His Christmas Presence

 His Christmas Presence, written by Greg Laurie

Bible Reading: Matthew 1

“For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” —Colossians 1:27

Abraham was called the friend of God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced Christ walking with them through the fiery furnace. The Lord appeared to Manoah and his wife, Samson’s parents. And Jacob wrestled with God. But as close as these people were to God, they weren’t as close to Him as we could be. How is that possible? Jesus didn’t live inside their hearts, but He does live inside the hearts of Christians, inside the hearts of those who have committed their lives to Him. The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse, “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you” (Colossians 1:27 NLT). Here is the remarkable thing that we need to realize: No one is closer to God than those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. The real message of Christmas is that God came to Earth, and we’re not alone. When we get hold of that message, all other things won’t matter as much as they used to. Of course, we can celebrate Christmas and enjoy it as much as anyone else, but if we focus on what it’s really about, it becomes so much more meaningful. The essential message of the birth of our Lord is that we’re not alone in this world. Yes, Jesus came to Abraham, Jacob, Samson’s parents, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in a preincarnate appearance. But one day, God came to this world as a child, who grew into a man, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Jesus has always been there, and He will be there to the very end. He said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). The real message of Christmas is not presents; it’s Jesus’s presence. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

God Incarnate

God Incarnate; written by Greg Laurie

Bible Reading: John 1:1-18

Focus Verse:"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"  John 20:29

Did Jesus ever claim to be God? As a matter of fact, He did. For example, He said, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23–24 NKJV). That was a clear statement of equality with God the Father.

We also know that on many occasions, Jesus accepted worship, something that was reserved for God alone. In fact, in the wilderness, when the Devil tempted Jesus to worship him, Jesus quoted Scripture: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10 NKJV).

Jesus was underscoring the fact that worship is to be given to God alone. Yet, He accepted worship on many occasions. If He was not God, then He would have immediately stopped the people who worshiped Him.

As we read in the book of Revelation, an angel revealed some great truths to the apostle John. As a result, John was so overwhelmed that he fell down to worship the angel. But the angel told him, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (21:9 NKJV).

Yet Jesus accepted worship. We find an example of this after the resurrection, when He appeared before Thomas, who said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NKJV).

Jesus replied, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (verse 29 NKJV).

Now, if Jesus wasn’t God, He would have basically said, “Thomas, stop right now! That’s blasphemy!” But Jesus accepted worship because He was—and is—indeed God.

 

Reference: https://harvest.org/resources/devotions/

The Christmas Story is True

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and Luke 2

Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 1:18,28  “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!  But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.  v.28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

The story of Christmas is the story of Jesus!  When I read the story of Christmas in Luke chapters 1-2, I believe this to be true.  I think, "How could someone even make up such a story?"  A virgin gave birth, angels appeared to people, wise men traveled from another country following a star to see a child, shepherds went to a stable to see a king born, and another king wanted to kill the baby fearing he would take over his throne. A person could not make up this kind of story even if they had a good imagination.  Yet a lot of people in the world do not believe this and say the things written in God’s Word the Bible are foolishness.  The above passage in 1 Corinthians says these unbelievers are headed for destruction.

God's Word says that Mary pondered in her heart all the things the angel told her.  I enjoy looking forward to the month of December and more specifically December 25th.  I find myself pondering the things of the Christmas story in my heart as well.  I wonder what it would have been like to live back in the day when Jesus came from heaven to earth to be born.  I am so glad He came!

Let’s not be like so many people who think this story is false and say it’s foolishness.  This Christmas story has great implications for all of humanity living on this earth.  The question is do you believe it?  The evidence is overwhelming that the Christmas story happened, but it takes faith for us to believe it, and one day our faith will be made sight.

 

Now, if you believe it, tell it!

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Distraction of Contempt vs Thanksgiving

 The Distraction of Contempt vs Thanksgiving

 

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5

Focus verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

PSALM 123:3

What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2:16). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.

Beware of “the cares of this world…” (Mark 4:19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.”

Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything— He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.

When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.

 

The above is written by Oswald Chambers in his book "My Utmost for His Highest".

 

I want to focus on Thanksgiving, the attitude that is the cure for contempt.

On this American holiday of Thanksgiving, we realize that being thankful is a good step away from contempt.  We must be aware of keeping our mind trained on heavenly attitudes as we go through life.  

 

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."2 Corinthians 10:5

 

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

 

I will end this devotion with asking that you read again 1 Thessalonians 5.  We much give thanks in all things. 

 

~Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries, Kenya

 

The Humanity of Jesus

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2: 1-11

Focus Verses:  Philippians 2: 6-7  “Though He was God He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, He gave up His divine privileges, He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

As Christmas will soon be here there are some things about the life of Jesus that we should consider.  When Jesus was born into this world He was both God and human.  Jesus was God before He came to earth and He was God after He came to earth.  Verse 7 says Jesus became a slave or a servant, but He was still God.

Jesus also had experiences like you and I have.  He got hungry, He got tired, He felt sadness, He was tempted to do wrong, (but never sinned).   Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus understands our weaknesses because He faced the same things.

At the same time, we should consider Jesus' Lordship. You may see Jesus as a helpless baby laying in a manger.  But as our passage says, one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  For those of us that confess Him as Lord now will enjoy Heaven for all eternity.  But for those who confess Him as Lord much later will be separated from Him for all eternity.  It’s our prayer that you would confess Him now to be your Lord.  

 

We understand that the humanity of Jesus changes everything.  Jesus is God and man as he hung on that cross and paid for your sins and my sins.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

My Determined Purpose

Scripture Reading: Romans 12

Focus Verses: Romans 12: 1-2 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

This past March we saw more than 800 people proclaim their new faith in Christ during a trip to Kenya.  We praise the Lord for touching their hearts.  News like this is a light in a very dark world.  I think Satan knows that his days are numbered, and he is doing everything he can to keep God's Kingdom from growing.  I believe there is only one way to live the Christian life during these times, and that is to be 100% sold out for Jesus, no turning back.  There are too many people living a half-way Christian life.  I was that way for 11 years after I got saved.  I took my faith for granted.  Then God showed me what I had been doing.  I committed my life to Him 100%.

If you continue living the Christian life half-way, please don't tell anyone that you are a Christian.  You heard me right, "please don't tell anyone you're a Christian".  Because if you call yourself a Christian and live like the world, then unsaved people will look at you and wonder why they would need Salvation.  There is no difference between you and the world.

The apostle Paul said that his determined purpose is to know Christ (see Philippians 3:10-14).  What is your determined purpose in life?  When you get up in the morning, what do you live for?  I know you may have your job to provide for your family, you may go to school, or you may take care of your children all day.  But you can do all those things with a Christ-like attitude, and live in such a way that people will see Christ in you.  The only Jesus that most people in this world will ever see is the Jesus that is lived out in our lives.  Can you say with Paul, "My determined purpose in life is to know Him"?  I hope so.  Think of how God used Paul: many people were saved, many churches were started, he wrote a lot of the New Testament that we hold as the very inspired Word of God.  Yet Paul realized he had so much more to learn.  It's hard to believe that Paul had the same struggles and temptations that we face, but he did.  Therefore, how much more should we be saying  "I want to be more like Christ this year."  Read Romans 12 again.  Paul gives us some good advice on how to be more like Christ.  As we seek to know Him, we will be transformed. (changed)

Let it be our goal to have someone look at our life and say "if that's a Christian, then I want to follow Christ too."

~Bobby Johnson

Walking With God, Not Sprinting

Scripture Reading: Genesis 5

Focus Verses: Genesis 5: 21-22  "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.” 

The Bible says “Enoch walked with God”.  That would tell me that Enoch had a relationship with God, and liked to talk with God.  Have you ever tried to talk with someone when you are running very fast?  It’s not easy to do.  I’ve seen some people try to have a relationship with God when their lives are running very fast.  They go for a while then collapse, go for a while then collapse again.  When we walk with God it’s a continuous relationship.

How did Enoch choose to walk with God?  Enoch had a child named Methuselah when he was 65 years old. Then it says Enoch walked with God for three hundred years.  Could it be that having this child caused Enoch to walk with God?  I have seen this happen with people I know. They don’t really care about going to church or having a serious relationship with God until they start having children.  Suddenly they see the importance of their children having a relationship with God and therefore they themselves begin a relationship with God.  Maybe having a child helps them understand how to approach God in a humble way, like a child approaches a father.

God wants to have a relationship with you everyday and He proved it through Jesus (John 3:16).  God doesn’t want to see you sprinting and then collapsing on the sidelines for half your life, but walking with Him, allowing the Holy Spirit and His Word to guide your life. So let’s make a commitment to walk consistently with God everyday by reading His Word and praying.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries