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Touching lives with the truth of God's Word.

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Location: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

When Jesus was born, only a few people realized He was more than a typical infant. The same is true today. Many people attend Christmas Eve services and observe holiday traditions but fail to consider the real meaning of Christmas.
From the moment of Jesus’ human birth, He was at the same time fully God and fully man the God man [Colossians 2:9]. In Him, the divine and human nature were perfectly united. Jesus did not lay aside His deity at any time, nor did He exchange it for humanity. Instead He choose to submit to His Father’s will and live as one of us. Throughout His earthly life, He remained the eternal Son of God, but simultaneously possessed a human nature unblemished by sin.
The fourth gospel opens confirming the deity of Christ. “In the beginning was the Word [that is Jesus] and the Word was with God and the Word was God” [John 1:1]. We read also in John 1:14-- “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Jesus said in John 10:30 “I and the Father are one” and in John 14:9 “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
The Son of God came to earth not to judge us, as some think, but to rescue us from a devil’s hell [John 12:47]. Jesus walked among us that we might know who God is. He took all our iniquities upon Himself [2 Corinthians 5:21]. Jesus’ perfect sinless life qualified Him to die in our place and pay our sin debt in full. As wonderful as the birth of a baby is, what occurred at Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago was far greater. God became man and dwelt among us so we might become reconciled to Him. Hallelujah! That’s the Christmas story. Look for opportunities to share the good news of the resurrected and living Christ. If You are a believer you will be blessed, I promise.

WHAT THE LAW DEMANDS, GRACE PROVIDES

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

BITS & PIECES

Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it. [A.W. Tozer]
We have short memories in magnifying God’s grace. Every blessing that God confers upon us perishes through our carelessness, if we are not prompt and active in giving thanks. [John Calvin]
We ought to give thanks for all fortune; if it is good, because it is good, if bad because it works in us patience, humility, and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country. [C.S. Lewis]
See that you do not forget what you were before, lest you take for granted the grace and mercy you received from God and forget to express your gratitude each day. [Martin Luther]
Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.
Willing and eager obedience is the hallmark of someone who has truly come to faith in Jesus Christ. They obey, not because they want to earn God’s favor, but because they feel delighted already to have received it.
Bethlehem and Golgotha, the Manger and the Cross, the birth and the death, must always be seen together. [J. Sidlow Baxter]
The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that 30 years later He might hang on a cross. [J.I. Packer]
Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor. [C.H. Spurgeon]


WHAT THE LAW DEMANDS, GRACE PROVIDES

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The moment we trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were adopted into God’s family. Sealed and indwelt by the person of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit, being our guarantee that we belong to our heavenly Father.
The Spirit’s ministry is essential to our ability to carry out God’s work, and do it in a manner pleasing to Him. Transforming us from the inside out to be like Jesus and producing spiritual fruit in our lives are significant areas of His work. He also convicts us of sin, provides us with understanding and wisdom, and gives us the spiritual gifts we need in order to serve God. Only through the Spirit’s divine presence do we receive the equipping and empowerment necessary to accomplish God’s plans. As we serve in a godly manner, we testify to the truth of who Jesus is.
All believers have God’s supernatural power to accomplish the work He has for them to do. Yet not all Christians choose to operate out of the Holy Spirit’s strength. By attempting to live the Christian life in our own strength, we achieve only what we ourselves are able to accomplish. However, when you and I operate in the strength and power of the Spirit, the result is what almighty God can do. The presence of the Holy Spirit is essential to our living a victorious life. You think about that.

WHAT THE LAW DEMANS, GRACE PROVIDES