Authority in a Manger..Meg Bucher

 Authority in a Manger

By Meg Bucher

“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.” - John 13:3 NLT

The Christmas story often begins in with the manger scene, with Mary’s immaculate conception, Joseph’s message of reassurance from an angel, or the journey Mary made to see her cousin Elizabeth …who was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time. The familiar elements of the story of Christ’s birth on earth are only a fraction of the majestic coordination of the events leading up to His first human cries on earth. The verse above tells us Jesus knew who He was and what His mission on earth consisted of. He also knew He would return to the Father.

God the Father gave God the Son authority over heaven and earth. Authority is defined as the power to determine or settle issues or disputes; the right to control, command, or determine.  Jesus has authority. The apostle Matthew wrote:

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 NLT

We don’t have the authority to forgive sins, but we are to forgive each other as Christ forgives us. He is the One who has the authority to forgive sin and the power to reconcile what has been divided. It is by His authority we are healed, transformed, and made more like Him each day. Born in Bethlehem under humble circumstances, Jesus has the ultimate authority. The apostle John recorded these words of Jesus:

“The Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge …He has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.” John 5:22, 27 NLT

Christmas to some, is merely commercial. To many, Jesus was just a good person. But to those to whom the truth has been revealed, we know the baby born in Bethlehem came to defeat death itself. The prophet Jeremiah wrote:

“But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the LORD.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” Jeremiah 23:36 NLT

He was addressing people twisting or adding to Scripture. Jesus’ birth fulfilled prophecy, as did His life on earth. Biblical truths can be historically traced. God doesn’t mind our questions. Questions build strong faith. We are to take everything we know and hear and line it up to the Truth of God. When Jesus taught the Scriptures during His life on earth, He was doing so as the Living Word of God! That’s who He is! The apostle Mark wrote:

“The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority- quite unlike the teachers of religious law.” Mark 1:22 NLT

Faith in Christ Jesus allows His power to flow through our lives. We walk in step with His Holy Spirit from the moment we believe. Through Him, we understand what the Word is saying, remember it when we need it, and know when and how to apply it to our daily lives. Jesus willingly came to earth as a baby, grew up into His ministry and laid down HIs life for us. God is purposeful. Not one note of the Truth is accidental. John recorded these words of Jesus:

“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” John 10:18 NLT

Intersecting Faith and Life:

“By my power I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the LORD, have spoken!” - Zechariah 10:12 NLT

Christmas is a time to remember Christ Jesus, born on earth to save us. Through God’s power and authority, Mary became pregnant even though she was a virgin. God’s power and authority caused Joseph to trust in the angel’s message of reassurance. John the Baptist was born, Jesus’ cousin, to two people too old to have children. John and Jesus leaped in their mothers’ wombs when Mary and Elizabeth met! Through God’s authority and power, impossible things become reality. 

We, too, get to take part in the Christmas story. As God sent Jesus, Jesus sent His disciples:

“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirts and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” - Matthew 10:1 NLT

With the same authority, God sent Jesus to earth, He is sending us out into the world to spread the good news of the Gospel of Christ Jesus:

“Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.” - Romans 1:5 NLT

Christmas is a time to prepare our hearts for the birth of the Savior of the World sent for us. Each day, we get to walk in step with Him. He is always with us through the power of His Holy Spirit. Let us walk in the authority of the manger …

Further Reading:

• John 12:49; 17:2
• Acts 5:29
• 1 Corinthians 15:27-28

A Prayer to Look to The Lord as Everlasting Father..Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer to Look to The Lord as Everlasting Father

By Chelsey DeMatteis

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” - John 10:28-30

The word “everlasting” for a long time was one that had me thinking of hard seasons, slow seasons, and seasons of my life that seemed as if they’d never end. But, God. He has redeemed this word for me because, truly the only thing everlasting is Him. No season, no hurt, no pain, not even the victories we will see as a human on this side of heaven will ever last forever.

I don't know what place you find yourself in today. Maybe you're exhausted, running on autopilot; perhaps you feel like you've been in "survival mode," as my friend put it, to get through the rest of this year. Maybe you're on that mountaintop rejoicing with Jesus for the victory He's brought you. Or perhaps you're just coasting and feeling grateful that life is good. Whichever season you find yourself in, I pray you know what God’s true everlasting promise means. It’s not circumstantial; it’s not for a span of time. It’s eternal; it’s everlasting.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” - John 10:28-30

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

The true everlasting promise from our "everlasting Father" is eternal life with Him. Picture it as best as you can; nothing ever separates us again from our Creator. No sin, no death, just us.. with God the Father and His son, Jesus, seated as His right hand.

Isaiah 9:6 is a promise. Isaiah was prophesying what was to come, who Jesus would be, and what a gift He is to those who are His. As Christmas draws near and the season of Advent begins, I pray your heart is tethering itself to this scripture. Ponder the goodness of God and the gift of His Son. Remember Jesus’ humble beginning and all that He would endure for us.

If you've never accepted Christ, I want to invite you this Advent to ask Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior with this prayer. 

Let's pray:

"Father, I know that I have broken your laws, and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to lead me in obedience and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen."

*If you took this step, be sure to get connected to a biblically sound church in your area.

Lord, thank you for giving us the opportunity to live in an everlasting covenant with you. What a gift it is to be known and loved by our Creator. I pray for a heart that seeks to obey and serve wherever and whenever your Spirit leads me. Thank you for being my Everlasting Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

What Christmas Is About..Greg Laurie

 What Christmas Is About

Greg Laurie

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. —Isaiah 9:7

As we look at our world today, we realize that part of the promise of Isaiah 9:6–7 has not yet been fulfilled. The Son has been given. The Child has been born. But He has not yet taken the government upon His shoulders. We do not yet have peace with judgment and justice. But the good news is that there will come a day when Christ will return. He will establish His kingdom on this earth. And it will be the righteous rule of God himself.

Before Jesus could take the government upon His shoulder, He had to take the cross upon His shoulder. Before He could wear the crown of glory as King of Kings, He had to wear the shameful crown of thorns and give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The first time, a star marked His arrival. But the next time He comes, the heavens will roll back like a scroll, all of the stars will fall from the sky, and He himself will light it.

Christ came to this earth. God came near to you so you can come near to Him—to give your life purpose and meaning, to forgive you of your sins, and to give you the hope of heaven beyond the grave. Christmas is not about tinsel or shopping or presents. Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree. Rather, Christmas is about the gift that was given on the tree when Christ died there for our sins and gave us the gift of eternal life.