A verse to end this year

Eze 40:1 It was the tenth day of the new year, which was the twenty-fifth year after we had been taken into exile and the fourteenth year after Jerusalem was captured. On that day I felt the powerful presence of the LORD, and he carried me away.

Man has been talking about the new year for many many years. I hope that you have a safe and a God lead NEW year.

A verse for 12/30/11

Luk 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

And that, my friend is the real meaning of Christmas!!

A verse for 12/29/11

Luk 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Jesus grew in a very normal process of human growth. Jesus, it says in John 1:14, was the Word made flesh that dwelt among us.

A verse for 12/28/11

Luk 2:21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Just like any other Jewish baby they wanted to be sure this one had the sign of the covenant, circumcision, the cutting away of the foreskin. That would be done to the little baby Jesus just like any other baby. This is not some bizarre, some strange weird creature that's come into the world, this is fully God yes, but fully man yes as well.

A verse for 12/27/11

Luk 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

And the amazing and astounding thing is, how can a woman bring forth one who is totally human without the aid of a human father? That's as profound a mystery as how the child could be God...for it demands the infinite miracle as well. This is a real human being.

A verse for 12/26/11

Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Luk 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

"Joy to the world the Lord is come." The song says.

I hope you had a good Christmas day.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS VERSE FOR YOU!

Luk 2:6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
Luk 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son….

Now while they were in Bethlehem, the days were fulfilled. That is to say her nine- month pregnancy had run its course. The normal nine-month period had taken place. This is a very normal birth. It is not a normal conception. Jesus Christ was conceived by the work of the Spirit of God but He was born through the normal processes of the body of Mary.

A verse for 12/24/11

Luk 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord

The angel announces to the shepherds that there will be born this day in the city of David a Savior who is none other than the Messiah, the Lord..the Lord Himself!

A verse for 12/23/11

Luk 1:43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Even Elizabeth says to Mary, "Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" She recognizes that her relation, her own kin, Mary, is to give birth to the Lord Himself.

A verse for 12/22/11

Mat 1:19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
Mat 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Now the same thing is told to Joseph; “that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
That which is conceived in the womb of Mary, is conceived there by the Holy Spirit.

A verse for 12/21/11

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

What an amazing statement! “She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit!”
How can that be?

A verse for 12/20/11

I know this is a lot of reading, and that you are very busy; but go on and read it.

Joh 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
Joh 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
Joh 5:22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
Joh 5:23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Joh 5:25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Joh 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
Joh 5:27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

Now notice the terminology all through this passage is Father/Son, Father/Son, Father/Son, Father/Son. And what the Father/Son relationship of God and Christ intends to communicate is equality of nature, equality of work, equality of power, equality of authority, equality of judgment and equality of honor. That is to say Jesus is God...Jesus is God. And so when the angel says to Mary He shall be called the Son of the Highest, she is saying this is the Son of God who is equal in every way with God. And when Jesus claimed that the Jews knew that's what He was saying. The child is God. What an incredible, what an amazing, what an astonishing and astounding and almost unbelievable voice ringing in their ears that your child, your little baby that you bear in your womb and hold in your arms is the living God.

A verse for 12/19/11

Joh 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
Joh 5:22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

Thirdly He says (talking about Jesus and God) we are not only equal in nature and equal in work but we're equal in power, He says I have the same power to raise the dead physically and spiritually that God does. We are equal in power.

A verse for 12/18/11

Joh 5:19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
Joh 5:20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

The second thing He says, not only does He claim to be equal in nature but equal in works, look at verse 19. Now He claims to be equal in works. He says whatever I do is exactly what God does. And if you're going to indict Me for breaking your Sabbath, then indict God, tell God He broke your Sabbath because I'm only doing what God is doing. I follow God. He is the one working and I am the one working. And what He does, I do. So if you accuse Me, you accuse God. Incredible statement. I don't do anything by Myself, whatever the Father does, that's exactly what I do. Whatever He wants Me to do He shows Me to do. So your argument is with God because we're equal in works.

A verse for 12/17/11

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Regarding yesterday’s verse someone might say, "Well what about when God created in six days and on the seventh day He rested?" Listen, don't for a minute believe that on the seventh day God completed rested. All He rested from was the creation because it was finished. God rested from His creation but if God had gone to sleep at all, everything that He created would have disintegrated. He upholds everything by the word of His power. God rested from the creative process, God didn't rest from doing what God must do to hold everything together.

A verse for 12/16/11

Joh 5:16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."
Joh 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Joh 5:19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

The Jews were persecuting Jesus and they actually sought to kill Him because He had done some healing on the Sabbath day. He had violated their man-made Jewish tradition by healing on the Sabbath and making a man carry his bed, which they thought to be a violation of their tradition. Now Jesus responds to them. He answers them in verse 17 and His answer is an absolutely amazing affirmation of who He is. First of all He says, "My Father works in this way and I work," therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him because He not only had broken the Sabbath but said also that God was His Father, making Himself...what?...equal with God. To the Jewish mind to say "God is My Father" is to say that I'm of the same essence as God. And that's exactly what was intended to be said by the angel to Mary. Now what is so devastating to these Jewish people is that when Jesus says "My Father works and I work," He is claiming to be equal in nature with God. Did you get that? Equal in nature with God. He's really saying this, look Mark 2:27 said it, "Sabbath was made for man." The Sabbath was made for man, not for God.

A verse for 12/15/11

Heb 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Heb 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Remember this verse? Luk 1:35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.

That is to say, nothing less than the obvious, its intent is to say Jesus is God. To say that Jesus is the Son of the Highest is to say that He bears the character, nature and essence of the highest. Son does not imply that God is a great God who begot a subgod, and Jesus is a subgod. It is to say that Jesus bears the same life, the same essence and the same nature as God. That is what Heb 1:1-3 says.

A verse for 12/14/11

Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
Rom 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Rom 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Rom 1:6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

The amazing Child, for His name’s sake, has brought about the obedience of faith to you! You who are called.

A verse for 12/13/11

Psa 21:7 For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Psa 46:1 To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Psa 46:3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
Psa 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

The title then sums up all of the elements of the sovereignty of God. He is sovereign in every dimension possible, sovereign over nations, sovereign over nature, over the unrighteous, over the righteous, sovereign over the people He has redeemed and sovereign over all that is evil and all that is good, that is to say He is the Most High. There is none as high as He is. He is God above any other gods. He is God supreme. And that is this amazing Child that is to be born to Mary and Joseph.

A verse for 12/12/11

Lam 3:37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
Lam 3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?

The Most High, is sovereign over all evil and all good.

A verse for 12/11/11

2Sa 22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice.
2Sa 22:15 And he sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them.

The Most High is seen in His sovereignty over nature, His control over all the created universe. So He is sovereign over nations, He is sovereign over nature.

A verse for 12/10/11

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

This is the first time in the bible this term is used. Then it becomes a very common title for God in the Old Testament. And wherever it is used it gives us the feeling of God's sovereign surpassing power, His ultimate supremacy. There is no one higher than He is, He is the highest in authority and in preeminence.
Now the use of that term, the Most High, helps to point out the range of God's surpassing supreme sovereignty. For example, in Deuteronomy 32:8 we read, "The Most High divided to the nations their inheritance." In Psalm 47:2, "The Lord Most High is awesome, He is a great King over all the earth." And four times in Daniel's prophecy, he says, "The Most High rules in the earth and gives the kingdoms of men to whomsoever He will."
Now all of those verses tell us that the Most High is sovereign over nations.

A verse for 12/9/11

Mar 5:7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."

Even the demons refer to God as the Most High. Calling God the Most High notes His majestic sovereignty. It gives us the feeling of God's sovereign surpassing power.

A verse for 12/8/11

Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High….
Luk 1:35 …..the power of the Most High….
Luk 6:35 .…..the Most High….
Act 7:4 ….the Most High….

The term means that there is no one on His level, or above. He is God! Jesus Christ is God. That is one of the reason that the Christ child is so AMAZING, He is God.

A verse for 12/7/11

Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High:…

The Lord Jesus Christ is great, that is surpassing and eminent and preeminent and splendid and illustrious and prominent and all of those things the word implies. What made Him great? And what astounded and amazed His parents? He was the “Son of the Most High!”

That is to say, Jesus is God, Jesus is God. And that is the unmistakable truth that I want you to deal with in your mind, Jesus is God.

A verse for 12/6/11

Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord…!

Here the referred to person is John the Baptist. He was great because he was the single greatest representative of the prophetic office, the forerunner of the Messiah. In fact, it is said of him that there had been none greater than the John the Baptist.

A verse for 12/5/11

Luk 1:32 He shall be great…!

The word great, can mean extraordinary, wonderful, splendid, magnificent, noble, distinguished, illustrious, eminent, powerful. It is intended to set one apart from all the rest.

A verse for 12/4/11

Mat 1:19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
Mat 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Mat 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

The things that the angle said to Mary, and what was said here to Joseph and others are the things that Amazed them.
Oh, the “Amazing Child of Christmas!”

A verse for 12/3/11

Luk 2:33 Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.

The Christmas child brought, even to Joseph and Mary, amazement because of what they were told by the angel about Him.

A verse for 12/2/11

Luk 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.


A very very unique birth! “the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.”

A verse for 12/1/11

Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Every parent has great anticipation as to the child’s future and what he (or she) will become, and they have their heart’s filled with hope and dreams. But Mary was told, before the child was ever born. Let us look, this month at the “Amazing Child of Christmas!” Some notes this month are sermon notes from John MacArthur