Phil 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because of Jesus’ obedient, self-emptying death on the cross, God exalted Him to the highest place of honor. Adoration is a word that we love to use during the Christmas season thanks largely to the classic carol O Come, All Ye Faithful as we sing, “O come, let us adore Him.”
This year as you celebrate the Christmas season strive to find a way to capture that Christmas spirit that will enable you to adore Him and grow with Him every day of your life.
The Midnight Cry
Direction in Darkness - Rev 3:10
The Trumpet Shall Sound!
Cleanse Me From My Sin, Light In the Darkness - Psalm 51
A New Covenant - Jeremiah 31
Unlimited Atonement By Jesus Christ
Our sins are debts that none can pay but Christ. It is not our tears, but His blood; it is not our sighs, but His sufferings, that can testify for our sins. Christ must pay all, or we are prisoners forever. - Thomas Brooks
What Jesus did on the cross is for all people Jn 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.
Rom 3:23 tells us All have sinned, and God the Father gave His all for our redemption. What a loving powerful God who gave His only begotten Son for us.
For God to forgive sinners without the full penalty being paid would contradict His justice and make Him our partner in evil. Christ fully paid that penalty for our sins--but the pardon must be willingly and gladly received. God will not force anyone into heaven.
- Dave Hunt
The Kingdom of God - Matthew 6
Our Greatest Wrestling Match - Genesis 32
Slip Sliding Away - Psalm 73
Overcoming the Spirit of Antichrist through Changing our Focus
It’s easy to stay stuck thinking the world will wait for you, but it will not wait on you according to Bible prophecy.
Matt. 6:30 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
The question that must be answered: what is this faith used for? Jesus answers that question for us in verse 33 “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” It will take faith to reprioritize our priorities. Living for the Kingdom of God overcomes the antichrist system.
The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~Jim Burns ~
It must be God first, God second, and God third.
~Oswald Chambers~
The Sovereignty of God - Psalm 103
The Road to Sanity - Isaiah 35:8
Fidelity In Parlous Times
Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Luk 9:57-62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
People respond in various ways to the call for discipleship. Jesus emphasizes that His followers must be willing to face hardships and make sacrifices. This call to discipleship takes a singular focus. If the closest relationships of a disciple’s life conflict with the claims of Jesus Christ, then our Lord requires instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person — our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause— He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. Oswald Chambers Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Jesus encourages His followers—as well as those in the crowd to consider the great sacrifices involved in their decision to become His disciples. “Only a disciple can make a disciple.” ― A. W. Tozer
The Peace Of God
The Word of God tells us, our peace comes from Almighty God.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.
Thomas Merton
Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us the privilege to approach God freely, that means we can vent to Him everything, today I choose to do so.
Father, our life is in your hands, and I can't find a better place, in Jesus’s name.
Don't Forget His Benefits - Psalm 103
Walk and Live Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit
Jn 21:15-19 Peter teaches us about the reality of the carnal nature, and how we need the Holy Spirit to live in the spirit. The natural man uses his mind and strength to do the will of God. The spiritual man sees life through the filter and lens of the Word of God and is dependent on the Holy Spirit in this life.
1. Self-reliance – The road to self-reliance leads to your own good works. (Self-reliance) comes from false perception and presumption.
2. Distorted perspective – Peter tried fighting God’s battles, this will leave us frustrated and burnt out.
3. Spiritual disconnection – Peter's spiritual life could only be revealed by staying connected to Jesus Christ.
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts] (Amplified Bible).
Endeavoring to live the Christian life by your own efforts is the greatest single hindrance to walking in the Spirit. Derek Prince
Let us Go up At Once - Numbers 13:30
Isaiah 53 - Broken for the Broken
Heb 12:1 - How Will I Run This Race
Spiritual warfare is very real. There is a fierce, and ferocious battle raging in the realm of the spirit between the forces of God and the forces of evil. Warfare happens every day, all the time. Whether you believe it or not, you are in a battlefield. You are in warfare.” – Pedro Okoro
This race represents contest and a conflict – Bringing our life into balance can be an agonizing process.
The Greek word for race is agon from which we get our word agony. The race is a conflict in that there is an internal struggle of the soul.
The Pain Of Moving Forward – It’s Like A Long-Distance Runner
What’s interesting about marathon runners is how in tune they are with their own abilities
• They know their strengths and weaknesses – they understand their limitation
• They know how to pace themselves to conserve energy
• They set small goals along the way
• They do not focus on beating the person next to them
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.