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Word for Today:  December 21

Proper Praying

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.Matt. 21:22

When we meet the condition of these verses we do not even have to question the possibility of our prayers being answered.  It is ALWAYS God’s will to answer any prayer that is prayed in faith for anything that is covered by the promises of God.

It is the Will of God for you and me to get what we pray for.  And we will  IF we abide in Him and His Words abide in us.  As long as you and I are in harmony with the Word of God we will not ask one thing that the Word forbids.

There are absolutely no limitations to what Believers can receive from God according to His Promises.  It is tragic that many of God’s Children are easily satisfied with falling short of so many good things when they could enjoy  a super abundance.

We have settled to a level far below what God has provided.  We have accepted a “hit or miss” and a “hope so” and “shot-gun” approach to our praying.  We have been satisfied with far less than what God has fully promised.

The Grace of God is frustrated any time we accept less than that which God has freely given us.

I do not frustrate the grace of God…  Gal. 2:21

This is the season that the entire 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.  Jesus was sent by God into 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.  This is the Miracle of the Ages.  God became Flesh.

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 is the most significant and awesome and overwhelming work of God since the Creation of all things.  It (the Incarnation) 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. 

            He came to earth because of sin.  Sin had separated God from His Children and God wanted them back.  Jesus came to redeem the human race from the fall of Adam.

Rom. 5:19   For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Jesus came to earth from heaven for your benefit and for mine.  He came in obedience to His Father.  As we begin this message, let’s notice at least six reasons why Jesus came to earth:

1. Jesus came because God said He would .

Num. 23:19   God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

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.

The heart of revealed Scripture is prophetic and Messianic in nature.  God promised our deliverance from sin’s control and dominion in the first Book of the Bible.

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 of the written Word, God accurately prophesies that Jesus will come to earth and do something about the devil. 

2.  Jesus came to heal hurting hearts.

            For 500 years there had been no Voice from God.  No prophet.  No Divine visitation.  No miracle.  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 Ceasars who considered themselves gods.  Humanistic philosophers deceived the masses through reason and rhetoric.  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.  No visitation.  No miracle.  No voice from heaven.  No prophet.  No touch from God.  The sick remained sick until they died.

The lame could not be healed.

The blind, 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.

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

            In spite of the horror of a world without God, Religion flourished.  Religion does not need God to flourish.  Most religion is without God anyway.  It is true today and it was true 2000 years ago.

During the Interbiblical Period, the Judiastic System continued on its path of rule, regulation, and legalism.

            Jesus sets men free.  Free from dead religion and man’s traditions and denominational customs.  Free from laws, rules, and regulations.  Free for bondage to carnal deacons and ungodly church leaders and 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 lived in total subjection to (1) The Law of Moses  (2) the sayings of the Prophets and (3) the Writings that had been handed down from generation to generation.  There were 613 separate laws and commandments and rules and regulations that every Jew was required to obey and keep.  That is why Jesus said of the Scribes and Pharisees:  “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. 

            The Jews kept God shut up in the Holy of Holies, behind thick curtains and unreachable by man.  But when Jesus was Crucified the veil of the Temple was “rent”….

Matt. 27:51   And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And God got out!  Jesus sets the captive free.  Just like He did for you and for me.

4.  Jesus came to Reveal the Nature of God.  To show us what God is like.

            Jesus came from heaven to earth to answer the question:  “What is God like?”  Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.  Jesus “condescended” and “made Himself of no reputation…” to reveal to you and me and all creation what God is really like.  The Incarnation of Christ is the greatest miracle of all time.  This is the season of that celebration.  All the world can now know what God is like. 

Phil. 2:5   Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phil. 2:6   Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Phil. 2:7   But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phil. 2:8   And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Phil. 2:9   Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Phil. 2:10   That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Jesus reveals the Nature of our Father God.  He said:  “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father…”  Jesus “condescended” to this earth and “made Himself of no reputation”   (He laid down (1) His equality with God  (2) The Glory He shared with the Father in Heaven  (3) His Authority in Heaven  (4) His Divine attributes and outward powers)  in order to reveal the Nature and Character of God.  Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.   Jesus “put a Face on God.”

            Jesus came from Heaven to earth to Reveal the Nature of God.

5.  Jesus came from Heaven to earth to put away sin and destroy the works of the devil.  To deliver us from sin’s control and dominion.

Hebr. 9:26   For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 athetesis {ath-et’-ay-sis}    1) abolition, disannulling, put away, rejection

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 the works of the devil.  He came from heaven to earth to put away sin… once and for all.  Under the OT system, the blood of bulls and goats, sheep, and lambs was only a temporary solution to the sin problem.  Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the Mercy Seat with the blood of an unblemished lamb.  This act of sacrifice took care of the sins of Israel for one year.  Then the procedure had to be repeated.  But Jesus came “Once for all…” and “put away sin”… Jesus’ sacrifice did not postpone sin’s judgment, Jesus’ sacrifice did away with sin… once and for all forever!

6.  Jesus came from Heaven to earth to Birth a Powerful, Overcoming, Victorious Church.  To build a 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.

Matt. 16:19   And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

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.

Luke 10:19   Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Mark 16:17   And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:18   They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The Miracle of the Incarnation:

            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   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:2   The same was in the beginning with God.

            He was and is the Agent of God in Creation. 

John 1:3   All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

            He is the Power of God that holds all Creation together.

Col. 1:17   And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

            He is the Living Word. 

            He is the Light about which John the Baptist bore witness.

            He is Lamb of God.

            He is the Suffering Servant.

            He is the Living Water.

            He is the Bread of Life.

            He is Son of Man and the Son of God.

            He is the Alpha and Omega.

            He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

            He is Messiah.

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.

He is EMMAUEL:   GOD WITH US

Word for Today:  December 20

Christ hath…

Christ hath (past tense) redeemed us from the curse of the law… that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:13; 29)

• The Believer is redeemed from the curse of the Law.
• The Believer is redeemed from Guilt and Condemnation.
• The Believer is redeemed from Sickness and Disease.
• The Believer is redeemed from Failure and Poverty.
• The Believer is redeemed from satan’s control and dominion.
• The Believer is redeemed from the penalty of sin (hell).
• The Believer no longer lives under the law of sin and death but has been redeemed and empowered to live by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:2)

“Redeemed” means purchased or ransomed in order to set free.  Therefore, the Believer is a Purchased Possession of the Father.   We are bought with the Precious Blood of His Dear Son Jesus Christ.

And we belong to and are the property of God.  We are literally God’s Possession, God’s Dwelling and God’s Building.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.  1 Cor 3:9

Word for Today: December 19

Proper Praying

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.Matt. 21:22

When we meet the condition of these verses we do not even have to question the possibility of our prayers being answered.  It is ALWAYS God’s will to answer any prayer that is prayed in faith for anything that is covered by the promises of God.

It is the Will of God for you and me to get what we pray for.  And we will  IF we abide in Him and His Words abide in us.  As long as you and I are in harmony with the Word of God we will not ask one thing that the Word forbids.

There are absolutely no limitations to what Believers can receive from God according to His Promises.  It is tragic that many of God’s Children are easily satisfied with falling short of so many good things when they could enjoy  a super abundance.

We have settled to a level far below what God has provided.  We have accepted a “hit or miss” and a “hope so” and “shot-gun” approach to our praying.  We have been satisfied with far less than what God has fully promised.

The Grace of God is frustrated any time we accept less than that which God has freely given us.

I do not frustrate the grace of God…  Gal. 2:21

Word for Today:  December 18

God chose you.

According as He hath chosen us in Him, before the foundation of the world… having predestinated (foreordained) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His Will… Eph. 1:4-5

God chose you and called you.  You are a special Selection of the Father.  He brought you into the world in this narrow corridor of time to provide you with the very best.  You are blessed.  You are chosen.  You are called.  You are favored.  God carefully orchestrated gene pool of your ancestors to produce in you the very talents and abilities that are necessary for you to be effective and victorious in the Things of God.  You are important.  You are unique.  You are special.  You are one of a kind.

God not only chose you but He also called you.  You have a calling on your life.  You have a purpose and a ministry to fulfill.  No one else can do it.  If you do not do it, it will not get done.  Every New Creation individual is called to produce and bear fruit.  To Reproduce.  To Multiply.  To Expand and Extend the Kingdom of God.

Never forget…

You are Significant

There is only ONE REAL FOOL-PROOF EVIDENCE  of the NEW BIRTH.    Jesus gave this measuring method to us in His Word.  This is the one most important characteristic of the Christian Walk.  Nothing is more important than this.  This ONE DEMAND and ONE COMMAND is basic.  Jesus talked about it more than anything else and He demonstrated it more perfectly than any other message of His earthly ministry.  He longed to see it in His disciples and He knew that it would be the basis for the New Testament Church.  If the Church is to BE what Jesus died for it to be and if the Church is to DO what He died for it to do, then this ONE THING is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

I am convinced that this is the greatest need in this hour.  It is a need for LIFE CHURCH and it is a need for all Evangelical Ministries.  It is perhaps the GREATEST NEED in your life as a Believer.  It is not impossible.  It is possible.  It is necessary.  It is vital.  It is fundamental to the continuation of the Gospel on earth.

Jesus called this a “new commandment”.  “A new commandment I give unto you…”   He said in John 13:34.  He knew that He was soon to depart from the earth and He wanted so desperately for His followers to be ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED to carry on His Ministry on earth.  He did not emphasize THEOLOGY.  He did not emphasize EDUCATION.  He did not emphasize EXPERIENCE or ABILITY.  He brought attention to the ONE THING that will GUARANTEE the CONTINUED SUCCESS of the GOSPEL MESSAGE. 

He also stated that this would be the one QUALIFYING CHARACTERISTIC that would cause the world to know how we stand with God.  “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples…”  He said in John 13:35.  BY THIS….  This is the ONE THING that will tell the world where you stand with God.  And this is the GREATEST THING NEEDED in the Christian Faith today.  I am talking about LOVE.

DIVINE LOVE or the GOD-KIND OF LOVE is AGAPE LOVE.  Notice the three kinds of love: 

(1) EROS which is animalistic, biological, natural sexual attraction.  It finds its fulfillment in gratified lust and sexual perversion.  This type of “love” is totally foreign to New Testament Love.

(2) PHILEO which is the type of love one friend has for another.  It means to “be fond of” and it comes from the head and not from the heart.  it is simple affection and sentiment.

(3) AGAPE which is the GOD-KIND of love.  It is characteristic of God and it is totally SELF-LESS.  It is deliberate assent of the will… it is released by CHOICE.  This kind of love is the underlying characteristic of God and it is this kind of love that is imputed to EVERY BELIEVER at the time of REGENERATION. 

Paul said (in 1 Corinthians 13)  that LOVE (Agape) is MORE IMPORTANT than: 

(1) Speaking in Tongues

(2) the Gift of Prophecy

(3) Understanding (revelation)

(4) Mountain-moving  Faith

(5) Giving to the poor

(6) Dying a Martyr

Love is an Affection not an emotion.  Love is a choice.  Love is a decision you make.  Love is deliberate.  Love is Active.  Love moves from Word to DEED.    

Love is not impatient but, instead, LONGSUFFERING

Love is not envious of others

Love is not self-centered, proud, haughty, or puffed up

Love is not conceited

Love is not rude or crude

Love is not touchy or fretful or resentful

Love takes no account of the evil done to it

Love does not rejoice at the failures of others

Love believes the best of every person

Love bears up under anything that comes

Love endures every hardship without weakening (I Cor 13 Amp.)

25 things the GOD-KIND of LOVE does:

1.   LOVE encourages, builds up and edifies

2.   LOVE roots out all fear  “Perfect love casteth out fear…”  I John 4:8

3.   LOVE makes your FAITH work  “Faith worketh by love…”

4.   LOVE heals sickness and keeps bodies well

5.   LOVE conquers SELFISHNESS and SELF-WILL

6.   LOVE makes MARRIAGES WORK and stops DIVORCES

7.   LOVE makes your CHILDREN OBEDIENT and RESPECTFUL

8.   LOVE builds and bonds HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

9.   LOVE covers a MULTITUDE of SIN   I Pet 4:8

10. LOVE FORGIVES and FORGETS

11. LOVE overlooks faults and weaknesses

12. LOVE endures long… is patient and kind

13. LOVE sees the BEST and BELIEVES the BEST of every person

14. LOVE will not criticize

15. LOVE will not wound or hurt or hinder

16. LOVE will not find fault

17. LOVE will not create strife and division

18. LOVE will not gossip

19. LOVE will not destroy or tear down

20. LOVE suffers in silence

21. LOVE gives expecting NOTHING in RETURN

22. LOVE speaks the TRUTH  

23. LOVE is HONEST and full of INTEGRITY

24. LOVE is GOD

25. LOVE never fails

I John 3:14-24:

14:  ASSURANCE of the NEW BIRTH is attained through LOVE.  “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren…”

14:  If LOVE is not FUNCTIONING you are abiding in death.  “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death…”  (The law of sin and death opens the door to every evil in hell)

15:  HATE drives out the FORCE of ETERNAL LIFE (Zoe).  “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him…”

16:  AGAPE is characterized by LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE for OTHERS.  “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down your lives for the brethren…”

17:  AGAPE is demonstrated by and through GIVING.  “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?…”

24:  He that KEEPETH HIS COMMANDMENTS (He that LOVES) dwells in God and God dwells in him.  “And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him and He in him…”                                                                                                                                  

1.  “FOLLOW AFTER LOVE”  (I Cor 14:1).  Determine in your heart to love.  Make a decision to love and do it.

2.  REFUSE TO LIVE IN STRIFE or BITTERNESS  Remember…. it is up to YOU!!  It takes TWO to be in strife!!  If you eliminate ONE strife will leave!!

3.  LOVE YOURSELF.  VALUE YOURSELF.  FORGIVE YOURSELF.

4.  UNDERSTAND that LOVE will TAME your TONGUE.

5.  ESTEEM OTHERS.  Make LOVE VISIBLE and AUDIBLE.

Word for Today: December 17

Choices.

Right Choices are choices and decisions that are based on the Word of God.  They have TRUTH as their foundation.  They agree with God and with God’s Word.  They line up with the plan and purpose of God for your life.

Right Choices guarantee God’s cooperation with you in every life situation.  They make you partners with God. Right Choices will bring God’s Power into play in fulfilling your dreams and visions and goals.

When you decide right you make a spiritual connection with God and no power in heaven or earth will defeat or stand against you.  All of heaven’s resources become available to you when you choose life.  And they are guaranteed and secured by the faithfulness and integrity of Almighty God.

Wrong Choices are choices and decisions that are based on the logic and reason of the World System.  They are arrived at by feeling and sight and emotion.  They are always reasonable.  Their foundation is fact and their power is limited to what man and his mind can do.  They lock one into the natural and never allow him to break into the supernatural.  Wrong choices will release demonic powers to attack and buffet.

This is humanism in raw form.  Wrong choices invite demons to possess and oppress.  Everything that is based on decisions made in natural reasoning and sense knowledge will fail.  They all have the seed of DEATH in them and death will ultimately prevail.  All wrong choices issue forth from human reasoning, natural facts, sense knowledge and a mind that has not been renewed by the Word of God.

What you choose and what you refuse determines if you win or lose

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:  December 16

There is more.

There is more in God than we have experienced.   We have not arrived and we will not “arrive” before Jesus comes for His Church.

As the Spirit of God moves across the earth there is a deepening hunger for More of HIM.  This present day outpouring is bringing focus to our Christian walk.  I don’t know about you, but I want more of God.  I want all of God that I can get.  I want to experience the fullness of God.  I want to receive the maximum anointing in God’s presence and God’s Glory.  I want more.

The exciting reality is that there is more.  We can never draw out of God all that He has.  The Bible says:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Cor. 2:9

I want more of Jesus, I want more and more

I want more of Jesus than I’ve ever had before

I want more of Jesus, Full and fresh and free

I want more of Jesus

So I’ll give Him more of me…

The Cameron singers

A New Year.  I like “new.”  Because it implies beginning again.  Starting over.  Correcting some errors and making some adjustments.   New is exciting.  Invigorating.  Encouraging.  Challenging.  It means change and improvement.  It can mean forgetting some bad things and concentrating on some better things. 

It is no accident that your Salvation is called the New Birth.  God likes New Things.  And you are enough like Him to like New Things, too.  I am going to take the advice of the Apostle Paul and Forget those things that are behind and I am going to reach forth unto those things that are before me and I am going to press toward the mark for the prize of the high and holy calling in Jesus Christ. (Phil 3:13-14)

Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Philippians 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul says several things here: 

(1)  He tells us to Forget the past. 

(2) He encourages us to Reach for the things before us and then

(3) He admonishes us to Press on…

         Now… What are you going to Forget that is behind you?  Those things that drag you down, keep you depressed and force you into seclusion.  Forget them.  Forget whatever it is that keeps you from being who and what God created you to be and then determine to reach (dream) for the things that God has promised and Press (strain, be diligent and unmovable) toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling (that what He as extended to you and me… a High Calling) that is in Christ Jesus. 

            Refuse to continue to live in the past.   You can.  You must. Even if it was good, you can do nothing to change it.  And if it was bad, sad, or depressing, there is still nothing you can do to change it.  Satan will use all these “memories” to keep you depressed or melancholy or blue, sad, defeated, or hopeless.  Forget them.  Move on.  Get up and get on with living.  The past will plague you, hinder you, and keep you from becoming what God created you to become.

         Stretch… Reach Forth…Be a Dreamer.  Dreaming is OK.  Scriptural dreaming is not fanaticizing.  Fanaticizing involves carnal appetites and cravings.  It usually deals with those things that will gratify lust or satisfy greed. Dreaming is God-Like.  God had a dream.  You are a part of His Dream and His Dream came true.  Great men of God were Dreamers.  They dreamed of fulfilling the plans and purposes of God.  Moses dreamed.  Abraham dreamed.  Joseph dreamed.  David dreamed.  The prophets dreamed.  Jesus dreamed.  Dreamers are special and necessary in producing the Will of God on earth.  Preachers should be dreamers… every believer should be a Dreamer….dreaming of bringing people into the fullness of God and into the completeness of their Redemption.  Dreaming of walking continually in the anointing of the Holy Ghost.  Dreaming of seeing the lost saved and the Gospel girding the globe…dreaming of nations coming into the Kingdom of God and of multitudes and millions being overcome with passion for God

         I know you have some things you really want to see happen in 2022.  I know you have some dreams…. Maybe some of them are being carried over from last year.   It could be that some of the dreams you had did not manifest as you thought they would.  Has the “deadline” come and gone?  Has the “time” run out?  Does it seem “too late”?  Real dreams have no deadlines.  They are so real and so vivid that you are already living in them by faith.  Be encouraged… your faith will PRODUCE the FACT of your dream…  It is real in the Spirit World and your Faith will produce it in the Natural World.  God honors His Word (even above His Name… and there is no Name greater than or higher than His Name.

         Dreamers are dangerous.  They see life bigger than it is.  They see no mountain too high to climb.  No valley too deep to cross.  No ocean to wide to overcome.  The devil fears dreamers.  He knows they are invincible.  His kingdom cannot control them.  His demons cannot defeat them.  His plans against them are futile and his weapons against them will not and cannot prosper.  Dreamers are what the Kingdom of God is made of.  Not only are we Dreamers, but we are also God’s  Dream fulfilled.  And His Dream is still a Work in Progress.  It is happening and we are a vital part of it.  He planned it this way.

         Here are some simple suggestions that will help you make your dreams come true.  If you will notice all these suggestions come directly out of the Bible.  They will work.  They will not fail.  They will produce.  The only requirement is that you must Believe.  And you can.  You have Faith… and it is enough…. It is the Measure that God gave and it was enough to get you Born Again. If it can produce the greatest miracle in the human experience (the New Birth) it can produce anything else in line with the will of God.

1.  Hold ON to YOUR DREAM.  

2.  Keep BELIEVING that your Dream will Come True. 

3. Start NOW.  TODAY.  THIS MORNING.  Begin with what you have…

            A Dream

            Faith

            Determination                                                                                            

            Confidence and

            A Little…. Will become a LOT  (Jesus and feeding the 5000) 

4. Look for ways to operate WORD and KINGDOM  PRINCIPLES  

            Jeremiah 1:12  Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I                

            will hasten my word to perform it.

5.  Press on.  Never quit.  No Matter What.   

6. Keep your Mind and your Mouth in line with the WORD.

 .

7. Make preparation NOW for visitation   

             Dig ditches.

            2 Kings 3:16  And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of   ditches.

            Borrow pots.

            1 Kings 17:12  And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

            1 Kings 17:14  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal  shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

In 2022…The rain is coming and the oil will flow.