Friday, 24 December 2010 00:00

HIS COMING CONTINUES TODAY!

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same" (Hebrews 2:14).

Joy to the world, the Lord has come. He came! This is the greatest news in all of history! What joy to celebrate His coming. We know this may not have been the time He was born (more likely the time He was divinely conceived), but the actual day is insignificant compared to the opportunity to celebrate His coming.

HOW DID HE COME?

He didn't come with pomp and ceremony. He came has a babe. Luke 2:12 tells us, "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Yes, a baby! God chose the One who will rule over all kings and nations to come as a baby. No wonder the devil hates babies, for this is the way Jesus came. I love the words of Mark Lowry's Christmas song...

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM.

I love the words of this Christmas song too...

It's still a mystery to me that the hands of God could be so small,
How tiny fingers reaching in the night were the very hands that measured the sky!
It's still a mystery to me how His infant eyes had seen the dawn of time!
How his ears had heard an angel's symphony. but still Mary had to rock her

Savior to sleep!

He didn't come with riches, but in poverty. Instead of bringing a lamb to the temple when they dedicated Jesus, Joseph and Mary could only afford pigeons. Read Luke 2:22-24 and Matthew 8:20.

Although He was divine, He came to take on our humanity and feel our infirmities. Read John 1:14; Romans 1:3 8:3; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14, 17 and 4:15.

He didn't hold on to His glory but made himself of no reputation. He became a servant. He humbled himself and submitted himself to the death of the cross. Philippians 2:7-8.

In coming in this way, He showed us the way to live. The birth of Jesus shows how to live in humility and lay down our lives for one another. This is the Christmas message.

WHAT DID HIS COMING BRING?

SALVATION!

Matthew 1:21 says, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." He is still bringing salvation to all who will receive Him today.

JOY!

He came to bring joy! The angel's message to the Bethlehem shepherds was, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be to all people For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).Not only did Jesus bring joy at His birth, but He now dwells in us to give us continuous joy! Because He came we have joy! Our joy is not dependent on our circumstances or how we feel, but Christ's joy in us. No matter what is going on in our lives we can still rejoice!

LIGHT!

He came to bring light. Luke 1:78-79 says, "The dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death." Jesus came to bring light to our darkness of despair, deception and depravity. But the wonderful thing is that He still brings light. When Jesus Christ dwells in you by His Holy Spirit, you have light in your soul, no matter how dark your situation, because He is Light. Jesus was not a little light, but "a great light" (Matthew 4:16). Now that He lives in us, He also wants us to shine and expose the darkness around us. We are not to be a flickering light but a great light!

PEACE!

He came to bring Peace. Luke 1:78-79 also tells us that the dayspring from on high visited us "to guide our feet into the way of peace." To herald Jesus' birth the multitude of the heavenly host praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men" (Luke 2:13-14). Jesus came to not only bring peace at His birth, but to bring peace to your heart! He came to dwell in your heart by His Holy Spirit to give you peace even in the midst of storms! He wants you to be a peace-maker. Oh thank you, Lord Jesus that you came!

LOVE!

We are reminded again of John 3:16, the most well-loved Scriptures in all the Bible of how God "so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son..." This was love beyond comprehension! God introduced a new kind of love into the world, agape love-love that goes beyond what people deserve, love that goes beyond how we feel about a person, love that loves even the unlovely. Jesus not only came to show us this love but to live in our hearts so that we could also experience this love and reveal it to others.

TRUTH!

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me." He came to bring truth and still continues to bring truth to us by the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Read John 14:26.

LIFE!

He came to bring life. Abundant life! Read John 14:6 and 10:10.

FULFILLMENT OF ALL MESSIANC PROPHECIES *

In the gospels we constantly read Scriptures similar to Matthew 4:14, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying..." Next time you read the Gospels notice how many times it says, "that it might be fulfilled." There are too many to list in this devotion. Some theologians say that Jesus fulfilled 365 prophecies; others say over 400. I haven't counted them myself but there are certainly more than we need to prove that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the Messiah of the world.

Aren't you glad He came as a little baby? God chose that a babe would bring salvation and one day rule the world. Don't forget at this Christmas time that we are not only remembering that Jesus came, but that He came to dwell in your heart by faith. He is still here! He is in your heart! Can you burst forth with a Hallelujah?

Love and blessed Christmas greetings to you and your precious family,

NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Thank you, dear heavenly Father for sending your only begotten son to this world. Thank you, Jesus that you came. You came at the perfect moment in history, even though you were the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Thank you that you did not leave me stranded but you sent your Holy Spirit to continually live in my heart. Your coming continues today. I am blessed forever. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I confess with Mary, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord." (Luke 1:46)

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· To check out some Messianic prophecies refer to the Scriptures below:

Fulfilled Messianic Prophecy	Old Testament Scripture	New Testament
Born in Bethlehem	Micah 5:2	Matthew 2:5-6
His pre-existence	Micah 5:2	John 1:1, 14
Born of the seed of a woman	Genesis 3:15	Matthew 1:18
Of the seed of Abraham	Genesis 12:3	Matthew 1:1-16
All nations blessed by Abraham's seed	Genesis 12:3	Matthew 8:5, 10
God would provide Himself a Lamb as an offering	Genesis 22:8	John 1:29
From the tribe of Judah	Genesis 49:10	Matthew 1:1-3
Heir to the throne of David	Isaiah 9:6-7	Matthew 1:1
Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father"	Isaiah 9:6	Matthew 1:23
Born in Bethlehem	Micah 5:2	Matthew 2:1
Born of a virgin	Isaiah 7:14	Matthew 1:18
His name called Immanuel, "God with us"	Isaiah 7:14	Matthew 1:23
Declared to be the Son of God	Psalm 2:7	Matthew 3:17
His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah	Malachi 4:5-6	Luke 1:17
Preceded by a messenger to prepare His way	Malachi 3:1	Matthew 11:7-11
Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord"	Isaiah 40:3	Matthew 3:3
Would be a Prophet of the children of Israel	Deuteronomy 18:15	Matthew 2:15
Called out of Egypt	Hosea 11:1	Matthew 2:15
Slaughter of the children	Jeremiah 31:15	Matthew2:18
Brought light to Zabulon & Naphtali, Galilee of the Gentiles	Isaiah 9:1-2	Matthew 4:15
Presented with gifts	Psalm 72:10	Matthew 2:1, 11
Rejected by His own	Isaiah 53:3	Matthew 21:42; Mark 8:31, 12:10; Luke 9:22, 17:25
He is the stone which the builders rejected which became the headstone	Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16	Matthew 21:42; I Peter 2:7
A stone of stumbling to Israel	Isaiah 8:14-15	I Peter 2:8
He entered Jerusalem as a king riding on an ass	Zechariah 9:9	Matthew 21:5
Betrayed by a friend	Psalms 41:9	John 13:21
Sold for 30 pieces of silver	Zechariah 11:12	Matthew 26:15; Luke 22:5
The 30 pieces of silver given for the potter's field	Zechariah 11:12	Matthew 27:9-10
The 30 pieces of silver thrown in the temple	Zechariah 11:13	Matthew 27:5
Forsaken by His disciples	Zechariah 13:7	Matthew 26:56
Accused by false witnesses	Psalm 35:11	Matthew 26:60
Silent to accusations	Isaiah 53:7	Matthew 27:14
Heal blind/deaf/lame/dumb	Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 29:18	Matthew 11:5
Preached to the poor/brokenhearted/captives	Isaiah 61:1	Matthew 11:5
Came to bring a sword, not peace	Micah 7:6	Matthew 10:34-35
He bore our sickness	Isaiah 53:4	Matthew 8:16-17
Spat upon, smitten and scourged	Isaiah 50:6, 53:5	Matthew 27:26, 30
Smitten on the cheek	Micah 5:1	Matthew 27:30
Hated without a cause	Psalm 35:19	Matthew 27:23
The sacrificial lamb	Isaiah 53:5	John 1:29
Given for a covenant	Isaiah 42:6; Jeremiah 31:31-34	Romans 11:27/Galatians 3:17, 4:24/Hebrews 8:6, 8, 10; 10:16, 29; 12:24; 13:20
Would not strive or cry	Isaiah 42:2-3	Mark 7:36
People would hear not and see not	Isaiah 6:9-10	Matthew 13:14-15
People trust in traditions of men	Isaiah 29:13	Matthew 15:9
People give God lip service	Isaiah 29:13	Matthew 15:8
God delights in Him	Isaiah 42:1	Matthew 3:17, 17:5
Wounded for our sins	Isaiah 53:5	John 6:51
He bore the sins of many	Isaiah 53:10-12	Mark 10:45
Messiah not killed for Himself	Daniel 9:26	Matthew 20:28
Gentiles flock to Him	Isaiah 55:5, 60:3, 65:1; Malachi 1:11; II Samuel 22:44-45; Psalm 2:7-8	Matthew 8:10
Crucified with criminals	Isaiah 53:12	Matthew 27:35
His body was pierced	Zechariah 12:10; Ps. 22:16	John 20:25, 27
Thirsty during execution	Psalm 22:16	John 19:28
Given vinegar and gall for thirst	Psalm 69:21	Matthew 27:34
Soldiers gambled for his garment	Psalm 22:18	Matthew 27:35
People mocked, "He trusted in God, let Him deliver him!"	Psalm 22:7-8	Matthew 27:43
People sat there looking at Him	Psalm 22:17	Matthew 27:36
Cried, "My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?"	Psalm 22:1	Matthew 27:46
Darkness over the land	Amos 8:9	Matthew 27:45
No bones broken	Psalm 34:20, Numbers 9:12	John 19:33-36
Side pierced	Zechariah 12:10	John 19:34
Buried with the rich	Isaiah 53:9	Matthew 27:57, 60
Resurrected from the dead	Psalm 16:10-11; 49:15	Mark 16:6
Priest after the order of Melchizedek	Psalm 110:4	Hebrews 5:5-6; 6:20; 7:15-17
Ascended to right hand of God	Psalm 68:18	Luke 24:51
LORD said unto Him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool	Psalm 110:1	Matt 22:44; Mark 12:36;, 16:19; Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13
His coming glory	Malachi 3:2-3	Luke 3:17