Christmas Devotional Day 6

Tuesday-December 6

Our question today is "Why did He come"? There are numerous reasons that we could examine, but today we want to address the most critical!

In the birth story of Jesus that are people such as Mary, Joseph, Sheppard's, wise men, a king, scribes, a cousin named Elizabeth, and a business person. The business person is the innkeeper. There are animals mentioned such as a donkey and flocks. One of the most important connected creatures are the angels who live in the higher spirit world (Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:11, 26--38, 2:9, 13-14). It is from Luke that we get the name of the angel, Gabriel, who delivers the message to Mary of her being the choice of God to bring into the world, Jesus. Not only will Gabriel give Mary the name to call the baby but will tie to the name the actions of the child when He reaches maturity (Luke 1:26-38). For Luke, the actions that Gabriel speaks will be that of the baby being a King who will reign over Jacob (1:32-33).

But Matthew gives to us what could be the most important position that the child will hold when the angel gives instruction to Joseph on the actions he should toward Mary. He will be a savior!

Matthew 1:21 (KJV 1900)

²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

There are a number of propositions as to the meaning of the name of Jesus including YHWH saves, (is) salvation, (is) a saving-cry, (is) a cry-for-saving, (is) a cry-for-help, (is) my help.[1] The bottom life of these definitions is that YHWH is a saving God!

Name are not given in the Bible to an individual or place just because the name sounded good to the human ear. The name will give us much information as to a person's character and purpose. Thus the purpose of this human body is to be a savior of humanity. As a savior, He is meeting the need of sin. His purpose for coming is to provide the pure blood required of sin. (Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:19).

The Greek word for the action the angels said that Jesus would take is σώζω or sṓzō. It means to save, deliver, make whole, preserve safe from danger, loss, destruction.^[2]

When we parse this Greek word, we see it gives us the following information.

It is a verb and as a verb, it is a word that describes an action, state of being, or the production of a result.^[3] Salvation is Jesus' acting upon the sins of humanity! It is in the future tense. The future tense is the verb tense where the writer portrays an action or state of being that will occur in the future.^[4] The salvation will happen in the future. His birth is the starting point of His purpose. His purpose is to be the sacrifice to take away the sins of the World. He must become a man who understands and experiences temptation yet does not sin to be qualified to become the savior of humanity at His death! Adam the first son of God failed. Jesus must fulfill the obedience that Adam did not do. Adam was not a baby but a man who experienced temptation but failed. The last Adam will be a man who does not fail when tempted by the devil, the world or sin and the lack of failure from temptation will make Him the man that will bring salvation (Romans 5:19, I Corinthians 15:22, 45)!

The voice of the verb is active. The subject will do the action. Jesus will do the saving of His people.
The mood is indicative. The mood is the state of being of the verb. Since the mood is indicative, that means that the writer is describing the action as real. It is the mood of assertion, where the writer portrays something as actual (as opposed to possible or contingent on intention).^[5] Salvation will actually happen! It is not a wish or an intention. It will come about in the lives of His people.

One of the most important words to notice in the Matthew 1:21 is the word "for." The Greek word is γάρ^a or gar. It is a  marker of cause or reason between events. The reason that the baby is receiving the name Jesus is not that it is a unique name, neither the most popular name of its day nor because it was the most recognized name. The reason the baby will be named Jesus is because this child as a man will take action that will give to His people salvation!

The Sanhedrin asks Peter what was the means of the healing of the lame man. Peter states that the healing happened through the name of Jesus.  There is a connection between the name of Jesus and the action of the healing. Peter takes the actions of the name a step farther than healing and states the name of Jesus also has the power to save you. It is the only name connected with salvation!

Acts 4:12 (KJV 1900)

¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If you want action from God that deals with your sin, it becomes necessary to use the name of Jesus! That name takes the action of washing your sin away! When you look at Paul's baptism, you see that it was in the name of Jesus and the use of that name caused the action of washing away sins to occur!

Acts 22:16 (KJV 1900)

¹⁶And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The reason we do not baptize in the Name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost is that these are titles, not names! The introduction of Jesus, speaks that the power of salvation is in His name!

Your Response:

Take time to slowly read the following scriptures. Meditate on the actions of the name of Jesus and how we should use His name in salvation. Act and tell someone today about salvation and how it can only come through the name of Jesus. Encourage them to be baptized in the name of Jesus!

Matthew 1:21 (KJV 1900)

²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12 (KJV 1900)

¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 22:16 (KJV 1900)

¹⁶And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 2:38 (KJV 1900)

³⁸Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:44–48 (KJV 1900)

⁴⁴While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

⁴⁵And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

⁴⁷Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 19:1–5 (KJV 1900)

¹And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

²He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

³And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

⁴Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

⁵When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Colossians 3:17 (KJV 1900)

¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

---

¹  Ernest Klein, A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company 1987) ; Talshir, M. H. Segal, A Grammar of Mishnaic Hebrew (Tel Aviv: 1936), p. 146; Strong's Concordance H3091; Philo, De Mutatione Nominum, §21; Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius, Hebrew and English Lexicon With an Appendix Containing the Biblical Aramaic (Hendrickson, 1985), ISBN 0-913573-20-5. Cf. Blue Letter Bible, H3442

^[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, electronic ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[3] Michael S. Heiser, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology (Logos Bible Software, 2005).

^[4] Michael S. Heiser, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology (Logos Bible Software, 2005).

^[5] Michael S. Heiser, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology (Logos Bible Software, 2005).

Christmas Devotional Day 5

Monday-December 5

The answer that Matthew gives concerning the question of "How did Jesus come" is found in Matthew 1:18-21.

¹⁸Now 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.

The NIV gives even uses the word "how" in its translation of the verse.

 ¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be   married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

How does the birth come? Through the Holy Ghost or Spirit. Matthew helps the reader to understand that the birth was by supernatural means! John informs us that sons of God are not born of the will of man but by the will of God (John 1:12-13)! Thus Jesus who is the Son of God does not come into this world because a man wanted a savior but because God, the Holy Spirit (John 4:24) wanted a savior for humanity.

The first step of the how He would come involved the will of God coming to a human. The second step was the person accepting the will of God. The third step was God took action!

 Matthew 1:20 (KJV 1900)

²⁰But 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.

How did God take action? He overshadowed a human, and this brought about conception. The fourth step was that a person took action and believed which brought the conception into our world! It was Mary that delivered the baby!

Matthew 1:21 (KJV 1900)

²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Yesterday we looked at Luke's thoughts concerning the birth and saw he focused on the qualifications of Mary, in that, she was highly favored (Luke 1:28).  Today we see that Matthew's twice states that the means of Jesus' coming would be the Holy Ghost! The work of the Spirit was a must for God's plan to come to fruition.

The Spirit must be the main thrust of the church. We must understand that we can do nothing without the Spirit! Prayer must precede service and ministry. We must seek the face of God to be able to do a mighty work of God in our world today! The Spirit empowers us yet we must take action!

Your Response:

Take time to slowly read the scripture. Meditate on the words that describe how He came! Pray and ask God to give you hunger for the Spirit! Pray that God will reveal to you His will and purpose for your life. Once you have received and believed your purpose in life, then take action to see it fulfilled!

 Matthew 1:18–21 (KJV 1900)

¹⁸Now 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.

¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

²⁰But 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.

²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

Christmas Devotional Day 4

Sunday-December 4

Today we are exploring the question: "How did He come?" Our text to read and meditate upon is found in:

Luke 1:26–38 (KJV 1900)

²⁶And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

  

The first item that comes to my attention is that the means by which Jesus was to come was that the Holy Ghost overshadow a virgin. Mary was not any virgin she is described by two important phrases: she is highly favored, and the Lord is with thee (28, 30, 35)! These are linked together. The Lord being with her was dependent upon her being "highly favored." Her position of being preferred has come because of her keeping herself pure; that is a virgin. It is not just her physical body that has been kept clean but her spirit. She has a heart of humility (46-48). Along with a clean, pure body and soul, there is a spirit of obedience and trust. She does not understand the how (29, 34) yet she believes the what! She accepts the spoken Word. Her acceptance of the Word allows the miracle to proceed.


These principals must still be followed today if we are to be able to see the Lord come to our church and home. If we keep our spirit and bodies pure, the church will be impregnated with revival, harvest, and increase. Our purity comes from our righteous living. The foundation of our righteousness is our separation from our world.  God's favor is needed to be able to see a great move of God in the end times. A Holy God desires a Holy people (1 Peter  1:15-16) to be the conduit to bring Jesus to our world. We must submit to the spoken Word of God and allow the Word to control our spirits and actions which will cause us to become the people who have the Spirit flow through them to our world.

Christmas Devotional Day 3

Saturday-December 3

At the beginning of making plans for our Christmas Devotional, I had intended to give only two days to each question. The Lord as laid a third day on my heart concerning the question "Who is coming."

Once again we will examine Isaiah's writing. Our scripture reading will be a very familiar Christmas reading of Isaiah 7:14. , This reading will teach us about the miraculous power of God that can come to you when you understand God is with you.

As we look at this verse in its context(7:1-14) we see it is contrasting trusting a man or trusting God. The central theme of Isaiah 7-39 is trust. Should Judah and her leadership trust in the nations or trust in God. Isaiah will show to the reader that trusting in the nations will lead to destruction while trusting God will result in the creation of abundance.

Opposition come to Judah from her severed brother, the northern ten tribes Israel, and Syria (1-2). What should her King Ahaz do? Should he trust God or Assyria for deliverance? God instructs Isaiah to meet the king and to speak a word of faith (3). Do not fear nor let your heart be weak because of the anger of your enemies. Their threats of destruction expressed the enemies anger. It will not happen! They are just the smoking ends of sticks where a bonfire has been. The fire is gone, and these are all that remain. Their mighty armies are skeletons of what they once were. The test is for you to believe this Word of God! If you do not believe and trust this Word, you will live a life of doom, fear, doubt and uneasiness in the shadow of your enemies (4-9).

God then challenges him to build his faith and ask for a sign from God! Test God! See if I will come through (10-11)! But Azah will not grasp the opportunity (12). Why? Has he already made up his mind to depend on the armies of Assyria to defeat these enemies? If God through Isaiah offers a sign will that put Ahaz in the position of embarrassment that his plan was not the right one? He has depended on his skill of diplomacy instead of God. So Ahaz uses scripture to justify his actions: I will not tempt the Lord (Duet 6:16). It seems that he is trusting in Scripture but not in God which is impossible to do. You must have a little faith before you ask for a sign of confirmation. The sign can only confirm evidence of faith not create faith! He has none.

Isaiah speaks to him that you are rejecting the God who would have supported you (13). If Ahaz does not ask for a sign, then God will give a sign anyhow!

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900)

¹⁴Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

God's Word is sure! No matter that you Azah trust in the nations to protect us, you must understand we will survive your lack of faith in God! We are God's people, and God is with us! Our sign that we are God's people will be that there will be a son born to a virgin who will reign as a King of Righteousness. He will be named Immanuel which is God with us (Matt 1:21). He will lead us by trusting in the Spirit instead of the arm of the flesh for victory!

When Matthew records the words of the angel to Joseph in his dream, he states the important fact that the baby shall save His people from their sins (1:21). He backs up the thought of the importance of the name of Jesus and who it is who that is coming when he applies the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 to the birth of the Lord! The names "Jesus" and Immanuel are linked together. Who is Immanuel? It is "God with us"! The expected son to be born is God! God will be with humanity!

For the individual who invites and allows Jesus to come within their heart has God within. No matter the stress, problems or fears that they face they are not alone! God is with them! The promise of victory over your enemies is yours if you will trust God! The wisdom of the flesh that begs you to trust your thoughts and strength is utter nonsense. Your reliance upon God during your trials is true wisdom. Keep God's Word! God is with you! You will be victorious!

Your Response:

Take time to slowly read the scripture. Meditate on the words that describe the expected One! Remember what He’s done for you in the past. He has been with you always! You have made it through every trial because of Him. Pray that God will give you the strength and determination to always trust Him!

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900)

¹⁴Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:20–23 (KJV 1900)

²⁰But 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.

²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

²³Behold, 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. 

Christmas Devotional Day 2

Friday-December 2

Today our reading is found in the writings of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. His writings were very familiar to Jesus, in fact, Jesus quoted from Isaiah and Psalms more than any other Old Testament books.

Isaiah will speak of events that will come to Israel and Judah because of God's wrath for their sin. The armies of Assyria and Babylon will come in like a flood of water that you will be unable to stop! Destruction will happen! You must understand you will not be able to save yourself God alone is able to save you!

This is the theme of Isaiah. God alone saves! When the people would see Isaiah, hear his voice or even speak his name they would be reminded of the fact of that salvation comes from the Lord. His name proclaims that fact for the name Isaiah means “The Salvation of Jehovah,” or “Jehovah Saves.” Anytime you face fear whether it is fear of rejection or the fear of the future understand God alone can help you! When you appear to be up against overwhelming odds, don’t look for rescue or support anywhere else! Turn to God for only He offers His people the hope of deliverance! He has been faithful to provide salvation to His people in every era!

The dependence upon our own human resources for direction will only lead to more darkness. That had been the path of Ahaz who refused the instruction from the God. He was an unfaithful king who took the nation deeper into darkness.

The passage of Isaiah 9:1-6 that holds today's scripture reading speaks of the antiserum for the darkness which is light! The light would come as a result of the King coming! God's revelation of Himself as light would come through His Messiah as joy would sweep over the people (2-3). Why would there be joy? Because Israel will be liberated from the yoke of oppression and war (4-5). Who would bring this? It would be the King of Kings! He would come as a child able to relate to His human creation yet would be the divine ruler. God is powerful enough to overcome His enemies by becoming vulnerable, transparent, and humble.

The titles that are given in verse 6 proclaim the deity of the child. He is wonderful and the greatest counselor ever. Human wisdom will fail, but His wisdom will always give success! The phrase "mighty God' speaks of His strength! He can solve every problem! He can carry you through every battle! He is the everlasting Father that is a father who will always be there (Matt 28:20) who will outlast your need of Himself! Remember of His Kingdom there will be no end (7)! Your promise of everlasting life if He is your King! This is a birth announcement. An announce of the One who is coming!

Take time to slowly read the scripture. Mediate on the words that describe the coming One! Remember what He’s done for you in the past. Remember how He’s demonstrated through the centuries that He loves you and will care for you. Answer the question of how these words concern your individual life! Pray that God will give you the light of revelation that no matter how dark the night your God alone will help and save you!

Isaiah 9:6–7 (KJV 1900)

⁶For 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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

⁷Of 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. 

Christmas Devotional Day 1

Thursday-December 1

Our first question to think of about is: "Who is Coming?" When are we going to have visitors my wife likes to know who is coming. Is it one of our sons? Is it another family member? Is it a friend? Each question has a different response. If it is one of our sons coming to visit, then she will relax not worrying about dishes in the sink neither the clutter of the busy weekend. If it is a friend she is up with a flash picking up the clutter, vacuuming the house and placing the dishes in the dishwasher.

When we speak of Christmas, we are speaking of someone coming who is greater that Santa! Yes, He brings a gift, in fact, the preeminent gift of all, the gift of the Holy Ghost! Who is coming? The Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord (Matthew 1:21). Who is He? He is the Word of God, the creative force that brought the world into existence. He made the heavens, the Sun and the Moon, the land, and the sea and all that lives therein. This Word became flesh so He could recreate you and I and make us new! The mistakes of the past, the old life, fall away and a new life comes to us (1 Corinthians 5:17), and we become His people. Since it is our Savior, who is coming it demands a response! We should respond with worship that is passionate and forceful (John 4:24). As we read today's scripture, meditate, pray and believe that He will create beautiful things in your life! He is coming to you today to create love, joy, and peace within your heart! He is coming to make everything new!

Scripture Reading:

John 1:1–5 (KJV 1900)

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:14 (KJV 1900)

¹⁴And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:1-4 (KJV 1900)

¹God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

² Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

³ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

⁴ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Introduction to Christmas Devotional

The official start of the 2016 Christmas Holiday's has begun! Thanksgiving dinner has stretched your stomach! Your wallet is shrinking because you fought the crowds to get the best deals on Black Friday! You hope that the opposite will have happened by the time you get to the end the Christmas season! Your wallet will be stretching, and your stomach would be flat!

You love God with all your heart, but it's always a struggle this time of the year to spend time with Him. It's a battle to remember that: Christ is Always First in Christmas!

What can we do to help us keep Christ first in our Christmas Season? We can celebrate the Advent. What is the Advent? The English word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming"! It is a season before Christmas that Christians look back to the birth of Lord Jesus. It is more than remembering His first coming! It is to look forward to His Second coming!

For the next twenty-five days, I will be trying to remember these two important truths. Jesus' first coming brought me the means of salvation, that is Calvary, and His second coming will complete my salvation. How will I do this? Each day I will take the time to read and meditate on scripture from the Word of God. The scripture I will choose will be connected to these two events, that is, His first and second coming. Each day of December I will be posting a devotional with a biblical reading that will answer certain questions about these comings. Here is an example of the questions: 

            1.         Who is coming?

            2.         How did He come?

            3.         Why did He come?

            4.         Where did He come?

            5.         Who saw Him when He came?

            6.         What happened when He came?

            7.         What does His coming mean for me?

Concerning His second coming questions like the following:

            1.         Why is He coming?    

            2.         How is He coming?

            3.         When is He coming?

            4.         What happens when He comes?

            5.         What does His coming mean for me?

            6.          How to get ready for His Coming?

Let's link together, and keep Christ First during this Christmas Season!