: Day Six -- December 6, 2013

Luke 1:26-38:  “[34]Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’  [35]The angel answered and said to her, ‘The HOLY SPIRIT will come upon you, and the power of the MOST HIGH will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the SON OF GOD.”—Luke 1:34-35

My pastor Aarron Schwartz (Restoration Church, Nashville) is preaching an Advent series called, “Expecting the Unexpected.”  This announcement of Gabriel to Mary is certainly

unexpected.  We thought the King would come with pomp and victory of a worthy king.  GOD’s plan often plays out in unexpected ways.  GOD’s own Son, the King of kings, will be born to an insignificant, poor, young virgin woman.  Right!  A virgin!  Come on; who are you kidding!  The Virgin Birth is one of the reasons many refuse to believe.  It just doesn’t make sense.  It seems foolish . . . ridiculous!  But it is true!  The Messiah will arrive in humility.  However, the hope of the world is not determined by the limitations of human circumstances or in what seems totally illogical and foolish. 

Every time I think about this incredible historical event I am reminded of the GOD’s words:  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways . . . for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

GOD alone is the Author and Giver of hope! 

Walk in excitement and with great expectation . . . Messiah is near!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!