So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.” [Mark 15:28]
Dr. Luke begins the second chapter of his God inspired Gospel informing us of a census that was being taken as ordered by Caesar Augustus. It was to count everyone that had been born in Bethlehem so that he could tax every one of them and their property. Kind of sounds like what our government does today! It was during this process that Jesus was born. God could have birthed Him at any time He chose, but He chose this time that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. Being born in the City of David He would be counted as another citizen. Just another baby boy added to the census. At His death Jesus was crucified with two transgressors, taking the place of an actual transgressor, (Barabbas), and as Isaiah 53:12 tells us, taking our place too. Now we see at His birth He was counted as one of us again; being counted just like every one else was in that day. All this happened as it did for one reason; that YOU may know that God came for YOU. He came into the world just like you did, by way of a woman. He left the world just like you will; being separated from your human body. His birth and His death was all for us so that when the time comes for us to leave this body we can go to be where He is. Now you know why the angel said, “I bring good tidings of great joy!”
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Oh yeah, He really came!
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (John 1:14 and 1 John 1 NIV)
Reality to the majority of mankind is defined or proven by the five senses; sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing. If we cannot see it, taste it, touch (feel) it, smell it, or hear it; it may not exist! That is why I am so thankful that our Creator inspired St. John to give us his testimony in regards to God becoming “real” in humanity. John could have easily said that the Word became flesh and left it at that, but he goes on to let us know that he saw Him with his eyes, he heard Him with his ears, and he touched Him with his hands! No doubt he even smelled Him in between baths, just like all the rest of the guys! Jesus was as much human as any of us are; including you.
That is another reason Christ came. We cannot say that God does not know what it is like being human. He knows exactly what it is like to experience life as a human. Christmas is a time of reflection for Christians and time of turmoil for others. That night in Bethlehem the Almighty God came to dwell among His people and by way of His Holy Spirit; is still with us today! I have not seen Him, I have not touched Him, I have not smelled Him; but I have felt Him in my heart and so can you if you will believe what the Bible has to say about Him! He came to experience you; now why don’t you experience Him?
Reality to the majority of mankind is defined or proven by the five senses; sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing. If we cannot see it, taste it, touch (feel) it, smell it, or hear it; it may not exist! That is why I am so thankful that our Creator inspired St. John to give us his testimony in regards to God becoming “real” in humanity. John could have easily said that the Word became flesh and left it at that, but he goes on to let us know that he saw Him with his eyes, he heard Him with his ears, and he touched Him with his hands! No doubt he even smelled Him in between baths, just like all the rest of the guys! Jesus was as much human as any of us are; including you.
That is another reason Christ came. We cannot say that God does not know what it is like being human. He knows exactly what it is like to experience life as a human. Christmas is a time of reflection for Christians and time of turmoil for others. That night in Bethlehem the Almighty God came to dwell among His people and by way of His Holy Spirit; is still with us today! I have not seen Him, I have not touched Him, I have not smelled Him; but I have felt Him in my heart and so can you if you will believe what the Bible has to say about Him! He came to experience you; now why don’t you experience Him?
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Virgin Birth: Totally Important!
Hey Guys, sorry about last week; got busy. Here is our message for today!
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
Virtually impossible one would think today. Science has not yet been able to “clone” a human nor will they ever do it without Gods intervention. A virgin conceiving a child is not possible either; with man. I know they implant embryos and end up with octomoms, but there was still a human male involved. Listen, the Embryo implanted in Mary was not touched by mans hands, (or any other part). God Himself, implanted Himself, into a human body, by way of the Holy Spirit! Wow! How miraculous is that? Some say it does not matter if Jesus was born of a virgin or not; they are wrong. It does matter; totally! If Mary was not a virgin then Jesus was obscured. His Blood would have had contaminated DNA. Contaminated blood, from sinful man, would not cleanse anyone from sin. No my friend, He was pure of human infirmities even though He suffered human frailties. Mary was human and was not without sin being a human, but she was a virgin and she found favor with God! She is blessed among women for giving birth to our Savior, but she is not the Mother of God, she is simply the servant He used to get here among us! Glory to God in the highest! Amen, forever and ever!
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
Virtually impossible one would think today. Science has not yet been able to “clone” a human nor will they ever do it without Gods intervention. A virgin conceiving a child is not possible either; with man. I know they implant embryos and end up with octomoms, but there was still a human male involved. Listen, the Embryo implanted in Mary was not touched by mans hands, (or any other part). God Himself, implanted Himself, into a human body, by way of the Holy Spirit! Wow! How miraculous is that? Some say it does not matter if Jesus was born of a virgin or not; they are wrong. It does matter; totally! If Mary was not a virgin then Jesus was obscured. His Blood would have had contaminated DNA. Contaminated blood, from sinful man, would not cleanse anyone from sin. No my friend, He was pure of human infirmities even though He suffered human frailties. Mary was human and was not without sin being a human, but she was a virgin and she found favor with God! She is blessed among women for giving birth to our Savior, but she is not the Mother of God, she is simply the servant He used to get here among us! Glory to God in the highest! Amen, forever and ever!
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