Month: December 2021

CONSIDER THE PERSON

Who is this Person whose birth we celebrate on Christmas Day? Was He an ordinary baby? No. He was none other than God the Son coming down to earth in a human body.

Was His an ordinary birth? No. He had an earthly mother, but no earthly father. Jesus was not the son of Joseph, but He was the Son of God.

Was His birth the beginning of His life? No. Jesus had always been. From the very beginning He was with God the Father. In John 1:3, we read, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made”.

CONSIDER THE PRICE

A great price was paid for our sins. Jesus died and shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. During the Old Testament days (before the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth), the Jewish people shed the blood of animals to cover over their sins. This blood could not take away sins, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should

take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4), but ” … the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1 :7).

“There is none other good enough to pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate of Heaven and let us in.” Only the Lord Jesus Christ was without sin. He alone can save us.

CONSIDER THE PROMISE

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life … “ (John 3:36). The word believe means to put our trust in. It is not enough to believe about the Lord Jesus Christ; you must receive Him as your Saviour. God’s promise to those who receive Him, to those who really believe in Him, is everlasting life. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). Do you want to be sure of going to Heaven when you die? Do you want to become God’s child today? Consider the promise.

CONSIDER THE PENALTY

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). Although God loves each one in the world, He hates sin. God’s wrath, or anger, is upon those who do not believe in Jesus. Sin separates us from God. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). The penalty, or punishment, for not believing in Jesus is to be shut out of Heaven and separated from God forever- eternal punishment.

This Christmas many will see beyond the gay wrappings, the colored lights, the lavish entertainment, and the lovely gifts and will find the glory of Christmas in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is this possible?

Entering into the glory of Christmas is possible through a simple understanding, acceptance, and a resting by faith on what God has to say about the sending of His Son on that first Christmas.

GOD’S GOOD TIDINGS: “…behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born … a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). This message is personal- to you. It is vital-He came to be our Saviour.

GOD’S GREAT PURPOSE: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Wonder of wonders- God not only loved us, but He sent His Son to put away our sins by His death on the cross.

OUR ETERNAL BLESSING: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Receiving Jesus Christ, by faith, brings one into the sharing of His untold riches both now and forever. How glorious! Just now God is offering to you His gift. Take the Lord Jesus Christ and enter into the glory of Christmas!

My dear friend:

Will you not this day acknowledge before the Lord that you are a sinner? Will you not believe that Christ, Who died for you, is God’s free gift of salvation? Will you not turn from my sin and receive Christ as your own personal Saviour? The decision is yours.

1. Receive the Word of God with meekness.“Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21) receive it as servants, for it is the voice of the Master; receive it as saints, to cleanse from all defilement; receive it as subjects, to equip for the warfare of evil; receive it as sons, for it is the Father’s will; receive it as saved ones, as the direction of grace; and receive it as surrendered ones, as the rule for life.

2.  Let the Word of God Dwell Richly. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” (Colossians 3:16). Let it dwell in the heart, as preservative from evil; let it dwell in the soul, as the propeller in service; let in dwell in the mind, as the plan for direction; and let it dwell in the affection, as the power for conflict.

3. Keep the Word of God Tenaciously. “They have kept Thy Word” (John 17:6). Christ could say of His disciples, We should keep it as a treasure-securely; as our teacher for instruction, as a tower for protection, and as our trust, we should keep it faithfully and well.

4. Continue in the Word of God Untiringly. “If you continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed”  (John 8:31). Continuance in the Word is the mark of true discipleship, the manifest evidence that we are true followers of Christ.

5. Live Out the Word of God Faithfully. “Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ” ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Christian is the world’s Bible, a living object-lesson. If we are not walking Bibles, then we are walking libels.

6. Hold Forth the Word of God Boldly. “Holding forth the Word of Life” (Philippians 2:16). As the man holds the lighted torch above his head in the dark night, to show himself and others the path in which to tread, so the Christian is to hold up the Word by his life, and its testimony with his lips, that others may be enlightened and benefited.

7. Muse on the Word of God Prayerfully. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:2-3) As the well-watered tree by the river’s side, grows and is fruitful, so the Christian who muses on and meditates in, the truth of God, is prosperous in life, and profitable to others.

His will Is for believers

1. To be sanctified in Christ work – Hebrews 10:10

2. To be chosen and in His grace – Ephesians 1:5

3. To be separated from the world – Galatians 1:4

4. To be holy in life – I Thessalonians 4:3

5. To suffer in silence – I Peter 2:15

6. To be thankful in everything – I Thessalonians 5:18

7. To recognize Him in all things – I John chapter 5:14

Reference Paul’s Warnings study. My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6) Amos 8:11-12 Famine of hearing the words of the LORD, that is they don’t understand it

I want you to be able to discern truth from error, and that which is of God and that which is of Satan. (1 John 4:1

You need to be sound in doctrine 1st application of Scripture is doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16) Take heed unto the doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16)

Men and Young Men ought to have sound doctrine (Titus 2:1-8)

The Last Days – The Church of the Laodiceans

In the last days a departure from the faith and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-6) Last days perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

People will forsake the truth and get for themselves preachers and teachers that tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

If they speak not according to the Bible (Isaiah 8:19-20) See also 1 Peter 4:11 If you pervert, the words of the living God and do not repent he will forsake you (Jeremiah 23:33-36)

Things you need to know about false prophets:

There are many of them (1 John 4:1)

Many follow them (2 Peter 2:2)

Beware of false prophets that look like Christians (Matthew 7:15) and declare that Jesus is the Christ (Luke 21:8, Matthew 24:5)

They speak in the name of the LORD (Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:6)

But out of their own heart (Jeremiah 23:16)

They seduce the people by saying peace when there is no peace (Ezekiel 13:10)

They are liars (Ezekiel 13:19, 22-23) Lamentations 2:14

They don’t deal with your sin to turn your captivity away

They believe Jesus is the Christ (Luke 21:8) and look like Christians (Matthew 7:15)

False prophets teach false doctrine (2 Peter 2:1) speak evil of the truth and MANY follow their ways (2 Peter 2:2)

They make merchandise of you through your own lusts (2 Peter 2:3)

They speak great words of vanity and allure through the lusts of the flesh (2 Peter 2:18)

They promise liberty, but bring you into bondage (2 Peter 2:19)

Preached peace always (Jeremiah 6:13-14) even to those that despise the Lord (Jeremiah 23:17)

They steal the word of God from you (Jeremiah 23:30)

God’s prophets:

True prophets turn people from their sin (Jeremiah 23:21-22) and they mainly preach that the people need to turn from their sin (Jeremiah 25:4-5) and they spoke out against things (Jeremiah 28:7-9)

The Fingerprints of the devil:

2 Corinthians 2:11 Not ignorant of his devices

Revelation 2:24 Not knowing the depths of Satan

General things about the devil:

He wants to be like God, he is religious, he is a musical being, he desires worship, power, and authority, and he is full of pride.

The devil is the great counterfeiter of God.

Genesis 3:1- 5

The very first words spoken by the devil reveal a great deal to the saint about what his tactics are: Yea, hath God said… In Genesis 2, God clearly and plainly told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in that day that he ate of it, he would surely die (Ge 2:16-17). Could God have been plainer with Adam? Did he not literally explain to him what God expected of him? God gave Adam the commandment not to eat of that tree: if he ate of it, he would die. God guaranteed that he would die.

So Satan comes along and asks a question, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

1. Questioning the word of the LORD – the serpent first gets you to question the word of the LORD. By doing so, the devil is able to plant a seed of doubt in your mind about what God had really said. The devil is subtle, and he tried to trick Eve by first getting her to question. LISTEN-there is no reason for us to question God’s word ever! God can be trusted, the devil cannot be. As Jesus said, he was a murderer and a liar from the beginning.

2. Lies about the word of the LORD – We see in the fourth verse that the devil flat out lies. He told Eve that she would not surely die. At some point the devil will flat out contradict the word of the LORD, but he will try to hide that by mixing it with some truth. The Scripture affirms that some of what the devil said would happen, happened. Their eyes were opened and they did become as gods knowing good and evil. BUT they did surely die.

1 Chronicles 21:1

Satan got David to question and wonder about whether the LORD was multiplying the seed of Israel as the stars of heaven.

This thing displeased the LORD.

Job 1:6-12

Satan questions God’s judgment

Job 2:1-6

Satan continues to question God’s word after seeing God’s word remaining true.

Zechariah 3:1-5

Satan argues and resists the angel of the LORD here because Joshua was about to have his filthy garments removed and receive forgiveness of sins and get a new garment!

Matthew 4:1-11

The devil tempts with the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life (see also 1 John 2:15- 17). Notice, Satan will quote scripture in trying to mess you up. The problem is the devil doesn’t rightly divide the Scripture, which shows he doesn’t have understanding of the Scripture.

Matthew 16:21-23

The devil contests the will of God and gets you to argue against the will of God for your life. The devil delights in the things of men, not the things of God.

Mark 4:14-15

The devil steals the seed of the word of God that was planted in the heart.

Acts 5:3

Satan can put thoughts into your heart even if you are saved.

2 Corinthians 11:13-14

Satan can appear as an angel of light, in other words a good thing. He also has MINISTSERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, some of which claim to be apostles, and they give themselves that title.

1 Thessalonians 2:18

Satan can hinder you from your service to God, your service to men, and your calling of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

Satan has the power to perform signs, wonders, and miracles that deceives you

Revelation 2:9-13, 3:9

Satan has a synagogue of people that claim to be Jews and are not (That is professing Christianity that claims to be Jewish in order to steal the promises from the Jew and apply them to the church, i.e. the kingdom of heaven) This church dwells where Satan’s seat is.

Revelation 2:24

Satan is very subtle and very wise

Revelation 12:9

Satan is a deceiver

Mark 13:39

The devil has his own followers in the world

Acts 13:7-12

The devil perverts the right ways of the LORD and is an enemy of all righteousness

2 Corinthians 11:3-4

The devil will try to get you to disbelieve the word of God and it’s authority and adopt another voice and it’s authority in its stead. He will try to corrupt your minds from the simplicity that is in Christ. Be careful of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9)

Judas Iscariot

John 6:70, 13:1-2, 13:21-30

Judas was possessed with a devil long before the last supper. Judas preached the word of God, performed signs, wonders, and miracles, and was in charge of the money. He appeared as one that could be trusted. The disciples had know clue who would betray the Lord because the devil inside of Judas wasn’t obvious, but eventually it became manifest.

Be Careful!

AS REVEALED IN JOHN 15

Every metaphor and simile of the Christian life illuminates some trait of the character of a Christian.

1.         A Branch for Fruitfulness – v.5. A branch in a vine is the outcome of the productive quality of the root and stem and is dependent for its fruitfulness from them. Through the branch the vine manifests itself in fruit. It needs to be cleansed, and pruned to bring its fruit to perfection. Being united to Christ, we bring forth fruit, and as we allow the Vine-dresser to develop us, we bring forth the “more fruit” yea, “much fruit,” and the fruit that remains – vs. 2, 8, 16. The fruit is “love” (Galatians 5:22)

2.         A Disciple for Fruitfulness – vs. 8-10. Discipleship is evidenced by fruitfulness. Being a disciple, we “learn” of Christ, we follow Him, and we are obedient to Him – Matthew 11:29; Luke 9:23; John 13:34.

3.         A Friend for Communion – v.15. Three things evidence friendship, namely, confidence, sympathy, and fellowship. We might call these love in exercise, like the love of Jonathan for David.

4.         A Chosen One for Holiness – v.16. When anyone or anything is set apart for a given purpose, and that purpose is achieved, the election is seen. We prove our election by selecting the things that faith adds to itself – 2 Peter 1:10

5.         An Ordained One for Benefit – v. 16. Fruit is produced for another’s benefit, is lasting in its blessing, and is forerunner of answered prayer. See the “that” in verse 16.

6.         A Servant for Employment – v.20. To serve such a Master is a privilege, even though we may have to suffer because of our association with Him. He has saved us to serve, and we save ourselves from many things in serving.

7.         A Witness for Testimony – v. 27. A witness is one who knows, and is able to tell out what he has seen and heard. The thing that gave power and brought conviction in the early days was what was evidenced in the disciples – Acts 1:8, 2:37, 4:13.

1.         “I have glorified thee” v. 4

2.         “I have finished the work” v. 4

3.         “I have manifested Thy Name” v. 6

4.         “I have kept” v. 12

5.         “I have given Thy Word” and “Words” vs. 8, 14

6.         “I have declared Thy Name” v. 26

7.         “I have known Thee” v. 25

8.         “I have sent” v. 18

9.         “I have given them Thy glory” v. 22