9/10/2023 0 Comments Shepherds hasten to his throne![]() ![]() And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:Īnd on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 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. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ![]() Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Let’s consider once again the story of the shepherds who first heard the news of the birth of the Savior into the world. Let’s go back on this ‘day-after-Christmas’ Sunday and read the story again of what happened after Jesus was born in Bethlehem. That makes them the perfect ones to represent how best to respond to the Christmas story because they were of such a humble class of people that they would include every other class of human being in their scope. In fact, back in ancient times, they were considered just a step or two below ‘common’. There was nothing exalted or sophisticated about a shepherd. I believe that, on God’s part, that was intentional. Now I love it that it was shepherds-of all people-who were the first ones to hear the birth announcement of the Savior. I suggest to you that the best way to do that is by celebrating like a shepherd. So then how should we keep on celebrating the birth of Jesus? How can we make the significance of it a reality that we bring with us continually going forward? That’s the greatest news in all of history! And we ought to be bringing that truth with us into the work-a-day tasks of life throughout the coming new year allowing it to permanently impact every single day, and changing every aspect of how we think and live and respond to the challenges of life. The Word of God has become flesh and has dwelt among us as our Savior. But the significance of it, for us, is to be an ongoing thing. Certainly, the traditional activities of the holiday are over. ![]() But as followers of Jesus, there’s a sense in which we can never consider Christmas to be a thing that comes to an end. ![]() Many people will have considered Christmas to be over and done by now. And that makes it a very good day to keep the true message of Christmas before us-while it’s still fresh in our hearts and minds. In the providence of God, we have gathered for worship on the very next day after Christmas. Separation is required so that we do not partake of the world’s judgement.I don’t know about you but it still feels far too close to Christmas to bring the holiday to an official end. The Lord is saying “Come out of her my people, so that you do not partake of her sin”. To the extent that we remain interwoven with the world and its systems so also will the judgements effect the church. The church must be separated from the world as Israel was separated from Egypt in the land of Goshen. The church is so closely interwoven with the world that even the judgements intended for the world will have a subsidiary effect on the church because of this unholy alliance. He desires our willing submission spiritually, emotionally, and physically. America and even the church must learn the reality of submission to God in every department of life. (Lam 1:19) Nations perceived as our friends will be more concerned for their own welfare and will neglect their commitments to America. they deceived me My priests and my elders perished in the city, while they sought food to restore their strength themselves. This power to curse is a righteous power from the Holy Spirit enabling the church to curse sickness and disease and all the power of the evil one.īehold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Power to run through a troop of the enemy and power to jump over their walls. Power that travels with the speed of thought. One of the most important words for this year is the promised release of genuine Holy Spirit POWER. ![]()
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