December 2015

Merry Christmas! I pray the Holy Spirit will help you realize that Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Listen to the angel Gabriel speaking to Mary before His birth:

“You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his kingdom will never end!” 1

Joy To The World...

Many of us are familiar with the Christmas lyrics, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let heaven and earth rejoice.” As you look around the world today, especially with the recent terrorism in France looming in our minds, the reality of joy seems far off. As our hearts break with the people of France, the victims, their families and loved ones, our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

The attacks are against any country that stands up against radical aggression. Under the surface, all roads point to their desire for the destruction of Israel by Persia (Iran) backed by Russia according to Bible prophecy. 2 [For a biblical prospective, Google: Bible prophecy Ezekiel 38.]

Now is the time for radical soul winning, but soon the Ezekiel prophecy will precede a great tribulation period against Israel, known as the time of Jacob's trouble. 3 One thing we know is who wins the war in the end times.

“Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because He is Lord of lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.” 4

Since the time of Abraham or for 4,000 years, this war has been going on between his sons, Isaac and Ishmael [Islam]5, from separate mothers. Until King Jesus returns, He assures us, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer [courage], I have overcome the world.” 6 The throne of David [Israel] shall be established forever as promised. 7

Be Of Good Courage...

For now, we are to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” 8 as blessed ones in Christ. Our prayers are being answered as Jews, Christians and Muslims experience peace in the city. At the same time, Israel is prepared for battle and armed to the hilt, with their citizens readied for shelter. The tribulation temple is ready to be built; the furnishings prepared in advance, while they await their Messiah. Though they didn't accept his first coming like us, they will accept His second, to them His first. Listen to what the Apostle John saw coming,

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” 9

In John’s vision as Christians, we are part of “...the armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure linen, following him on white horses.” We were raptured seven years earlier before the tribulation, returning at the second coming to rule and reign with our king over the Millennial Kingdom for a thousand years.

Knowing our future hope as overcomers in Christ gives us great courage in these last days. We have the ability to conquer fear and despair because we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. 10

The Lord Has Come...

As you can see, my faith is based upon absolute realities from God's Word [logos]. The Holy Bible is by far the most printed and best-selling book of all time. Where do you get your realities?

The key to an overcoming life is to establish our hearts and minds in our covenant with Christ. It began in Genesis chapter 12 with Abram; the Lord stating,

“And I will make of thee a great nation Israel, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 11

It is a covenant by God's grace and Abrams faith is counted for righteousness in Genesis chapter 15; c.f. Romans 4:5. Later, the Lord met Abram in chapter 17, saying,

“As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 12

Notice the promise is for many nations and Kings to come forth through Abraham, for exceeding fruitfulness, for his seed throughout generations for an everlasting covenant and for the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. This covenant continues in Genesis with Isaac (26:1-5), Jacob (28:13-15), Israel (32:24-30) and his sons (chapter 49), especially Judah (49:8-10). Then, the Covenant moves through David of the tribe of Judah and his promise throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16) given to Jesus to rain at Israel's King forever semicolon the complete genealogy in Matthew chapter 1.

Let Heaven And Earth Rejoice...

The Abrahamic covenant came 430 years before God gave the law to Moses. The law was added according to the scripture to give the knowledge of sin and the need for righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, 13 as promise to Abraham.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 14

Today, we rejoice because of the good news of Jesus Christ. Shout to the Lord, saying,

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” 15

The Apostle Paul continues,

“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy Seed, which is Christ.” 16

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” 17

The truth should cause you to celebrate the birth of Jesus like never before in your life. But only the Holy Spirit can reveal Christ to you!

Lastly, the angel Gabriel and the heavenly hosts proclaimed,

“Fear not: For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” 18

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host proclaiming God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” 19

A Prayer For You...

Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me complete access to the Abrahamic covenant, including to the throne of David through Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of lords. I pray for spiritual wisdom and insight so that I might grow in Your knowledge. I pray in my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand that confident hope You have given to those You called Your holy people who are Your rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that I will understand the incredible greatness of Your power for us who believe in Christ, which is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at Your right hand in the heavenly realms. Thank You for raising me from the dead along with Christ and for sitting me with Him in the heavenly realms because I am united with Christ Jesus. So You can point to me and all future ages as an example of the incredible wealth of Your grace and kindness toward me, as shown in all You have done for me and for those united with Christ Jesus, Amen.

Scripture references (NLT):

1 Lk. 1:31-33
2 Eze. 38:1-5,8,16
3 Jere. 30:7
4 Rev. 17:14
5 Gen. 16:11,12
6 John 16:33b
7 2 Sam. 7:12-16
8 Psa. 122:6
9 Rev. 19:11-16
10 Rom. 8:37
11 Gen. 12:2,3 KJV
12 Gen. 17:4-8 KJV
13 Rom. 3:20-22; ch 4
14 Rom. 6:23
15 Gal. 3:13,14 KJV
16 Gal. 3:16 KJV
17 Gal. 3:26-29 KJV
18 Lk. 2:10,11 KJV
19 Lk. 2:13,14 KJV