Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle. (Psalm 24:8)
How do you count on God in your battles?
"The Advent: Day 15"
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-16 NIV)
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Can you even imagine the emotion of the shepherds? There in the darkness and quietness of night the sky burst into light. The stillness was overtaken by the loud praise of the heavenly host. It's no wonder the shepherds were terrified.
Then the angel addressed the shepherds' fear. The appearance was about "good news that will cause great joy." Jesus had been born! The Messiah had arrived! God had come . . . in the form of a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. The shepherds hurried off to find the baby, and when they saw Jesus they spread the word.
We often miss the fact that Jesus' entry into our lives is just as dramatic as the angel's announcement to the shepherds.
Our eyes, blinded by sin, are opened. The darkness becomes light. The Spirit brings our deadened heart to life. We turn from our journey away from Christ and begin walking with him. Our eternal destination is changed. God takes up residence in us. That's good news filled with great joy! Let's tell others what Jesus has done for us and what he can do for them. Let's spread the word.
Heavenly Father, thank you for preparing your servants to bring Jesus into the world and introduce him as the long-awaited Messiah. Give us the courage to introduce Jesus to our family and friends during this Christmas season. In his name we pray. Amen.
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The Holy Holidays - goTandem---
"Structure of the Bible: Prophets"
He was despised and rejected--
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
the sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:3-7)
Because Israel chose to live in disobedience, God warned them of sin's consequences and called them to repentance through the prophets.
Although no distinction is made in the Bible, the first five books in this section (Isaiah-Daniel) are often referred to as the "Major Prophets" and the remaining twelve as the "Minor Prophets." These designations describe the size of the book, not the importance of the writing.
Many prophecies are about Jesus-the Messiah-whom the people longed for. Some commentators place the number of Messianic prophecies in the hundreds. Significant Messiah prophecies include: Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 53:3-7.
In this passage, what does Isaiah say will happen to Jesus 700 years before Jesus walked the earth?
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"The Only Work"
"This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29)
What is the evidence of belief?
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