For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:6-7)
Wishing you and your family the very best during this CHRISTmas Season and a Blessed new year.
0 Comments
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, 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. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. A caravan of many wise men from the east who have seen His star and know the signs and portends. They journey for many months to see the new born King and to worship the King of Kings who alone is worthy of our worship. The scribes tell the worried and troubled Herod where to find the Messiah in Bethlehem, and yet Herod does not believe, nor go with the wise men. The wise men bring gifts worthy of such a King. Gold, as a tribute to our King and an offering worthy of Emmanuel. Frankincense, for our great High Priest Jesus has come to save His people from their sIns. Myrrh, for Jesus is a prophet greater than Moses who will give His life a ransom for many.
As we consider who Jesus is, we should not ignore Him nor the Scriptures as Herod did, but rejoice in the birth of our Saviour. He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. He came not as an angel, nor any other creature, but as a man, and experienced our life, but perfectly and without sIn, in complete obedience to His Father. Because of our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we receive His righteousness. We have Liberty, not to continue in sIn, but to go and sIn no more, for the curse of sIn is paid for. While we are here, we are to do the work He left us here to do. To serve those around us who are hurting and in need as His ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation. We are to disciple one another in the Word so that we grow thereby, and in Love that all men shall know that we are His disciples. We are to live the Gospel we preach, and as we go, proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all we meet. We tell them of who He is, and what He has done for them, that they might hear and believe, and in believing might have life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (Mat 1:18-25) Now we see Matthew's account of the birth of the incarnate Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, Jesus. The Messiah has come, and put on flesh, and dwelt among us, Emmanuel. Joseph was disturbed and perplexed by all that GOD was doing, but when instructed obeyed, because of his faith. He and Mary, as the servants of GOD for this purpose, submitted to the will of their Saviour, and allowed Him to accomplish this part of the redemptive plan. Joseph being a good man, sought to protect and defend Mary, and continued to do so, even after he learned of the circumstances and plan of GOD.
We may not always know GOD's steps in the plans He has for us, but we are to trust Him, for He sees the end from the beginning. We can only see our past, and our immediate surroundings and circumstances, but GOD, who is outside of time, can see it all. With all knowledge and wisdom, He can direct that which He wills, to accomplish His purposes and His ways. We are to trust and obey, just as Joseph and Mary did, that which He reveals to us. For GOD wants us to be conformed to the image of His dear Son. That has been the plan for us since the beginning. He foreordained that all those who come to Christ in repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and are born again would be justified, sanctified, and glorified. GOD takes off the rough edges and corrects sIn, while filling us with His Word and His Spirit so we become more like Him, until He takes us Home. Until that day, we are to be obedient as His hands to minister to those in need, that they may see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. We are to disciple one another in the Word that we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord, and in love that others may know we are His disciples. We are to take the Gospel to this lost and dying world, our neighbours, our communities, our workplaces. As we go, we are to proclaim Liberty to the captives of sIn, and the Good News of Jesus Christ, that they may hear, and believe, and in believing have life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. God tells the children of Israel to sanctify those whom God spared because of the Blood on the doorposts, for they belong to God. Moses tells them, that for all the firstborn are the Lord's for He delivered them with a mighty hand. Not only did He purchase them, when He passed over, but they point to Christ, the firstborn among many brethren. The Scriptures point to Christ, and there are many pictures of His redeeming work, not only on behalf of those who are His, who have trusted Him for salvation, but also for those He chose and called His people. He also works on behalf of all people, to draw them to Himself, for He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, nor does He delight when they perish in their sins. God is a God of mercy, but because He is just, He must also punish sIn. God wants us to remember what He has done and is doing for us. He redeemed us from the bondage of this world, He delivered us from the power of sIn, and He is preparing us for eternity with Him, because of our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Until that day, while He lives His life in us, we are to be obedient in discipleship; teaching one another and encouraging growth in the knowledge of the Lord. We are commanded to minister to the hurting and those in need, so that others see Jesus in us. We are commissioned to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, and as we go, we are tell all who will hear of His love and mercy, that they may believe, and believing have life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He delivered Israel through the Passover, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. (Exo 2:1-10) The birth of Moses. The man that GOD would use to deliver the Israelites from their bondage, at his birth was in peril from the king's command to kill all the baby boys. But Moses' parents feared GOD, not the king, and so took steps to protect him, and trusted GOD with the results. GOD not only kept him safe in his little lifeboat, but directed him to Pharoah's daughter when she came to the river. GOD even had his sister as a lookout, so that Pharoah's daughter could hire the mother of Moses as a nurse (of her own son) while the daughter of Pharoah adopted Moses and raised him in the courts of Egypt. GOD will use even the unbelievers to accomplish His plans and goals, for He is Sovereign. He wants to use the obedient and trusting, but either way He will get the glory for what He does, for He is Lord. The preserving and raising of Moses would only be for a season, for Moses himself will turn to GOD and reject the 'glory' of Egypt for the greater good of GOD. GOD is continuing in the preservation and protection of His people, Israel. We are to seek Him, exalt His glory, and hold fast that which is good so that others may see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. We are, as His ministers and co-laborers, to reach out and provide to those who are hurting what GOD blesses us with. We are commanded to equip one another for the ministry, and to disciple one another in the Word that we may grow thereby. We are commissioned to proclaim the Good News of Salvation, by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to this lost and dying world, and as we go, tell all who will hear of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they might believe, and believing have Life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. As Moses' parents feared Him, GOD calls you to trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided for the physical salvation of Moses, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new heart in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And Leah said, GOD hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah. And GOD remembered Rachel, and GOD hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, GOD hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. (Gen 30:20-24) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, and Joseph (Benjamin would come much later.) No wonder Leah said, "a troop cometh", for indeed Jacob and his four wives delivered a lot of kids. From these, with the two sons of Joseph, would come the twelve tribes of the people of Israel. A nation which was not the biggest, or strongest, but a people whom GOD Himself chose for His glory, and to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
While Jacob, his descendants, and most of the people of Israel failed (as we all do at times) to live up to GOD's standards, GOD has never failed in any of His promises. He has a plan, a purpose, and a people to accomplish His will in every generation and every dispensation of His grace. GOD does not change, and there is no plan B. Grace by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary has always been the plan of Salvation. Our response to His mercy toward us is obedience to the revelation of GOD in context, understanding, and rightly dividing the Word of Truth through study, discipleship, and fellowship with the Master. His purpose for us has always been that we should minister to this lost and dying world as GOD gives the increase, disciple one another in love and in the Word, and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are to share His love and the liberty that comes from His forgiveness of our sIn through a right relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ and His provision for our sIn debt. GOD commands us to go and tell, and as we go, preach the Word that they might hear and believe, and believing have life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness and trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and is our Life. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. Jacob worked seven years for Laban to earn Rachel's hand in marriage, when he wakes up after the marriage feast, he finds himself tricked by Laban and married to Leah, Rachel's older sister. He agrees to another seven for Rachel, and ends up with two wives, and their handmaids, even though his heart belonged to Rachel. While GOD does not condone multiple wives, it records the account of those who ended up with them, and the results. GOD used the circumstances, and their failings to accomplish His will and prepare for Himself a people.
Jacob was not a perfect man, no one other than our Lord Jesus is, but GOD saw who and what he would become in Him, and the legacy he would leave as one of the patriarchs of Israel. GOD sees his own, not for what they were, but for what they are, and will be, in Christ, even as He directs their growth and maturing in Him. He uses the Word to teach and correct, and His Spirit guides and directs that we may learn and grow, even as He accounts us as righteous because of our faith in what He has already done for our sIn in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. He holds us as complete because of our relationship with, through and in Jesus Christ, and commands us to go and tell, and as we go, minister to the hurting as He provides, disciple one another in the Word, and proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and Salvation in Him by faith in what He has already done to pay the sIn debt we cannot pay, that those that hear and believe may have life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness and trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and is our Life. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. (Gen 25:20-26) Rebekah becomes pregnant, not just with one, but two babies. Both will be leaders of nations. Isaac prayed for his wife, and the Lord answered, more abundantly than Isaac ever thought of. But the pregnancy was not an easy one, for these twins were fighting even in the womb. GOD reveals a bit of His plan to Rebekah, and soon Jacob and Esau are born. Rebekah had to trust GOD and His plan by faith, and
When we are not sure of the direction or plan, we should also intreat of the Lord. He already knows the end from the beginning, and knows the plans He has for us. We are not to lean on our own understanding, but trust completely and wholly in the ways of the Lord. He will reveal to us, but never in conflict with His Word, through the Spirit of GOD, the way He wants us to go to accomplish His Will. One way we don't have to inquire about, is His command to go, and as we go, proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. He has already commissioned us to take His message of grace with us. He has already commanded us to minister to one another, bearing one another's burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ. He has already, in both Word and deed, set forth the example of discipleship that we are to follow. We must be about our Father's business, and share His love, mercy and grace with those around us who need to hear of both His judgment of sIn and His provision of peace, and believe in Him. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness and trust what He has already done on that cruel Roman cross. GOD, the Father has provided forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and is our Life. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which GOD had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as GOD had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, GOD hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. (Gen 21:1-6) Now the time of the promise has come and Sarah has the child GOD had told her she would bear. Isaac, named because of Sarah's laughter, and the joy that both her and Abraham would have in their old age, is born in GOD's perfect timing. To Abraham and Sarah it seemed late, and most of the world would agree, but GOD's ways are above our ways, and His timing and will are perfect. GOD is faithful and will keep His promises to His people, even when they forget all His benefits, and are disobedient and rebellious.
Even with His mistakes and sIn, Abraham believed GOD and GOD kept His promise, and in doing so did for Abraham something only He could do. Sarah also believed, her faith and the power of GOD gave her power to conceive in her old age, and bare Isaac, a testimony of GOD and His power and faithfulness. We too can overcome obstacles, survive challenges, and perservere in this life, because of GOD and our faith in Him and what He has already done on the Cross of Calvary in our place and for our sIn. Many times that means waiting on GOD and His timing, and continuing in our service to Him while we wait so that He is glorified in what He does for us We are commanded to proclaim the Good News that just as Sarah received strength in her old age to bear a son, so all that trust Him for Salvation can receive forgiveness of sIn, and power from GOD to life in Him and for Him as His own. We are commissioned to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ that all who hear may believe and believing have life in His Name. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. He calls you turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness, that you may receive His forgiveness through faith in what He has already done on that cruel Roman cross. Just as He gave Sarah the child of the promise, He offers you forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet And He said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind Him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. (Gen 18:10-15) Abraham has matured in life and in his faith, and the time is right for GOD to manifest the next generation according to the promise. He visits Abraham and during the meal, promises that despite their advanced age, they will have a son. This so surprises and elates Sarah that she laughs. GOD who knows all, confronts her, not to condemn, but to grow her in her faith in Him. He then teaches both of them about Himself, and what He is going to do. Everything came to pass just as our Lord had promised.
We can trust that nothing is too hard for GOD to accomplish. His will, good, perfect, and acceptable will be done, in His time. He is able to do more than we can imagine, and the more we study about Him in His Word, the more we learn of Him, and the more we learn to trust and obey Him and His Word. Trust Him to prepare the hearts of those we meet and obey His command to preach the Gospel to every creature. Trust that He will be with us wherever we go and obey His command to go and tell, and as we go, proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for forgiveness of sIn and Salvation. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Receive Him by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. He calls you to surrender to Him on His terms, turning away from your sIn and unrighteousness, that you may receive the righteousness of GOD in Him through faith in what He has already done on that cruel Roman cross. Our GOD is Sovereign, all-powerful, and all-knowing, who keeps His promises, and He offers you forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ. Trust and Obey Him today. In Christ, Jefferson Sweet |
My Blog:
Comments on the Scriptures, book by book. Working our way through the Scriptures with commentary, encouragement, and equipping. Feel free to add your own comments, or to send me a message concerning what GOD is saying through His Word. Archives
April 2022
Categories
All
|