The Advent Series

Christ - The Rising Sun

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”- Luke 1:76-79

 

“… John and Jesus come by God's mercy to prepare and lead God's people. John will proclaim salvation, but Jesus will take them to it.” *

 

                 John the Baptist was called by God to lead the people to the Messiah. He was to be a prophet of God. These verses that appear above are from Zechariah’s prophetic song or hymn. Christ is the ‘rising sun’ spoken of. A rising sun brings the hope of a new day. Darkness represents all that has us under foot: despair, loneliness, sin, depression, worry. John provides hope in the form of the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ shall be the actual embodiment of forgiveness and mercy, which is the grace of God. John was chosen before time began to be born of a woman of advanced age … Elizabeth, wife to Zechariah. Zechariah, whose doubt caused him to be struck dumb, had his speech restored once he wrote on a tablet to the people at his child’s birth that his name is John. They raised John to adulthood. It was then that John began his mission, proclaiming to the people of Israel that salvation was coming to them. He baptized them and yet let them know that One was coming whose sandals he was not fit to untie (John 1:27). John gave the people knowledge, what they did with it was up to them. It is no different today. It is like the old adage: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink. I have experienced this firsthand, and it is quite literally true. You can actually shove a horse’s muzzle into a tub of cool water on a hot day and if it doesn’t have a mind to drink, it will not drink. The water Jesus was to provide would quench the thirst of any man who partook of it for all eternity, for HE was the living water the gospel speaks of (John 4:10-14). 

                The evidence of God’s tender mercy came in the form of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes; the lowly birth of a mighty king. No one could have suspected or in their wildest dreams imagined what controversy that same infant would cause in his life. All to fulfill the salvation plan of Almighty God. Christ is the “rising sun” that shines on those living in darkness. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Prophecy About John and Jesus (Luke 1:76-80); The IVP New Testament Commentary Series; www.biblegateway.com.

The Advent Series

Gabriel, the Archangel

 

“The angel said to (Zechariah), ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.’” - Luke 1:19

 

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”- Luke 1:26-27

 

“Angels are messengers of God to His people (Zech. 1: 9, 13-14, 19 Luke 1:11-20, Luke. 1:26-38) and it is this encounter that dominates our Christmas celebration. However, appearances of the angels are usually brief and formal. They are aimed at improving our relationship with the Lord rather than attracting attention to themselves. (Revelation 22: 8-9)” *

 

          These two verses above regarding the coming and birth of John the Baptist and the Christ child are very specific regarding angelic activity. Apparently, Gabriel had come from the throne room of God to deliver two messages; one to Zechariah and one to Mary. His message to Zechariah was regarding the birth of a son to his wife, Elizabeth and the message to Mary is regarding the birth of Jesus. Angels are messengers God uses to speak to those who are in the family of God. To speak to one who does not believe is tantamount to casting pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).

          What do we know about archangels? ** They stand before Almighty God day and night. They are sent out by God to do His bidding. They administer the will of God to those who have sought Him. In this particular case the archangel Gabriel has let Zechariah know that God has favored his wife with a son who would be the one who would bear witness to the Messiah and point the way to Him. Zechariah’s hesitation to believe this message caused Gabriel to strike him mute until his child was born. Could you imagine if God did that to us today in light of our constant hesitation to belief? I think the world would be a lot quieter.

          One of the problems facing the world today is this obsession with angels. Angels do not draw attention to themselves, yet so many people are fascinated by angelic beings as if they were gods themselves. They are not. As a matter of fact, that is exactly why the Apostle John was told in Revelation 22:8-9 not to bow down before an angel God sent to him. The angel emphatically told John to “worship God alone”. Angels are not to be worshipped. They are vehicles of God’s word and blessings. They too were created by God prior to the creation of our world. (Nehemiah 9:6) They protect those in the family of God as well. God controls all things in His creation, even His angels. Let’s put it into perspective using a military analogy: God is like the commander in chief. All others report to Him and follow His instructions. You never need to doubt God’s ability to know what you are going through, for He knows and sends angels to assist us when we cry out. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Angels & the Hierarchy of the Heavenlies; Eddie Russell FMI;www.flameministries.org/angels.htm 

** Angel: a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God. Archangel: a high-ranking angel. (www.oxforddictionaries.com)

The Advent Series

The Messengers of God

 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” - Luke 2:8-16

 

In addition to the wise men who were guided to the manger where Jesus lay, shepherds were also guided there. According to the customs of the day, shepherds were considered outcasts. They were unable to keep ceremonial law that was required of all Jews as they were out in fields watching over their flocks; animals that were to be used for sacrifice. They were men of lowly stature. It seems apparent that God is revealing that all economic strata are welcome to Him. There is no differentiation between rich and poor with God. All were created by Him, and all were worthy of His grace and forgiveness for He has declared it to be so. 

                Messengers of God (angels) were used regularly in the story of the birth of the Messiah to bring the Good News that He had come just as it had been prophesied in days of old. Angels* were sent from the very throne room of God, for scripture tells us in Revelation 7:11 of their position in His throne room. Angels can come in a variety of forms, even in the form of a human being if God finds it necessary to accomplish His purposes. The sight of not just one angel of an entire host of angels declaring the glory of the Lord must have been both a terrifying and beautiful sight. It’s not every night that shepherds see such a sight in the sky during the watching of their flocks. I would have to believe that the magnitude of the event compelled them to go to Bethlehem to see if what the angel had told them was true. It’s not as if a total stranger walked up to you on the street and told you to go to a town to see this incredible infant. This was quite a spectacular event, far greater than any fireworks display we would see in the sky on July 4th. How unbelievable it must have been to actually see first an angel, then a multitude of angels. I cannot even imagine what that must have been like. Someday we'll know. As amazing as this event must have been, it could never overshadow the birth of the Savior** of all of mankind. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Although the word "angel" in the Bible, meaning a “messenger”, nearly always applies to heavenly beings, it can occasionally apply to human messengers. Malachi himself said a priest was a messenger (malak) of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:7), and in the Book of Revelation the elders of the seven churches of Asia were called angels (1:20; 2:1 etc.). But when we meet messengers doing supernatural things, there is no doubt they are heavenly beings - God's messengers, working for Him and for the ultimate benefit of mankind. [Angels: God's Messengers Bible Teaching About God's "Ministering Spirits"; http://www.christadelphia.org/pamphlet/angels.htm ]

** Savior means ‘deliverer’, for Christ delivered us from our sinful state, thus putting us once again in right standing with God, just as Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.

NOTE: The heavenly host. “Host” is a military term, and it is remarkable that an army should announce peace (v. 14). The “peace” is peace with God, a peace that Christ would bring. [Reformation Study Bible]

NOTE: The angel's song (v. 14), according to many manuscripts, was “peace on earth, goodwill to men”; but the NIV translation, “on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests,” follows the earliest and most reliable manuscripts. Jesus did not bring political peace to the world, but he made it possible for men and women to have peace with God. [Asbury Bible Commentary]

The Advent Series

Angels   

Luke 2:8-10 _{New Living Translation}

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’”

                People have many different ideas about angels and what they look like.  We envision anything from chubby little children with wings flitting about to beautiful women in shiny white gowns with sparkling wings. According to scripture neither appears to be the case. In Daniel, the prophet describes what he saw during his encounter with an angel: “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.” ^[1] In Matthew’s gospel the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb where Jesus’ body lay were severely shaken and collapsed like dead men at the sight of an angel: “Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.” ^[2]

                We can learn several things from these two accounts. 1) These angels sound like very large men who were extremely strong; 2) there appearance was so striking that it immediately struck fear in the hearts of those who encountered them. 

                According to Jack Wellman ^[3] angels are not composed of physical matter but are spirit beings created by God for God.  They took on human form when they encountered mortals, typically in the male gender. They do the bidding of the Lord and perform duties for God more so than for man.  They are messengers of God and “agents to bring punishment and display his holy wrath.” A good example can be found in Revelation 18:21^[4].  So when an angel suddenly appeared before the Shepherds at night, and they were terrified you can understand a little clearer why.  The angel was there to proclaim the glorious news of Christ’s birth.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Daniel 10:5-6

^[2] Matthew 28:2-3

^[3] Jack Wellman is a father and grandfather and a Christian author, freelance writer, and pastor at the Mulvane (KS) Brethren church in Mulvane, Kansas. He did graduate work at Moody Bible Institute. His books are inexpensive paperbacks that are theological in nature: “Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children, ““Do Babies Go To Heaven? /Why Does God Allow Suffering?,“ "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and “Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible."         

^[4] “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, ‘Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.’”

 

The Advent Series

Past & Present 

Titus 3:3-7 ^{New Living Translation}

“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

                 Christ’s birth was an event in history that had a specific purpose.  He was to be our Savior.  In other words he was sent by God to save us all from ourselves and our sinful ways.  Before we knew the Lord we thought that while we certainly weren’t perfect we were good people who were trying to do the right thing in life.  Without set parameters or boundaries to contain us we ended up all over the place morally, ethically, and spiritually.  Christ was born among men so that he could relate to us and by becoming relatable cause us to see the purpose of his coming.

                 God is kind.  His kindness is revealed thru his mercy and grace.  Grace can be viewed as an acronym that stands for “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”.  It’s what we become entitled to if we receive God’s forgiveness and allow ourselves to be changed by his Holy Spirit.  The gift of God’s Son provides a second chance to live life as God intended, godly living free from sin.  Our previous lives were fraught with foolish disobedience that made us slaves to our own ungodly desires.  We weren’t free at all, though we seemed to think we were.  Christ came to rescue us.  He took on our sin.  That is some gift.

                 The Advent Season is a season of incredible miracles and resulting hope which breeds confidence.  Knowing Christ in a personal way enables us to know in our hearts and not just in our minds that we will inherit eternal life with God as we allow the Holy Spirit to perform his spiritual surgery on our heart and soul.  Salvation is like getting a complete makeover.  The Lord forces himself on no one.  We must want to become all he knows we can be in him.  It all starts with the birth of the baby who would shake up and change the world forever. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

The Advent Series

Prophesy Fulfilled 

Matthew 1:22-23 _{New Living Translation}

“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel ^[1], which means ‘God is with us.’”

             The key word I would like to focus on today is the word “fulfill”.  If there is any doubt among believers that God orchestrates the events of history, causing or allowing things to take place for his own purposes, then consider this.  The Old Testament, written by man empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, predicted to each precise detail the birth of Jesus.  How else could anyone have known what was to take place hundreds of years after they had passed away?  They couldn’t know, that’s the point.  Since there are no coincidences in God’s economy, then what was revealed thru the Old Testament prophets must have been foretold by Almighty God as a means of preparing man for an event of monumental importance. I’d say the total forgiveness and removal of all accumulated sin for each created individual is monumental to say the least.

                 The name the child was to be called reveals who he truly was, the Son of God born of a woman, making him wholly God and wholly man.  He alone could save mankind from the plight that awaited them.  He alone, being wholly God, could live life as we were created to live; without sin. This is such incredible news. No matter what we have ever done in our lives we can have our slate wiped completely clean.  As a stained garment can be bleached clean, so can our souls be made clean as well.  All this in exchange for a changed life dedicated to living a righteous life for God.  That is truly a great and awesome exchange. 

                 Do you believe in the existence of God today?  Do you know the total significance of the birth of Jesus, the birth that the world is attempting to make irrelevant in the minds and hearts of future generations?  Christ is the only hope for a sin sick and dying world.  Without Christ there is no hope at all and without hope there can be no life worth living. Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world like you never have before.  He is worthy of all our praise, glory, and honor.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] Matthew is quoting from the prophet of the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14.

The Advent Series

The Manger  

Luke 2:7 _{New Living Translation}

“(Mary) gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”

                 There has been much speculation regarding the location where Jesus was born. He wasn’t born in a manger, but rather laid in a manger after birth.  Just what is a manger? A manger is a food trough for animals.  Luke’s Gospel is the only one of the four gospels that goes into detail about the birth of the Christ child.

                  I’ve come across 3 scenarios for the location of the animal food trough where Christ was laid.  1) It could have been just as it has been depicted in film, on Christmas cards and in our imaginations.  A barn with stalls and a wooden food trough with animals all about and all the rich fragrances that come with that type of environment.  2) An early church tradition places the food trough in a cave where owners place their animals to protect them from the elements. It would very possibly have been cold, dank, and dirty.  3) Lastly, since Luke doesn’t use the words ‘inn’ or ‘innkeeper’, but rather the word ‘lodging’, Joseph and Mary could have been looking to stay at his family’s home.  Joseph came from Bethlehem, so he and Mary went there for the census.

                 The interesting fact here is that people dwelled upstairs on the 2nd floor of their dwelling. They ate and slept there, while the animals and tools of their trade stayed downstairs.  That is where the food trough would have been.  The statement that there was no lodging for them simply meant that with family members coming to Bethlehem at the same time for the census there was no place for Joseph and Mary to stay upstairs.  So they stayed among the beasts and the tools. It’s very possible that this is where the baby Jesus spent his first night. 

                 In reality it matters not where he was born. More importantly, it is the fact that he WAS born that changes the trajectory of history.  We can seem to agree that Jesus was laid in a hay filled food trough, not the most sterile of atmospheres. But God protected him so that he might fulfill that which he was sent to do.  God offers us that same protection throughout our lives if we will only surrender to his will for our life.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; www.gotanswers.org?; www.christiananswers.net