God's Indescribable Gift

II Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."
We are just a few days from Christmas, so it is a good time to remind ourselves of God’ s unspeakable, amazing, beyond our comprehension, gift. This gift was Jesus, all wrapped up in love.  Yes, God’s ultimate gift to us was His Son, Jesus. Of Himself, Jesus said "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10)

Because of God’s wonderful gift, we can have other gifts such as the ‘gift of a relationship’. John 1:12 states that all who receive Him, those who believe in His name, He gives the right to be called the sons and daughters of God.

He also gives the ‘gift of His Grace’. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by Grace you have been saved…" We have received the ‘gift of Eternal Life’, as according to Romans 6:23 "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

One reason I think of God’s gift as ‘indescribable’ and perhaps part of Paul’s thinking in II Corinthians 9:15, is that it is greater than we can grasp with our finite minds. Jesus was God, 2^nd person in the Trinity, totally God. Yet in order to become the propitiation for man’s sin, He had to take on a human body. In doing so He had to become a human being. Now we have something beyond our imagination, something incredible, indescribable. He was still God, just as though He had never been man; yet He was man as though He had never been God.

And He did this as a gift to each of us. "For God so loved the world that He gave (this indescribable gift) His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him will have eternal life." (John 3:16)

So at this Christmas Season, as we open all our wonderful, no doubt expensive gifts, remember the most unspeakable, indescribable gift of all, ours for the taking. This Gift is Jesus!!

Angels

 

A lot has been said about ‘angels’ in recent years: from TV shows to movies, to figurines both cute and majestic.  What is an angel?  Is this a figment of our imagination, or are they real beings?  To better define an “angel” we turn to the Holy Scriptures in which we find angels mentioned quite frequently.  We also find that angels are ‘spirits’ yet are often given a form of man to perform specific services.  Angels are referred to in the masculine gender, as ‘he’, though sex in the human sense is never given to angels.  Neither are angels given in marriage, see Matt.22:30 and Mark 12:25.  Their power is greater than that of any man, and their place of being is around the throne of God.  Revelation 5:11 states “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne…” and “And all the angels stood round about the throne.”

 

As to their relation to the believers, they are said to be ministering spirits, and to give us physical safety and well being for the children of God.  These guardian angels have constant access to "“see the face of God” Matthew 18:10.

 

We find that angels are given for our protection, to fight for us, to comfort us, as messengers sent by God, and that the angels watch man--they observe what we do.  Psalm 34:7 states “The angel of the Lord encamps round about those who fear him, and delivers them.”  Psalm 91:11 tells us “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”  We also find in Daniel 6:22 that Daniel told the king “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths…”  In Daniel 3:28 the king acknowledges that God had “sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him”.  Psa. 35:5 & 6 tells us “the angel of the Lord chase them”…and “the angel of the Lord persecute them” (meaning our enemies), and in II Kings 19:35 the angel slew a whole army.

 

In Acts 12:7-10 the angel woke Peter up, loosed his chains and led him out of the prison.  Once he was safely in the street the angel departed.  In Acts 5:19 the apostles were brought out of prison by an angel.

 

God used his angels throughout scripture as special messengers.  In Daniel 10 there is an interesting story about the angel who states in vs. 11 “for unto thee am I now sent.”  And then the angel goes on to tell Daniel that he was bringing Daniel the answer to his prayers but was held back by the forces of Satan, referred to as “the prince of the kingdom of Persia”.  This brings real meaning to the verse in Eph. 6:12 where it tells us to put on the whole armor of God “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

In Daniel 8:15 after Daniel had seen the vision of the “little horn”, a specific angel, Gabriel came to explain to Daniel the meaning of the vision.

 

In Matthew 1:20, and 2:13 the angel appeared to Joseph on two different occasions giving him messages.  The first one assuring him that he should take Mary for his wife, that she had conceived of the Holy Spirit; and the second time to warn him to take his family and flee into Egypt.  Luke 1:11 the angel came to Zacharias when he had gone into the temple, and told him that his prayer had been heard and he and Elizabeth would have a son, whose name would be called “John”.  In Luke 1:25-33 the angel came to Mary and gave her the message that she would bring forth a son, the Son of the Highest.

 

Luke 2:9-14 tells us that the angel came to the shepherds with the message that Jesus had been born, and this angel was joined by a multitude of heavenly hosts.  They were so excited that all the angels wanted to be a part of this glorious and awesome message.

 

In Matthew 28:5 after rolling away the stone, the angel met the women with the message that Jesus was no longer there, but He had risen.  And the angel told the women to give the disciples a message that they were to meet Jesus in Galilee.

 

Angels are sent to comfort us and strengthen the children of God.  When Jesus was in the garden praying, before his arrest, Luke 22:43 states “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”  Hebrews 1:14 tells us they are “sent forth to minister (comfort) for them who shall be heirs of salvation.”  I Kings 19:5 and also 7 tells us about the angel coming to Elijah on two occasions, touching him and telling him to “arise and eat”, thus nurturing and ministering to Elijah in his time of need.

 

Scripture also tells us that the angels watch us.  I Cor 4:9 says that the apostles were made a “spectacle unto the world, and to angels.” Ephesions 3:10 (NIV) says “through the church, the manifold (or displaying) wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” It should be a sobering thought that the church on earth is observed, so to speak, by spiritual powers.

 

During the time of the Tribulation, God will use His angels to execute most of the judgments.  It will be the army of God’s angels that will defeat Satan and his fallen angels and cast them forever out of Heaven, and at the end an angel will seize Satan and bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.

 

God created the angels sometime before He created the universe, as they were there according to Job 38:4-7.  And we know they will be entrusted with guarding the New Jerusalem in eternity as Rev. 21:12 describes this beautiful place as having a “great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.”

 

As powerful and beautiful as these angels are, and as overwhelming as it might be should we actually see an angel, we are not to worship them.  When John was overcome at the sight of the angel, the angel told him “Do not do it!  I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus.  Worship God! (Rev. 19:10, NIV)

Also in Rev. 22:9 he again says, “Do no do it! I am a fellow servant…Worship God!”

Crowns

Man makes a lifetime of running around, trying to lay up riches for himself.  Psalm 39:6 states: “…every man walks about like a shadow; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.” 

 

In Proverbs 27:24 it states “Riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.”  Wow!  That is a truism.  I have just been reading II Kings and very seldom did a kingdom go from father to son, to son.  Someone, maybe a Captain of the Guard, or an outside villain would have a ‘coup’ and kill the king, then take over the throne.

 

We may never receive a crown while here on earth.  Some of us may never receive any kind of reward or medal for accomplishments or great leadership; but the Bible says there is a ‘crown’ waiting for each of God’s children when we get to Heaven.

 

Paul states in II Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me the “Crown of Righteousness” which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing.”  So here we have a “Crown of Righteousness”.

 

Another Crown we will receive is the “Crown of Life”.  James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the “Crown of Life” which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

 

In I Thess. 2:19 we hear about the “Crown of Rejoicing.”  In the KJV it is Crown of Rejoicing.  In the Amplified Version from which I have been studying lately, it is called “a Victor’s wreath of excellent triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming.”

 

Here is one I am really looking forward to, found in I Peter 5:4 (KJV): “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a “Crown of glory” that fadeth not away…”

 

The only reason we are able to even claim such crowns is because of the crown our Savior wore while here on earth, namely, the “Crown of Thorns”.  Matthew 27:29 states: “they plaited a ‘crown of thorns’, they put it on His head.”

 

When I was in Israel we were shown the kind of thorny bush from which they took the branches to make the crown.  The thorns were an inch, to an inch and a half long.  These they twisted together and put on His head, no doubt forcing it down so the thorns pierced his skin.

 

When I think of the crown Jesus wore, knowing it was part of the curse He took for me, so that someday I can stand before Him wearing my Crown of Righteousness, I feel so humbled, so very unworthy. 

 

My Prayer: The crowns You give Your children, Lord, are incorruptible; they will last forever and ever.  And these crowns are mine only because of what you did on Calvary.  I have done nothing to deserve them.  You are so good!  You are the Life in me!  You are my All and my Salvation.  Holy Lord, You are my treasure and it is at Your feet where I will lay down my heart and my crown!  Amen

 

 

I Am on God's Mind!

 

Did you know that God actually thinks about you, just YOU!  When I first realized this it was awesome to me.  It took me awhile to just sit and absorb it.   In Psalm 40:17 (Amplified Version) it states:  “I am poor and needy;  yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me…”

Just think about that!  With all the millions who are God’s children, yet because He is God, He thinks of me as though I were the only one.
 
Dear Lord, You call me Your beloved, and You call me by my name.  Your desire is to me, and Your thoughts of me are precious (Psalm 139:17)  You saw me being formed in my mother’s womb and loved me even then.  You have said You will care for me even to my old age and gray hairs.  I am the apple of Your eye and through You I am rich and possess all things. When I go to sleep, You see me; when I awake You are still with me.  Praise God, I am Yours, and I am on Your Mind!  Amen

What Happens to my Sin?

Have you ever really wondered what happens to your sin when you accept Jesus as your Savior?
Have you wondered when something brings to mind a sin of the past, whether you need to again ask forgiveness?

In the book entitled "Pilgrim’s Progress’ by John Bunyan, is the story of Christian, leaving his home in the City of Destruction. On the back of Christian was his heavy load of sin and causing much grief. His journey was to find relief of his load on his way to the Celestial City. Eventually he came to a place where the road was fenced on either side with a wall, called ‘salvation’. Up this road he ran encumbered by the load on his back. He came to a place where there stood the Cross, and a little below in the bottom a Sepulchre. When Christian reached the Cross, his burden came loose and fell off his shoulders, tumbling till it came to the sepulchre where it fell in, and was seen no more. It was the sight of the Cross that eased his Burden. It is at the Cross where through repentance and trust in the one who paid our ransom, we receive life. Where does our sin go when we come to Christ’s Cross? How can we know it is really cast away?

Micah 7:19 states "…you will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea." 
Psalm 103:12 tells us that "As far as the East is from the West so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  
In Jeremiah 31:34 we are told "…for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Also, in Isaiah 43:25 God says He is the one who blots out and cancels our transgressions. And in Isaiah 44:22 He says they are blotted out like a thick cloud.
In Peter’s message at Pentecost, he tells the crowd listening "So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return (to God) that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean…" (Acts 3:19 Amplified). These verses are only a few of the verses showing that our sins are gone. Some days when I am grousing about my past, and ask God again to forgive me, I can just imagine He is saying "What sin, my child? I have already forgotten!!."

Why did He do this?! Go back to Isaiah 43:25b. He says "For my own sake…" Wow!! He wants us to be clean and pure…For His Own Sake! We are His children, so for His sake He forgets all about our past, all about our sins. What a gracious, merciful God!

All Things

 

I love reading the book "31 Days of Praise" by Ruth Myers. If one doesn’t know how to praise, this book will open up the path for you. It will help you verbalize your own feelings by paraphrasing Scripture. Often when I read it, I think ‘that sounds like my thoughts’. It just causes my heart to be enlarged, as with joy I give God the praise that is His due.  With that said, I am going to give you the Prayer from Day 24, showing how our Lord can use ‘All’ things to work out his perfect will.  Any italics  are my own words added. The Scriptures used are at the end.  Read it prayerfully as you Praise God for His goodness!

"Thank You, my loving and sovereign God, that my failures and mistakes and sins are part of the "all things" You work together for good…as well as my tensions and stresses, my hostile and anxious feelings, my regrets, my trips into shame and self-blame—and the specific things that trigger them. I praise you that "all things," including these, can contribute to my spiritual growth and my experience of You…When my heart is overwhelmed, I’m more aware of my need to cry to You…to take refuge in You…to rely on You.

I rejoice that these things keep reminding me to depend on You with all my heart…that they prompt me to trust in Your love, Your forgiveness, Your power, Your sufficiency, Your ability to overrule, and Your transforming presence within me. Thank You for the ways that my shortcomings and failures, and illnesses of the flesh bring pressure on me to open myself to You more fully, and the way they let You show me deep and hidden needs: grief’s and hurts that I’ve never poured out before You, that I’ve never exposed to Your healing touch, and sins that I’ve never faced and acknowledged, I give them all to you, My Jesus. How grateful I am for Your constant cleansing as I confess each sin You make me aware of, and then turn back to You as my Lord. I praise You that I’m free from condemnation simply because Christ died for me and rose again…that it doesn’t depend on how well I live. (This is a Wow!)

I praise You for how You use my sins and failures to humble me, and for how this opens me to the inflow of Your grace—amazing grace, that enables me to hold my head high, not in pride but in humble gratitude for Your undeserved, unchanging love and total cleansing!"

Par. 1 Romans 8:28,29; Psalm 61:2
Par. 2 Proverbs 3:5; Psalm 37:5; 2 Cor. 3:18; I John 1:9
Par. 3 I Peter 5:5; Romans 5:5 (LB)

Freedom Rings

"Let Freedom Ring!" we lustily sing at this time of year. But do we really know what Freedom is?

One dictionary meaning is ‘a being able to act, move, use without hindrance or restraint’. Synonymous with the word ‘Freedom’ is the word ‘liberty’. The dictionary states that ‘liberty’ connotes past restriction, or repression. When our founding Father’s signed the declaration of Independence, they were stating we were no longer repressed or restricted by another governing ruler. We were setting up our new nation to be free and independent of England or any other nation. To have the Freedom to pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness.

So it is with our Spiritual life. Galatians 5:1 states "It was for freedom that Christ set us free…" and in John 12:36 it tells us that "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed". Jesus declaration to us is from John 3:16, "Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have Eternal Life." Jesus also said "I am come that you might have Life, and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10). In Christ we will have Life, we will have Liberty, and thereby we will have Happiness. This is our Declaration of Independence that gives us True Freedom!

From the heart of CCoblentz