Christmas
Headlines
(Luke
1:26:38)
Mary was engaged to Joseph. Generally,
engagements lasted 1 year and were just
as binding and committing as marriage
itself; it could only be broken by death
or divorce. If the man who was engaged
should die, the bride to be would be
considered a widow in the eyes of the
law. Sometimes, in Judaic law we find the
strange term "a virgin widow"..
This particular biblical verse in Luke
describes the virginal birth of Jesus.
There are to reasons to accept it:
1. It leaves no
doubt the Jesus was born from Mary
without the intervention of a human
father.
2. Given the Jesus is an extraordinary
person - He is God himself - and
absolutely unique, his arrival to our
world would also have to be the same..
Mary's disposition is astounding: "I
am the Lord's servant,"
replied Mary humbly to the angel.
"May it be to me as you have
said". She was willing to accept
what God had decided for her. She did not
ask questions, nor did she condition her
disposition. Mary's attitude was that of
a believer - she was obedient to God's
will. Elizabeth declared: "Blessed
is she who has believed that what the
Lord has said to her will be
accomplished!"
It is also important to take
note of the example she set for us by
receiving the Lord's message with
humility and simpleness. She ultimately
made a decision that would radically
change her life. The privilege was so
great, but with it came the great
responsibility ahead along with the
experiences she would encounter. The
devout Simeon in Jerusalem declared: "a
sword will pierce your own soul too."
Beginning
The
Great Commission
Who is a
missionary mover? He is a
disciple of Christ who not only wishes to
be involved in the spread of the gospel
and missionary work, but also wishes to
involve others. This is obeying the Great
Commission.
2 Timothy
2:2
"And
the things you have heard me say in the
presence of many witnesses entrust to
reliable men who will also be qualified
to teach others."
If we want to see the
evangelizing world, we will have to see
more action in the "moving" of
the church. All of us are called to this
great chore. God can use anyone whol
loves Christ and people.
Bob Sjorgren and Bill and Amy
Stearns
"If the cry from your heart
is for the world, if you believe that you
have not heard God taking you to a
specific group of unreached souls, if you
are gifted naturally and spiritually to
communicate and cheer, then maybe your
strategic place is to be a 'mover'. You
can cheer, exhort, push, attract, lend a
hand, compliment and pray for a church
with a sharper vision in its global plan
and purpose of our Lord."
Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth."
Beginning
The
100 Million Dollar Man
Matthew
18:21-35
As a starting poing to their
discipleship, Jesus calls his disciples
to a life of forgiveness. He teaches us
that since we all have been immensely
forgiven, we are logically obligated to
forgive. By saying "the
kingdom of heaven is like...",
Jesus is invoking the same principle over
all of us who have been born again into
His dominion: His kingdom of love
(John 3:3-5).
This parable mentions the amount of money
owed by one of the king's servants. Of
course, the said amount would be
impossible to pay as the man was just a
servant. Based on the current monetary
exchange rates and values, the amount is
equal to approximately $100 Million
dollars, assuming that the talents were
gold. The picture, though, is quite
clear: Jesus refers to an
unpayable debt. This relates to
the equivalency of our carnal condition -
lost in sin. However, our debt is
forgiven by Jesus' sacrifice on the
cross.
The graphic description of the man, his
wife and children being sold to slavery
instead of becoming servants is not an
illustration of our Lord's work. Jesus
uses this contemporary custom to
demonstrate the destructive power and
defenselessness of man outside of God's
grace.
Canceling his debts totally and
completely, freeing him in response to
his cries, and being shown compassion by
his master, are some of the most dramatic
representations we can find in this
parable to exemplify God's forgiveness
through Christ our Lord.
Our 100 million dollar debt has
been pardoned through God's Grace!
Beginning
The
Main Point of the Church
Have you ever noticed that Jesus
launched the Church, not while someone
was preaching, but while all were
praying? In the first chapters of
Acts, the disciples were only waiting for
God. During their wait - while praising
and having communion with Him, allowing
the Lord to mold and cleanse each one -
the Church was born.
Are we living in a spiritual
atmosphere today, practicing constant
prayer? Jesus declared that His
house, His church, is a "house of
prayer" for all generations.
(Matthew 21:13)
The apostolic church was not stopped in
its advance in prayer; not by the state,
not by the Judaic religion; not even by
the improper conduct of some of its
members. In Acts 4:23-31, when the
apostles were arrested, incarcerated and
threatened unjustly, they did not try to
convince their way out of accusations.
Instead, the called a meeting for prayer.
In short time the whole place was
vibrating with the power of the Holy
Spirit and all were comforted and given
new strength to continue testifying of
God's power and might.
Beginning
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