- araratchurch
- Dec 21, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 23, 2024
Advent “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.””
Luke 2:13-14 NLT
I think most people—even most Christians—are woefully ignorant of the office and operation of angels. For example, some suppose that when people die, they become angels. That is not true. When people die, if they are Christians, they are with the Lord as a spirit and at some point will be given a glorified body in the resurrection of the dead. Angels, aren’t transformed people. Angels aren’t deceased people who have “earned their wings.” Rather, angels are created beings in their own right.
With that, bear in mind that the translated term “angels,” is used throughout the Bible to reference a wide range of spirit-persons. Here we address those “angels” we most often imagine: the winged messengers created by God to do His bidding and to watch over the operations of the creation.
“Bless the Lord, you His angels, You mighty ones who do His commandments, Obeying the voice of His word! Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him and do His will.”
Psalms 103:20-21 AMP
Indeed, angels are the servants of God who shepherd His word. God speaks; they obey. As well, their duties include the protection and strengthening of those who are His. They are ministering spirits!
“Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]”
Hebrews 1:14 AMP
In our opening scripture we see that, having given the Good News to the shepherds, the angel is joined by a heavenly host, a multitude of angels praising God.
Remember, any time we are giving the Good News concerning Jesus Christ, any time we are speaking His word, anytime we are lifting up praise and worship toward God, even if we seem to be alone, we can be sure that we have “friends” joining us. In fact, the heavenly hosts accompany us in our praise, accompany us in our evangelism (and other missions from God), and will eventually accompany us in our future duties in the eternal Kingdom of God.
For today let us meditate on the fact that angels are among us, waiting to hear God‘s word in order to perform it.
Make no mistake, when you speak the word of God from your mouth, while truly believing it in your heart, you will activate the angels to work on your behalf.
Additionally, be quick to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. To be sure, that’s the quickest way you can gather a crowd from heaven!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 20, 2024
- 3 min read
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12 NKJV
Obviously, when we read stories from the Bible, we are not given all the minutia of the events. Basically, we are told what we need to know to be able to form a correct picture.
Additionally, we see that many major events described in the word of God, have been prophesied at an earlier point in the Bible. As such, important events can be recognized and given due attention. Indeed, the prophetic word gives “signposts” letting us know where we are and what we are seeing.
In our opening scripture we see that the angel—having told the shepherds the good news of Christ being born—gives them two signs indicating that they have found the One Who is Christ the Lord.
First, the child will be swaddled in strips of cloth. Secondly, He will be lying in a manger.
Although swaddling was a common practice in those days (as is still today in some cultures), being accompanied with the fact that the newborn would be lying in a manger, basically would remove all doubt that they had found the Christ Child.
Now, why is this important? You see, what the shepherds probably had to do in order to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, is left to the imagination. We see the announcement by the heavenly host; and the next “scene,” finds them in the presence of the Holy Family.
Bear in mind, as discussed earlier, Bethlehem was overrun with people because of the census. Indeed, so many people were there that there was no place for Mary and Joseph to stay. Therefore, they were relegated to a “barn” of sorts.
So, the shepherds went and found Jesus. What we are not told in the narrative is that they probably didn’t go straight and find Him. Chances are that they went to any number of places throughout the city, before coming upon the stable in which the Christ Child was born.
Friend, our personal seeking for a savior can feel like a daunting task. In the confusion of our circumstances, many “voices” may offer relief. But, make no mistake, there is only One Savior.
Indeed, God has given us sure signs that Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah. Yes, He fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.
Think of it, the testimony of the shepherds after having seen the Lord, was certainly reinforced by the fact that the angel had told them where He would be and in what state He would be found.
Indeed, God the Father shepherded every detail concerning the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
Those of us who recognize Jesus as being the Savior sent from God, do not hold a baseless belief. God’s word enumerates the clear signs that would accompany every aspect of His life. Yes, starting with His birth, the prophetic signs concerning the Messiah, point a big arrow at that precious baby boy in that manager in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
For today let us meditate on the sure signs the word of God has given us concerning the identity of our Lord. Additionally, consider the myriad signs pointing to the time of the Lord’s return, manifesting all around us today.
Oh, what a wonderful assurance we have that the baby boy sleeping in that manger on that Holy night in Bethlehem, was, indeed, the Savior, Christ the Lord.
As well, prophetic signs inform us that Jesus will soon return—not as a helpless infant—but as a conquering King! Are you looking for Him?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 19, 2024
- 2 min read
Advent “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
God, in His limitless mercy and love, made good on the promise to send a Messiah to His people.
But here’s the problem, it seems that the people were looking for a Messiah who was going to primarily relieve them from oppression of their enemies.
In actuality, the Lord had given His people victory over their enemies all through the Old Testament. In fact, the enemy only gained the upper hand when the people of God were under judgment for their disobedience.
They did not know that what they really needed was a Messiah or Savior Who would deliver them from their own selves, that is, their own sin. Indeed, their sacrifices were only a holdover for the Lamb of God Who would completely take away their sins, once and for all!
Several years ago the Lord spoke to me—calling me by name—saying, “You have to know you need a Savior to have One.” Now, the fact is, as long as I can remember, I had thought of the Lord as being my Savior; I didn’t know any other way of thinking. But the problem was that I was somehow still trying to prove my worth to the Lord. And, God sees that as pride.
Now, on the surface, I would never have thought that I was being prideful. But I was inadvertently trying to prove that I didn’t need a Savior, treating my salvation as a reward for being a good girl.
Oh, I don’t know how we develop such convoluted ways of thinking and doing; but the Lord cut through all that mess, opening my eyes to the fact that I was helpless to save myself. As well, there was nothing I could do about that helplessness, nothing I need do, except to accept the free gift of God through Jesus Christ. Only in doing so, could I find freedom from my sinful nature.
Oddly enough, as I come to more and more see my need for a Savior, I am more and more able to relax into His arms. Yes, when I admit my weakness, He shows His strength on my behalf.
For today let us meditate on whether or not we are somehow trying to prove our worth to God, trying to cover, or offer excuses, for our weaknesses.
Additionally, if you are feeling like a naughty toddler sitting with a bowl of spaghetti on top of your head, now facing the glaring eye of your mother, understand that the Lord is the One Who came to clean you up, and He won’t even fuss about what you’ve done!
Again, we need a Savior and we have One! Now, that’s the best news ever!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!