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Word for Today:  November 30

A Higher Call

God calls His People into realms beyond the natural.  We are birthed into a higher dimension when we get Born Again.     The New Creation is delivered from the “old things” and brought into the realm of “all things new”.   The Word says “we are in the world, but not of the world…”  We are citizens of “another country” and we have been raised up to sit with Jesus in “heavenly places…”   The New Testament is the Believer’s Instruction Manual.  It tells us how to Live in the realm of the Supernatural and it gives instructions about how to live Heaven’s Life here on earth.

The majority of the Church is living far below the full potential God has birthed in it.  Most who make up the Church do not know the hidden forces that are in them.  The very Forces that make God, God are inside every Believer…  There is great and awesome potential inside every New Creation in Christ.  Why do you think the Word tells us that we “can do all things through Christ…”  Why do you think God tells us that “nothing shall be impossible to you…”  Why do you think God promises us that “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven…”  We are called to be “more than conquerors…” and we have been equipped with mighty weapons of warfare that are “not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds…”  God is calling you and me to SEE THE INVISIBLE and DO THE IMPOSSIBLE…   Heb 11:27

Live in your Supernatural Dimension

Matthew 2

1 ¶ 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,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

When we speak of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we are not speaking about the book of Revelation but a personal, overwhelming, life changing revelation of Jesus.  As The Christ.  As The Messiah.  As The Anointed One.  As The Son of God.  As The Living Word.  As The Savior.  As Our Lord.  As Our Redeemer.  As Our King. 

I believe that the One Thing needed in this hour of trial and tribulation is for us to come into a fresh Revealed Knowledge of Jesus.  Paul wrote in Philippians:

Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Paul’s One Life Driving Force was that he might KNOW JESUS.  That he might Know Him in Power (that would be good times).   That he might know Him in times of suffering (that would be hard times).  That he might know Him in times of sacrifice. 

At this particular stage in my life I want to Know Him.  Know Him every way I can know Him.  Know Him in every possible situation of life. Know Him in good times in hard times in times of sacrifice and rejection and pain and even death. 

We have been so guilty of running after theological concepts and pet doctrines and a feel good Gospel that we have all, I believe, fallen away from our First Love.  And that is dangerous.  Jesus is what it is all about.  Jesus is what Church is about.  Jesus is what the Believers life is about.  That is what is of prime importance.  He is the Main Thing.  Not some Thing but the Main Thing.  He is the foundation and the corner stone of all things.  I want a fresh and life changing revelation of Who He Is and What He Does.  Are you with me??

Now, what can we discover about Jesus in the Word?  How does the Word tell us about Who Jesus is and What Jesus does?  Remember, the Word is our best and most reliable Revelation of Jesus… all else (all books written about Him and all study about Him and all research about Him) are all futile and less than adequate in our quest to Know Him.  As we search the scriptures we find some very remarkable things about Jesus.  Things that can help us as we seek to know more about Him.  However, knowing about Jesus is, in itself, not the main thing.  The Main Thing is to KNOW HIM… remember, that is what the Apostle Paul had a heart for… to KNOW HIM… really Know Him.  Personally.  Intimately.  Supernaturally. 

Our study at this time will consider Jesus as Prophet, as Priest and as King… these three offices are well defined and well substantiated in the Word.   In many places in the OT, the Word informs us that the office of Jesus is three-fold, the office of a Prophet and the office of a Priest and the office of a King. 

Jesus fulfills the office of a Prophet

Deut 18

15 ¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet (notice the capitalization: a designation of a proper noun… a name) from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

18  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Acts 2

22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Jn 4

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

Now, what is a prophet?  What does a prophet do?  What does he say?  What is his purpose?  If the Bible says that Jesus fills the office of a Prophet, then we need to know everything we can about a prophet.  The word “prophet” means “spokesman” or “speaker” in the Hebrew.  In the NT the word ‘prophet’ means “one who declares to men what he has received by inspiration from God.”  He is a foreteller as well as a forth teller.

A prophet speaks for God to God’s people.  He is God’s representative to God’s People.  He is responsible to tell people what God is saying and what God is planning and what God is preparing and what God is doing.  He speaks regarding the Now and also regarding the Future.  A prophet is necessary to keep the Body informed and abreast of the plan and purpose of God.  He speaks in agreement with the Word of God and the Will of God.  What He says can be checked out with the scriptures.  And he can be judged as a true prophet by the fact that what he prophecies comes to pass. 

Jesus perfectly fills the office of a Prophet since He speaks for God to us… and He has spoken (and still speaks) to us…

Heb 1

1 ¶ God, 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;

God has spoken to us by His Son… 

Jesus fulfills the office of a Priest

In Hebrews 7: 17 there is a reference to Jesus who would be a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec…

1. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec

In Hebrews 9:11 again   But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come…

Question:  What is a priest?  What does a priest do?  What does he say?  What is his office all about?  In the Bible a priest is one who offers sacrifices.  He represents God’s people to God. A priest speaks for God’s people to God.  Jesus is our Faithful High Priest since He has shed His Blood for us… representing us to God and speaking to God for us.  As our High Priest He pleads to God in our behalf and is our Advocate or Lawyer as we stand in Presence of God. 

1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (Representative for us) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus fulfills the office of a King

Rev 19 reminds us that He is presently reigning as a King. 

11 ¶ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Do you know who that is talking about?  That’s talking about Jesus.  KING of Kings and LORD of Lords… The Jesus I know is not a meek and mild baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying helpless in a manger but He is a reigning, ruling King.  All power and all authority have been given to Him and all Power and all authority is HIS. 

Matthew 2

1 ¶ 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,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

The wise men came looking for Jesus… (and they still do) you know how they looked for Him?  They came looking for a King.  They came to ask questions and what they asked was” Where is He that is born who is King of Jews?”  So before He grew into manhood and filled His Office as a King He was already known to be the King of the Jews

Jesus is King.  And He is reigning over a Kingdom.  His Kingdom is without end… it will last forever… it is eternal.  And we are in it.  Hallelujah.

Isa 9:7  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 forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Lu 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

A prophet speaks for God to God’s people.  A Priest speaks for God’s people to God.  Now what does a king do?   A King Rules and Reigns.

Now we can better understand Jesus as King if we consider the role of an earthly king.  We need to think in terms of an earthly king ruling on this earth.  That is the best way for us to illustrate it. 

First, an earthly King is not elected to that office.  He is born by Royal Blood.  An earthly king is never given his office through a democratic election or selection.  He is in line to sit on the kingly throne because of his lineage and the royalty of his blood.  A king is born to be a king.  A king is never given a throne because of the will of the people.  A king cannot be elected.   Jesus was not elected.  He was not selected by a process of elimination. But He has the authority, the power  and the right to rule as a King because He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of a virgin and in His veins flows the very Blood of His heavenly Father.  He was and is Born to be a King.

Secondly, an earthly king possesses absolute authority.  In other words, if He did not or could not exercise absolute authority he would not be a king.  A king possesses absolute power and authority.  On his lips rests the power of life and death…  If he speaks, then the words that he speaks become law and they demand perfect and total obedience because the King has spoken.  Jesus is King.  He is Born a King and He possesses absolute power.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

A king is not a king if he does not have some power.  He’s got to have power in order to be a king.  How much power does it take to make a King?  As much as you can get.  How much power does Jesus have?  All of it.  Every bit of it.  All power both in heaven and on the earth has been given to Jesus Christ and the word “power” here in Matthew means authority, right and ability.  A king possesses absolute authority and absolute power. 

Thirdly, an earthly king is recognized by all subjects as the one who is in control.  Everybody recognizes a king as the boss.  He is recognized by those over whom he rules as the one who is in control of all things.   He is respected and feared because of Notice what the Bible says regarding the control that Jesus has…

“For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers… all things were created by Him and for Him and He is before all things and by Him all things consist or hold together… and He is the Lord of the body (the church0) He is the beginning the First Born from the Dead that in all things He might have the preeminence…”  A king is recognized as the one who is in control. Let me ask you something… who is in control right now?  The devil would try to make you thing that he is in control he would like to get everybody believing that he is running all things, but the devil is a liar and truth is not in him… he is not in control!  He has had his authority taken away from him.  I will tell you who is in control… the KING is in control!  And the King is Jesus.

A king is only able to rule over a territory or kingdom the size of which he has the power to control.  If a king has a kingdom and another king rises up that is stronger that he is and who has a greater army what happens to the first king?  He loses control of his territory.  He is only able to control as much territory as he has power to control.  All power has been given to Jesus…both in heaven and in earth and He is in control and there is no dominion and there is no kingdom and there is no power that is able to come against Him because He is All Power… He has all the power that is.  All is ALL and He has all of it. 

Fourthly, a king receives recognition from powers that are lesser than his.  What happens when a mighty king comes on the throne and begins to rule over a large domain… the little kings around him say “well we better make friends with the big king because he’s got a big army and he is able to exercise authority over us and he over run us if he wants to and he defeat us and he can tax us and he can restrict us and he can control us… we better pay homage to him and recognize him as the big king who has more power than we have.”  If he has greater power then all the kingdoms around him recognize that he is The King.  The Big King. The Boss.  Now that’s just like Jesus… and the lesser kingdoms have to recognize that Jesus is really THE KING… 

In Acts chapter 19  the Apostle Paul was going everywhere getting people saved and healed and delivered and baptized in the Holy Ghost and casting out devils and creating quite a stir wherever he went. And the sons of Sceva began to watch Paul. When he would preach the Word people would get under conviction and come and he would lay hands on them and cast out devils. And the sons of Sceva said “you know, this guy has got something going… lets us try this.”  And so they decided to attempt to do what Paul was doing.  So they began to preach and sure enough a man came who was full of the devil.  He was demon possessed.  And they began to prophecy over him and said “we adjure thee devil and we command you to come out of this man in the Name of the Jesus who Paul preaches…”  The devil that was in the man said “I know Paul and I know Jesus but who in the world are you?” And the demon came out and those poor impersonators were attacked by the devil…their clothes were torn off they were beaten and bruised and they fled naked and wounded.  You know why?  The devil recognized that Paul was greater than they were had and more powerful and had more authority than they had. They recognized the superior power and authority of Jesus. 

Number five.  A king rules over a kingdom of subjects who are submitted to him  Jesus is Kingover an invisible kingdom.  Dic you know that the kingdom over which Jesus rules alive and well all over the earth today?  Everywhere on every continent in every climate in every hemisiphere and every nation and every land the Kingdom over which Jesus rules in alive and well and strong and powerful.  \It is not seen by the naked eye it is not recognized by resident powers it is not recognized by people inprominence  The kingdom of God at this moment is invisible and Jesus isruling over the hearts of men and soon injust a matter of pmoths perhaps this kingdom isgoing to become a visible kingsom  and Jesus is going to rule and reign where everybody will be able to see Him and every knee will have to bow and every tongue will have to confess that He is King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is ruling over an invisible kingdom but shortly that kingsom will become a visible kijngdom

Acts 19

13 ¶ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Phil 2

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That is King Jesus…

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

A king is recognized by lesser powers around him All the demons of hell recognize that Jesus is Lord and that He is King and He possesses all authority and all power.  The devil has tried to make you not believe this… but the Bible says that even the devils tremble when the Name of Jesus is mentioned.  And the reason they tremble is because they recognize that He is a King who has more than they have.  

Number six.  A king rules over a kingdom of subjects who are submitted to him.   Jesus is King over an invisible kingdom.  Did you know that the kingdom over which Jesus rules is alive and well all over the earth today?  Everywhere on every continent in every climate in every hemisphere and every nation and every land the Kingdom over which Jesus rules in alive and well and strong and powerful and thriving.    This kingdom is not seen by the natural eye and it is not recognized by resident powers.  It is not recognized by people of prominence The kingdom of God at this moment is invisible and King Jesus is ruling over the hearts of men. Soon this kingdom is going to become a visible kingdom and Jesus is going to rule and reign where everybody will be able to see Him and then every knee will have to bow and every tongue will have to confess that He is King of kings and Lord of lords.   Hallelujah.

Are you subject to King Jesus?  Have you bowed the knee of your heart to Him?  Does He occupy the Throne of your heart?  Is He your Lord?  If He is then you are willingly submissive to Him.  You delight in pleasing Him.  You determine to stick with Him even if it costs you your life.  You want Him.  You want to Know Him.  You love Him.  You have a passion for His Will. 

If you have not recognized Jesus as King and Lord will you do it NOW?

Word for Today:  November 29

What really happened at Calvary?

We have read about the Crucifixion, heard sermons on the Crucifixion, studied about the Crucifixion, but in reality very few know and understand what happen on the Cross.  What we believe about the Cross will determine the depth of our Revelation of Jesus.

Justice had decreed that sinful man must pay the penalty for his transgression.  The Human Race stood guilty of spiritual high treason before God.  Man had turned away from God and embraced the devil.  However, the human race was impotent, helpless and incapable of meeting the demands of justice.

“I owed a debt I could not pay,

He paid a Price He did not owe,

I needed Someone just to wash my sins away,

And now I sing a brand new song:  Amazing Grace!

Christ Jesus paid the Price that I could never pay!”

And so out of the Heart of God comes the solution to the human problem.  Jesus steps forward and declares:  “Here am I, send Me…”  And so toward the Cross He goes.

Calvary is center stage for the entire human race.  What happened there is the pivotal point of all history.  Calvary is more than the death of Jesus at the hand of His enemies.  Calvary is more than the suffering and horror of such inhumanity and torture.

• Calvary involves Jesus and it involves God.
• It involves man and it involves sin.
• It involves time and it involves eternity.
• It is the place of a divine Exchange

Here, Jesus became what man is in order than man can become what Jesus is.

“God made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him…”  II Cor. 5:21

What a Deal

This is the season that the whole world recognizes and celebrates the Miracle of the Ages.  Nothing in time or eternity can match the significance of what happened on a Judean hillside nearly 2000 years ago.  All of time has been divided into “before” and “after” because of this Divine Visitation.  Jesus came.  Jesus came from heaven to the earth.  He came in the form of flesh and was born of a virgin.  This had never happened before and it will never happen again.    

John 1:14   And 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.

The Incarnation of Christ is the most significant and awesome and overwhelming work of God since the Creation of all things.  It is the crowning achievement of the Work of God and is the most complete expression and revelation of His Nature and Character.  God became flesh.  And He dwelt among us. 

Sin had separated God from His Children and God wanted them back.  Jesus came to redeem the human race from Adam’s sin and transgression.

As we begin this message, let’s notice some reasons why Jesus came to earth:

1. Jesus came because God said He would

 Isa. 7:14   Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Gen. 3:15   And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The moment Adam sinned, God set in motion a Plan to redeem His Dream.  Here God promises to do Something to bruise the head of satan.  The “It” that will bruise satan’s head is the seed of a woman.  That Seed is Jesus.  The bruise that satan renders to the Seed of woman is the Crucifixion of Jesus.  Here in the very beginning,  God  prophesies that Jesus will come to earth and do something about the devil. 

2.  Jesus came to heal hurting hearts.

500 years passed between the OT and the NT   During that time there had been no Voice from God.   Human hearts were stricken with barrenness.  The whole earth was held in the bondage of a Spiritual drought.  Men were desperate.  The world was waiting in great need for something to happen.

Godly people were kept in slavery by a fierce anti-God government.  Rome.  This Empire was governed by Ceasars who considered themselves gods.   The armies were cruel, sadistic, savage and merciless.  Injustice prevailed.  Slavery was enforced.  Oppression was unbearable. 

In this harsh setting, there was a cry for God.  For 500 years there had been No visitation from God.  No miracle.  No voice from heaven.  No prophet.  No touch from God.   

• The lame could not be healed.
• The blind and deaf and dumb had no hope of a cure.
• The oppressed had no escape.
• Men were burdened.  Bruised.  Broken.  There was no answer.
• The world was in great need for a Spiritual Awakening.

Jesus came from heaven to answer the cry of a needy world.  And He is here today for that Same Reason.

3.Jesus came to break the bondage of dead religion.

During this time of the horror of a world without God, Religion flourished.  Religion does not need God to flourish.   

                                                                                                            Jesus sets men free.   Free from laws and rules and regulations.  Free from bondage to unscriptural church government.     Jesus said that we would and could know the TRUTH (the Gospel) and the TRUTH would make us FREE.

The Jews in Jesus’ day were required to obey and keep 613 separate laws and commandments and rules and regulations.

 They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men’s shoulders: but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers…  (Matt. 23:4)

Jesus came from heaven to earth to break the shackles of dead religion.  Religion builds walls.  Jesus tears them down.  Religion separates.  Jesus joins together.  Religion kills.  Jesus gives Life. 

4.  Jesus came To show us what God is like.

Joh_14:9  Jesus saith unto him… he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;  

Jesus came from heaven to earth to answer the question:  “What is God like?”  Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.  Jesus came to earth to reveal to you and me and all creation what God is really like.  All the world can now know what God is like. 

Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.   Jesus came to earth and “put a Face on God.”

5.  To deliver us from sin’s control and dominion.

1John 3:8 …For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus came from heaven to earth to undo what the devil did.  He came from heaven to earth to put away sin… once and for all.  Under the OT system, the blood of bulls and goats and sheep and lambs was only a temporary solution to the sin problem.   But Jesus came “Once for all…” and  forgives and forgets our sin forever.

6.  To give Birth to a Powerful, Overcoming, Victorious Church.   

Matt. 16:18   And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;  and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Acts 1:8   But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus is more than a Babe in a Manger.  Jesus did not come into being at His birth.  He is and has been co-existent with God and is without beginning and without end.  He is Eternal.  He was with God in the Beginning. 

John 1:1-3   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Col. 1:17   And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (Are held together)

John’s description of Jesus in the Book of Revelation:

Rev. 1:13   And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev. 1:14   His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev. 1:15   And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Rev. 1:16   And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev. 1:17   And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev. 1:18   I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.  Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!

MOST IMPORTANTLY….

Jesus not only came to earth for you, He also died on the Cross for you.  Do you know Him?  Have you received Him into your life as your Savior?  Have you called on Him to forgive your sin and save your soul?   Will you receive HIM TODAY?

Word for Today:  November 23

Jesus’ self-emptying.

(Jesus) Who existing in the Form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation (Kenoo) and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…  Phil. 2:6-8

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel…  Isa. 7:13

The Kenosis of Jesus is a Foundation Truth that many have failed to grasp.  Kenosis or “self-emptying” simply declares that Jesus willingly “emptied” Himself of His God Characteristics and condescended to the stature and state of a man… a human being… born of a woman… and came to earth to live and die as part of God’s Plan to Redeem Man from Adam’s failure.

Jesus laid down and left in heaven certain characteristics and privileges He exercised as God.  He willingly emptied Himself of His God Form… His God Power… His God Knowledge… His Eternal Life.  He became subject to sickness, disease, death, failure, sin and any and all human liabilities and limitations imposed by Adam’s sin and failure.  The Scripture tells us that:

He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin… (Heb. 4:15)

Jesus willingly and obediently subjected Himself to the possibility of sin and the possibility of failure when He put off His God Characteristics and took on Himself the form and limitations of humanity.  He literally risked His Deity.

But He was Victor over temptation.  He was Victor over sin.  He was Victor over every human weakness.  He was Victor over all…

Even death and the grave

Jesus, the Promised One, came to earth in the most uncommon manner.  He was born into a poor family.  He was deprived of the privileges that Royalty usually enjoyed.  His nursery was a barn, His bed was a feed trough and his blankets were grave clothes.  His first visitors were farm animals and poor shepherds.  He came into the world and no one noticed.

As He grew in wisdom and stature, He lived among the poor and oppressed.  He was a carpenter… He worked with His hands.  Leaders ignored Him and religious people misunderstood Him.  He was befriended by the common people… the lepers looked for Him.  The blind called for Him.  The sinful sought Him.  The demon possessed cried out to Him.  The poor and forgotten and the hurting and the helpless received Him and Believed Him and Loved Him and Worshipped Him. 

Jesus was never popular with the Religious Crowd.  He was too radical and revolutionary.  He did not think like they thought, act like they acted or talk like they talked.  He broke tradition and challenged custom.  He did not fit into their mold.  He was Different.  An Iconoclast.

Jesus lived a life like no man had ever lived.  He loved His enemies.  He prayed for His critics.  He forgave His tormentors.  He took time for the little children and confounded the wisest of the wise.  He worked miracles.  He stopped storms.  He healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out devils.  He fed the hungry and visited the poor.  He would not bend to the opinions of men nor seek popularity by compromising His ministry.

He was faultlessly accused, illegally tried and wrongfully crucified.  He was guiltless.  He was sinless. He was the Epitome of Love.  Sacrifice.  Compassion.  Selflessness.  He was stripped of His dignity, shamefully scorned, and mercilessly scourged.  He was marched through heckling crowds and mocked by wearing a crown of thorns.  He was spat upon.  Cursed.  Abused and bruised.  But, the most unbearable pain He experienced was His annihilation and separation from His Heavenly Father.  He died.  Alone. A criminal’s death.  Becoming sin for you and me. 

That’s the Real Meaning of Christmas.

Word for Today:  November 22

Behold His Glory.

…but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed (transformed) into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord… 2 Cor. 3:18

Most are tired of the rigors or religion.  Many are frustrated with the shallowness and emptiness of methods, formulas, and quick-fix programs.  Some have become disillusioned and disappointed by the merchandising and man-management of the Gospel.

Often, Preachers become Spiritual Super Stars and ministries become Kingdoms that cater to the carnal.  Where are the Prophets?  Where are the Elijahs and the John the Baptists?  Where are the Pauls and the Silas’ and the Stephens and the Mary Magdalenes?  Where is the Simple and Straight forward presentation of Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God unto Deliverance?

We can worship ministries.  We can worship methods.  We can worship ministers.  We can worship music.  We can worship Praise.  We can even worship worship.  I want to Worship Jesus.  I want to Behold Him and His glory.  (John 1:14)

Let’s minimize the methods and maximize the Master

Word for Today:  November 21

The Kingdom

“Religious” thinking (this is always a big problem) has removed the Kingdom from where it really is to where we think it is.  When we think of “heaven” we think “far away.”  We think “eternity.”  We think “after we die.”  We think “sometime in the future.”

The devil sees to it that we think wrong about the Kingdom and where it is.  Because he knows that when we find out the Truth, he is doomed.

The Kingdom is in (or within) every believer.   If you are a believer, the Kingdom is inside of you.  Jesus said the Kingdom of God is “within” or “inside” of you.

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within (entos:  within, inside) you.”  Luke 17:21

Now, just what is in the Kingdom?   What is there?  What is inside of you?

• Life
• Health
• Peace
• Joy
• Power
• Success
• Prosperity
• Boldness
• Love
• Faith
• Forgiveness
• Patience
• Strength
• Soundness of mind

In fact “all things that pertain to life and godliness” are in you. (2Pet 1:3)   It is all there.  It is inside of every believer.  It came at the time of your conversion.  It is the Kingdom of God and it has come.  It is the Answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in Matthew chapter 6.  It will function when you let it.

All Kingdom resources are in you.

Word for Today:  November 20

What matters to Jesus.

Heart condition matters to Jesus.  The Word tells us that He looks on the Heart… not the outward appearance.  What is in your heart and the condition of your heart will determine the depth of your relationship with Jesus.

What comes out of your mouth was first in your heart.  How you feel toward others and toward God and toward the Church comes from the inner most part of your re-created Human Spirit… your heart.

Revival and Restoration comes from the “reconditioning” of the heart…. Commitment and dedication and fruit production all come from the “reconditioned” heart.  How is your heart?  Are you plagued with “heart trouble”?  The kind of coldness and indifference that is spiritually fatal?

The “don’t care” attitude and the “good-enough-as-I-am” and “satisfied as is” attitude is the direct result of a hardened heart… an “evil heart of unbelief” (Heb. 3:12).

Check your heart

Word for Today:  November 19

Seek Him.  Find Him. Know Him.

Let your driving passion be to seek Him and find Him and know Him.  God tells us:

And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart… Jer. 29:13

Searching and Seeking “with all our heart” is the Key.  Many times our relationship with Jesus has been weakened and watered down… it has been prostituted and compromised… and as a result we do not seek Him with “all our heart.”   It could be that we have been too busy working for Him.  Perhaps we are too busy “going to church” and learning the latest trend and the newest formula and the next Revelation.

What do you really desire in your heart as far as your Spiritual Welfare is concerned?   What do you want most out of “Church”?   For what main reason do you attend church?

Some come to get healed.  Some come to learn how to prosper.  Some come because they like the music and the joy and the exuberance of the services.  Some come to hear the pastor.  Some come because they feel “obligated” and it relieves their conscience.  Some come to be with friends and some come to be with family.

All of these are good.  None are the best.

Come to seek Him

Come to know Him

Come to worship Him

Come to fellowship with Him

Come to love Him

Come to Behold His glory