Advent: Seeking Christ Day 18

Day 18 Luke Chapter 18

“‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (vv. 38-39 NASB).

These two chapters of Luke speak volumes to the pain and suffering in the world. Two accounts of hurting and sick people crying out for the mercy of God. If He does not see their pain and intervene, they have no hope.

Bartimaeus has lived in a blind existence. His world was dark and lonely. Jesus said that while He is in the world that He is the Light of the World {Jn. 4:5}. Isaiah prophesied of the coming Child that He came to give Zion a happy future;

“Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy’” (Is. 35:4-5 NASB).

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God…

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the Great I Am?

(Mary Did You Know? Mark Lowery, 1984)

 

Pentatonix: Mary Did You Know?

How many times have we been faced with trials and circumstances that have brought us to our knees and caused us to cry out with anguished desperation, “Jesus, have mercy on me!?” The darkness, the sickness, this lost, dark, evil world gives many an opportunity. I have been brought to cry out on many occasions.  

“God doesn’t miss a single sigh that escapes our lips. But historically, God’s people most often cried out in spoken words that sprang from the depths of their being! God heard their petitions…and shook their worlds” {The Power of Crying Out: When Prayer Becomes Mighty, Bill Gothard}.

Remember this Advent that this is why He came—to give us a happy future. He came to set the captives free—giving sight to the blind and opening deaf hears to hear the good news of His coming kingdom and to see Him when He arrives. Keep your eyes open, He will be arriving soon.  

God is Omnipotent: Have Courage

“There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne.” 1

The world in which we live is fallen. The times in which we are living are troubling. Destructive hurricanes; devastating earthquakes; terrorism; sociopathic dictators threatening their neighbors. New signs in the heavens—the like of which has not taken place before—September 23, 2017 is supposedly the end of the world. These times are not for the faint of heart. The birth pangs of the Last Days are growing stronger:

“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” {Matt. 24:6-8 NASB}.

I take Jesus’ words to heart…I am not afraid when I see signs that the Bible warned us to look for. I can live without fear, even fear of the unknown, because of who God is. For the Lord is sovereign—over everything. He holds creation in His hand; He is watching over everything. Place your hope in the Lord and His Word:

 “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” {Amos 3:7}.

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they” {Heb. 1: 1-4 NASB}.

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” {Col. 1: 16-17 NASB}.

I don’t worry about the events that I witness on earth, because He is sovereign, and I know that He is in control of everything, and that all things are working according to His will {Rom. 8:28}. This doesn’t mean that frightening things won’t happen. It doesn’t mean that destructive or devastating events won’t take place—it means that when they do I don’t worry—I pray:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” {Phil. 4:6-7 NASB}.

The peace of God which surpasses all comprehension. This is so amazing. God’s peace is beyond anything we can comprehend, so why be frightened? Jesus encourages us to trust Him—and trust Him I will—whatever comes or takes place in the heavens or in the earth.

The sovereignty of God is the exercise of His supremacy…being infinitely elevated above the highest creature.² When I say that God is sovereign, it means that He is omnipotent. He is the Lord Most High. He is Lord of heaven and earth. He is subject to no one. His will is supreme. He is unrivaled in majesty. Unlimited in power. Unaffected by anything outside of Himself. “The Supremacy of God is the kingship of God, the Godhood of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth…He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purposes, or resist His will {Ps. 115:3}. He is the Governor among the nations {Ps. 22:28}, setting up kingdoms, over throwing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best.” ³ He is the King of kings and Lord of lords {1 Tim. 6:15}. God is all powerful or Almighty. With God, all things are possible {Matt. 19:26}. God is sovereign over creation; He forms the unborn child in his mother’s womb {Ps. 139:13}. The Lord created the heavens {Jer. 32:17}. He decrees all things in accordance with His will {Eph. 1:11}. He is the beginning—everything starts with Him and ends with Him {Rev. 22:12-13}. He knows all and sees all; He sees the end from the beginning. He is all powerful and His purpose will be established:

“Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” {Is. 46:10 NASB}.

“He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?” {Dan. 4:35 NASB}.

The term omnipotence signifies that the Lord is all powerful. Though He is all powerful, He does nothing randomly. He is a God of order—He brings order from chaos. He created the universe ex nihilo—out of nothing. “This means that before God began to create the universe, nothing else existed except God himself.” 4 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters” {Gen. 1: 1-2 NASB}.

God’s power is displayed in His character, “God is all-powerful and able to do whatever he wills. Since his will is limited by his nature, God can do everything that is in harmony with his perfections.” ⁵ There are then, a few things God cannot do, because they are contrary to His nature and character. That is why the definition of omnipotence is God’s ability to do “all His holy will.” He can do all things that are consistent with His character. He cannot go back on His Word {Jer. 1:11-13; 2 Tim. 2:13}; He cannot lie {Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18}; In Titus 1:2 He is called the “unlying God” or the “God who never lies.” He cannot sin or have anything to do with sin {Hab. 1:13; James 1:13}. God cannot cease to exist, or cease to be God, or can He act in a way that is inconsistent with any of His attributes. God’s power is infinite, and the use of His power is qualified by His other attributes.

Why is God’s omnipotence important for us? God created you and me—we are the imago dei—His image bearers. He made us so that our lives display a faint reflection of His attributes. We do not have infinite power—only God has infinite power, but God has made us creatures with a will who exercise freedom of choice, and make decisions regarding our lives. Our will is not absolutely free like God’s will is, but He has given us relative freedom in our spheres of influence. When we use our will and freedom to make choices that please God and are consistent with His Word, we reflect His character and bring Him glory.

We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth—we are to dispel darkness {Matt. 5:14-16}. When terrible things happen, the Church must rise up. When we see the earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes; when we see the darkness that seeks to envelop the earth, we must remember not to fear these things, but to pray and rest, knowing that God is in control and still inhabits His throne. Believers need to live and walk in the authority that God granted us in the cultural mandate {Gen. 1; Matt. 28}. Though we do not have infinite power, however, God has given us power to bring about physical, mental, spiritual, and persuasive power in our families, churches, and civil governments. When we act according to His will, we bring Him glory.  

Jesus promised us that we will have trouble in this world, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” {Jn. 16:33 NASB}. He has overcome all the trouble we see. This doesn’t mean we won’t suffer the repercussions of terrible events, but it does mean that God did not leave His throne. Jesus is with us—carrying us through all the trouble we will witness on earth. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe {Prov. 18:10}. We are to be strong and courageous, and place our hope in Him—which we can easily do because He is sovereign and omnipotent.

“For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” {1 Pet. 1:20-21 NIV}.

Don't forget to subscribe to the blog!

---

1. The Complete Works of C. H. Spurgeon, Volume 2: Sermons 54-106, # 77.

2. A.W. Pink, The Attributes Of God (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1975), 32.

3. A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1998), 20.

4. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 263.

5. Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook Of Theology (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2014), 201.

Why do you weep? He is not here! He is risen!

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 

So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.  The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.  So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.  So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.  And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).  Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

Garden Tomb: Jerusalem 1992

The Tabernacle: The Court and The Gate

A Kiss of Thankfulness

This past week, Chanukah and Thanksgiving met; yet one event also graced this week of celebration; Advent kissed us in the midst of Chanukah, both celebrations express our longing for the Light to come. A kiss of thankfulness—I do not believe it is an accidental encounter. 

In Chanukah we celebrate the precious oil; though they didn’t have enough for eight days; they chose to honor God and thought it better to light the golden Lampstand regardless, and God honored their act of faith. One more truth remains in the Chanukah celebration we Gentiles take for granted; at the time of the rededication of the temple, the Devil crafted yet again a plot to wipe the Jewish people from the earth. No Jews—no Messiah. We can celebrate the Christology in this blessed event—Jesus Christ the Light of World; the one in which we hope. The Maccabees overthrew the plot and rededicated the temple, the very temple that spoke of the Temple to come—the Messiah. This alone should be enough for us, Jew and Gentile alike, to throw a thanksgiving feast worthy of the King of Glory. 

Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 

Ps. 24:8 

 

The first Advent has come, fulfilling all that the Old Covenant promised. Sunday began the Advent season celebrating that fulfilled promise, Jesus Christ, born in a stable to humble Jewish parents. His only coronation audience- cows, sheep, donkeys, and a few frightened shepherds. His glory laid aside to dwell among us—Immanuel. 

The first Advent candle to light is the ‘hope’ or ‘prophecy candle; reflecting the hope we hold in our hearts—He will come. We hope in His coming, the promise that dripped like honey off the lips of our Savior, His prophetic promise that He will return. He came once; He shall come again. 

Three separate celebrations in a week saturated in thanksgiving. We began with the Feast of Lights celebrating the Light of the World and end it with the beginning of the waiting season of His precious birth; and sandwiched between is Thanksgiving, a time to remember all that we are thankful for; all the Lord has done for us. It is time to cultivate a thankful heart. Thankfulness does not just appear in our hearts, we have to cultivate it, practice it. Thankfulness does not always come easy, in the face of hurt, loss and disappointment. Pain and hurt screams to drown out any hope of joy, yet we have the Light of the world and a journey to a manger, to break any threats of darkness. God is so faithful to us, His faithfulness should rest atop our thanksgiving list…If you can think of nothing to be thankful for…Jesus was beaten and bruised to redeem us because His love for us was too great, He could not even fathom spending an eternity apart from you, He could more easily fathom the Cross, if He does nothing else for me—I am forever awed at this act of love.

 Cultivate a thankful heart;

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night. Psalm 92:1-2 

This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95: 1-6

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 107:1

 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endurethforever. Psalm 136:1

O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. Isaiah 25:1

Do you not think it the devil’s work to steal the joy from so many during a season that should bring us such joy? 

Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Thanksgiving brings joy. 

Thanksgiving may be over, but our thanksgiving to Him should not rest. Sundown on Wednesday marks the last night of Chanukah, but we should not cease searching for the Light of World to give us light on our path and to break through the darkness in our lives. Twenty-one more days lay before us, a path to Christmas morning. Seek for the Holy Child every day until He comes. Cultivate thanksgiving, find joy, feel His peace and keep your eyes on Jesus. For He is why we celebrate.

In His Grace,