tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151788932024-03-13T08:02:41.437-04:00His Word is TruthJonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-73560189304048216412018-11-27T22:13:00.001-05:002018-11-29T21:05:50.736-05:00Advent Devotional: 25 Reasons Jesus Came to Die<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elyegqQ5PZg/WD81Rkpu15I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/S9x-HEpI4esgkGU7TqgqaHuXoW4ChCARwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Web-Graphic-for-Advent-Devotion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="609" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elyegqQ5PZg/WD81Rkpu15I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/S9x-HEpI4esgkGU7TqgqaHuXoW4ChCARwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Web-Graphic-for-Advent-Devotion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can download the free pdf or buy a Kindle version for $.99 if that works better for you. I pray that these help point you and your family to Christ this holiday season!<br />
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/jonathan.brooks/25+Reasons+Jesus+Came+to+Earth.pdf" target="_blank">PDF Version: 25 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth</a><br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2hSbLbm" target="_blank">Kindle Version: 25 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Jonathan Brooks is the pastor of <a href="http://www.refugenc.org/" target="_blank">Refuge Church in Raleigh NC</a></span></b>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-40360955944377826062018-08-20T16:37:00.001-04:002018-08-20T16:37:14.911-04:00Christ Community Church Sermons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The past sermons from my former church, Christ Community Church, will now be available through this blog.<br />
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For over 10 years I had the privilege of preaching at Christ Community Church in Wilson NC. The first 5 of those years, it was an honor to preach alongside Justin Childers when he was our lead pastor. About a year ago, Christ Community Church made the difficult decision to begin the process of closing our church (<a href="https://www.jonathanrbrooks.com/2017/10/when-kingdom-growth-doesnt-look-like.html">you can read more about that here</a>). One of the questions many people have asked me since that time is, "What about the sermons? Are we still going to be able to go back and listen to them?" I know there are many who go back to listen to Justin's sermons from his first 5 years with us. And, others have mentioned that they are currently benefitting from listening to sermons while studying a book of the Bible I preached through in my time there.<br />
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So, having said all of that, the Christ Community website was shut down last week. But, thanks to the generosity of <a href="http://webblocks.co/" target="_blank">WebBlocks</a>, the church's web host, we have been able to move all of the sermons over to a subdomain of this blog: <a href="http://sermons.jonathanrbrooks.com/">http://sermons.jonathanrbrooks.com</a>. This site will also be able to be accessed by clicking on the SERMON tab beneath the header of this page.<br />
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I pray, as I know Justin does, that the truth of God's Word would continue to impact the hearts of his people. Justin and I are both in different churches now. Justin serves as lead pastor at <a href="http://www.mhbcbelton.com/home" target="_blank">Miller Heights Baptist Church</a> in Belton TX and I'm serving as lead pastor at <a href="http://www.refugenc.org/" target="_blank">Refuge Church</a> in Raleigh NC. So, fair warning to our people, we may feel led to go through one of these books with you in the future. Of course, we'll study all over again and let God work fresh on our hearts. But, His truth is unchanged - so you may hear a very similar sermon in the future if you listen now!JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-17721691531252014292018-08-02T20:51:00.001-04:002018-08-02T20:59:40.655-04:00The Lamb of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Leviticus is a bloody book. There are laws for burnt offerings, laws for peace offering, laws for sin offering, and laws for guilt offerings. Each having various sections detailing how to handle the sacrifice if it's from the herd, or the flock, or at times even a turtledove or a pigeon. As you read the first chapters of Leviticus it can be overwhelming at times. You may begin to wonder how there would be any living animals left among God's people. The Law demanded bloody sacrifice upon bloody sacrifice. In fact, Leviticus 6:13 makes clear, "Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out." Sacrificing animals and laying them on the altar would be a continual occurrence in the life of Israel.<br />
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This is what the Law demanded. Day after day, animal upon animal sacrificed to atone for the sins of the people. It was a never-ending stream of slaughtered sacrifices because of the frequent faithlessness of God's people.<br />
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Only within this context can the weight be felt of what John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus coming. <b>"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"</b> (John 1:29)<br />
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Each phrase of that sentence thunders with meaning. <br />
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<b>THE Lamb</b><br />
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Jesus is THE Lamb. He's not a lamb or another lamb among the thousands that have been sacrificed. He's THE Lamb. There's something final in this arrival to which all other sacrifices have been pointing.<br />
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<b>The Lamb of God</b><br />
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This lamb is from God himself. He will be the lamb that God lays upon the altar. He will be the lamb slaughtered and sacrificed by God himself. God, having no sin of his own, is not offering this lamb for himself, but instead for someone else.<br />
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<b>The Lamb of God who takes away the sin</b><br />
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This lamb will finish the job. He is THE lamb from GOD and he will take away the sin. There will be no sin left for which God's people must make a sacrifice. There will be no sin left for which God's people must face the condemnation of God. He will take it away finally and completely.<br />
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<b>The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.</b><br />
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This lamb isn't just for those who are of physical Israel. This lamb will be for the sins of every tribe, tongue, and nation. So, he is not just THE lamb for Israel, but the lamb for the sins of everyone who will turn to him in faith.<br />
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In other words, when John saw Jesus coming toward him, he proclaimed that the sacrificial bloodbath would be over with this lamb because his sacrifice is all that is needed for all eternity.<br />
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That's why Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished." He is THE Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and there will never need to be another.<br />
<br />JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-87629608006436942612018-04-19T18:16:00.001-04:002018-04-19T18:26:44.756-04:00Why the Reformation Still Matters: What do we say to a child grieving the loss of his atheistic father?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/heartsick-boy-asks-atheist-dad-193340202.html" target="_blank">Heartsick Boy Asks If Atheist Dad Is In Heaven. Pope Francis Reveals The Answer With A Hug.</a><br />
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My heart breaks for this boy. The loss of a father at a young age, especially this young, is a tragedy no child should have to endure. The young boy in this story, Emanuele, recently lost his father and was part of a group that was invited to ask Pope Francis questions. Emanuele was invited to the stage to whisper his question into the Pope's ear because he was too nervous and emotional to ask from the microphone. On the stage with the Pope's arms tenderly wrapped around him he told the Pope that his father was an atheist and had recently died, but had ensured his children were all baptized. He then asked the Pope, "Is my father in heaven?" Before I dive into expressing my concerns for how Pope Francis answered that question, I want to be clear that I applaud the tenderness, humility, and empathy that Pope Francis displayed. The child needed a hug. He gave him one.<br />
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The question the young boy asked is a difficult one to answer with pastoral tenderness and truth. But, any answer worth giving must include both. Pope Francis basically answered the boy by saying that his father's good works, demonstrated in having his children baptized, were evidence that God would accept him into heaven. Pope Francis was clearly tender, but he either intentionally muddled the gospel or he applied the faulty Catholic understanding of it. Ultimately, I think it was both. Perhaps he was applying the Catholic doctrine of purgatory. In that case, he was telling this young child (without really telling him) that the good works of his father will eventually help him escape purgatory and then, maybe, he will be in heaven - if enough people pray for his father and receive indulgences for his father and do whatever else the Catholic Church decides can shorten the timeline for the suffering of loved ones in purgatory.<br />
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The tragedy of the story is that Jesus was nowhere to be found in the conversation. It serves as a fresh reminder of the need for the truth of the gospel recovered in the Reformation. It's a reminder that, in fact, the Reformation is not over. It's a reminder that the debate of the Reformation isn't just about ivory tower theology, but about what we say to little children who ask questions about their deceased atheist father. It doesn't get any more real and pastoral than that.<br />
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The Pope failed to love the boy well because he failed to point him to Jesus, his only hope in life and death. He failed to make clear to the boy that it is only through faith in Christ that we can have any hope of eternity. He failed the boy because Emanuele walked away with some kind of vague understanding that good works have something to do with whether he gets to be with God for all eternity or not. That's a burden no human shoulders can bear.<br />
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With tenderness, Emanuele needed to be told that if his father trusted in Jesus, then there is no question that he is with God this very moment. He needed to be told that he too needs to look to Christ alone for hope and comfort during these difficult days. Those would have been difficult words to hear if he fully comprehended their weight. But, I would rather his tiny shoulders bear the weight of that grief so that he could find the capable and able shoulders of Jesus, on which he could place that grief and all of his sins. Instead, he walked away feeling a little bit better for the moment, but set up for a lifetime of bearing the weight of his sins on his own growing, but forever too weak, frail shoulders.JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-55238023496389763032017-11-25T09:57:00.001-05:002018-11-27T22:03:03.847-05:0025 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth: Daily Advent Devotion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elyegqQ5PZg/WD81Rkpu15I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/S9x-HEpI4esgkGU7TqgqaHuXoW4ChCARwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Web-Graphic-for-Advent-Devotion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="609" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elyegqQ5PZg/WD81Rkpu15I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/S9x-HEpI4esgkGU7TqgqaHuXoW4ChCARwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Web-Graphic-for-Advent-Devotion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can download the free pdf or buy a Kindle version for $.99 if that works better for you. I pray that these help point you and your family to Christ this holiday season!<br />
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/jonathan.brooks/25+Reasons+Jesus+Came+to+Earth.pdf" target="_blank">PDF Version: 25 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth</a><br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2hSbLbm" target="_blank">Kindle Version: 25 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth</a>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-91478229064502702452017-10-06T12:28:00.003-04:002021-08-25T17:56:24.383-04:00When Kingdom Growth Doesn't Look Like Church Growth: Did Our Church Plant Fail?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8f5c6dee-f24d-1f6f-b8a5-1cbeaa081b06"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our <a href="http://christcommunitywilson.com/home" target="_blank">11 year old church plant</a> is going through the difficult process of closing down, but our church plant has not failed. That word is often used to describe a church plant that “doesn’t make it.” The statistic normally goes something like this: a certain percentage of all church plants fail in the first 5 years or 10 years. That’s the key word in those stats - fail. And, I suppose, if someone is gathering the raw data on church plants, our church will be added to a list that “failed” within about 10 years. But, our story is so much more than raw data; some simple binary glance at whether the church is still open or closed.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8f5c6dee-f24d-1f6f-b8a5-1cbeaa081b06"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For God’s own good reasons, he chose to grow his kingdom through our church in ways that meant our church itself didn’t grow. In the early days of our church, meeting in a school building with metal folding chairs, we had a number of families travelling from a neighboring city about 40 minutes to the south. They faithfully joined our body for the first years, but sensed a longing for a church like ours in their own community. </span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8f5c6dee-f24d-1f6f-b8a5-1cbeaa081b06"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We rejoiced in that desire! As more families from Goldsboro began coming to us, it became clear that the right thing for us to do would be to plant a church in Goldsboro. But, that would mean only about 4 years into our existence we would be sending out about a third of our current members and attenders. Let’s be honest, it would also mean sending out a large portion of our budget. But, we rejoiced at the opportunity and joyfully sent them out with a large lump sum of money to get them started. By God’s grace, they have flourished and recently purchased a building; which, if you’ve ever been involved in a church plant would make you want to march around the building chanting - no more setup! We’re thankful for how God has continued to bless them and for the faithful gospel presence <a href="http://www.crosswaylife.com/" target="_blank">Crossway Church</a> brought to Goldsboro. Kingdom Growth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to being able to start a church in Goldsboro, I last counted 6 men that we’ve been able to send out into various pastoral roles in other churches. God would bring them and their families to us for a season and after a few years he chose to send them to other places where they could multiply his kingdom in other cities. We also recently had a family move to the Philippines to be close to family where they are intentionally seeking to spread the gospel to their new community. We had another faithful family move to California to work at a Christian Camp where they are striving to impact the lives of thousands of people that come through the camp every year. Kingdom Growth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, of course, there’s the immeasurable impact that the faithful proclamation of the Word of God has had on the hearts of our people for the past 11 years. We watched it sustain us through many personal trials, heartaches, and difficulties. We’ve wept together and we’ve rejoiced together. Kingdom Growth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We witnessed children trusting in Christ and co-workers doing the same. It’s a glorious celebration to watch a young man raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son. He took a job in another city, but has remained faithful, by God’s grace, and pursued finding a faithful church. Kingdom Growth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we sent families out, God would bring others to us. So, the story of our church has been never really to grow past 40-45 members and, sometimes, like now, a lot less. I’m reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippian church - and I wonder if it may not apply to our church. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Even if am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (Philippians 2:17-18</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://christcommunitywilson.com/home" target="_blank">Christ Community Church</a>, you have been poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of the faith of many - far beyond what you’ll ever see or know in this life. But, the one thing I know without a doubt in my soul is that you have not failed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, when the statisticians gather their data, we’ll go in a column of church plants that “failed.” But, I believe there will be a different column for you in God’s data - “Well done, good and faithful servant.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m thankful that I got to be your pastor. And, I’m thankful I get to be your pastor for a few months longer until God makes clear his next place for me. I don’t know where that will be right now, but I know my time with you has forever changed me because you pointed me to Christ as much as I strove to point you to Him. I love you <a href="http://christcommunitywilson.com/home" target="_blank">Christ Community Church</a>. Kingdom Growth.</span></div>
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</span>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-28013306283737494702016-11-30T18:11:00.000-05:002016-12-21T18:02:17.449-05:0025 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth: Daily Advent Devotions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt=" 25 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth: Daily Advent Devotionals" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elyegqQ5PZg/WD81Rkpu15I/AAAAAAAAA4I/8zRNscyxC3s6C8FOUQYtuissnBD8uv95wCLcB/s1600/Web-Graphic-for-Advent-Devotion.jpg" /></div>
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I've created a pdf of the Advent Devotionals I wrote last Christmas. So, instead of updating the blog each day of Advent with the devotion for that day you can download the entire pdf at once.<br />
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If you want a version formatted for Kindle, <strike>that should be available tomorrow</strike>, it will cost $0.99 (That was the lowest they would allow). <strike>I'll update this when it comes available.</strike><br />
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UPDATE: <a href="http://amzn.to/2i2kruw" target="_blank">Kindle version now available</a><br />
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<a href="http://christcommunitywilson.com/home/pagefiles/AdventDevotionals.pdf" target="_blank">25 Reasons Jesus Came to Earth: Daily Advent Devotions</a> PDFJonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-5453108964553984692016-07-08T13:00:00.003-04:002016-07-08T13:00:52.630-04:00Racism, Tragedy, Empathy, and Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rXdWy5PYhg/V3_bHM9vehI/AAAAAAAAAvg/MjnlmAI0g6QCQHdWa-zh3YcUBWc1tKk_ACLcB/s1600/IMG_4658.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rXdWy5PYhg/V3_bHM9vehI/AAAAAAAAAvg/MjnlmAI0g6QCQHdWa-zh3YcUBWc1tKk_ACLcB/s320/IMG_4658.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So much has been said; opinions given, like buttons of approval, comments of disagreement. Trying to add to the conversation feels unnecessary at best and taking advantage of controversy for the sake of "likes" at worst.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But, I sit here distracted as I try to study and craft the sermon for this Sunday. There is rich truth found in the passage and I look forward to preaching it. Yet, all I can think about is how to help those God has placed under my care think about and act on the tragedies of the past few days. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've seen the video of Alton Sterling's death. I’m not an expert on police tactics. Nor, can I see or know everything that happened in that moment. I’m not a judge, a prosecutor, or a jury. But, I am a Christian. I’m a Christian that is called to weep with those who weep. Christians, of all people, should take on the role of empathy and understanding. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t imagine being a police officer who knows they have to make split second life and death decisions. I can’t imagine carrying the weight of the ability to take life to protect others and my own. I’m thankful that men and women take on this God ordained role daily for our protection and the keeping of peace.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t imagine being a black man who bears on his shoulders the weight of history - whether we like to admit it or not. His father or grandfather was probably alive during the Jim Crow era. That matters. There is likely an automatic suspicion of authority passed down from that experience. I can’t imagine the panic Sterling probably felt in that moment that may have caused him to act irrationally. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t imagine being a black person viewing the video and experiencing a gut wrenching, unexplainable, tension running through their body thinking “here we go again.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t imagine being the parent of a black child, wondering if their child will respond "correctly" if they encounter the police. In college I was pulled over because my car resembled one that had been stolen. My friend, who happens to be black, was sitting in the passenger seat. When the officer came to the window my friend leaned forward so he could see the officer and hear what he was saying. The officer's hand immediately went to his holster, telling him to lean back. I know the officer didn’t know why he was leaning forward and was acting to be ready just in case. But, I wonder if my friend didn’t hear the officer say “lean back” and bent down further so he could hear what he said. Then what? Innocent situations can become dangerous really quickly. We’re simply ignoring reality if we can’t understand the fear that creates for parents of black children.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t imagine the pain and heartache the families of the Dallas police officers are experiencing today. They were doing their job, planning to have dinner with their families the next day, but were killed by someone foolishly attempting to oppose injustice by acting unjustly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If all we do is blindly take sides and line up on one side or the other yelling at each other, then we won’t ever make any progress. Instead, we have to try, as best we can, to understand why these things happen and try to prevent it from happening again. Facts matter, but so do history, experiences, and emotion.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, as Christians we must strive to empathize with the pain and hurt so many are feeling today. Weep with those who weep. We must pray for God to bring comfort and peace to those in pain. We must pray for those in authority, asking God to give them wisdom as they investigate this case and bring justice where necessary. We must pray for police officers who risk their lives daily. We must pray for Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to have wisdom as they seek to continue to train officers on how to handle stressful and threatening situations. We must pray for empathy and understanding concerning experiences that are foreign to many of us. We must pray that racism, in all its forms - conscious and unconscious, comes to an end.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One day King Jesus will come, bringing both justice and lasting peace. Until that day we pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”</span></div>
<br /><br />JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-65659906238084089732016-03-08T15:37:00.000-05:002016-03-08T15:41:23.202-05:00Summary of The Gospel Coalition's Church Planter Book Recommendations <br />
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<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53c2c69ae4b081390c4af7b8/t/55476cdee4b01331cfe088d7/1430744287650/" height="162" width="200" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/" target="_blank">Gospel Coalition </a>posted an helpful article asking 20 church leaders what three books every church planter should read. (<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tgc-asks-3-books-every-church-planter-should-read" target="_blank">TGC Asks: 3 Books Every Church Planter Should Read</a>)<br />
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I thought it would be helpful to see it in a list format with links. So, I put together this basic pdf document summarizing all of the recommended books. The 4 books that were mentioned by more than one pastor are highlighted. Of course, I would encourage you to look at the article and hear each man explain why he felt a particular book would he helpful.</div>
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<iframe height="700" src="https://drive.google.com/a/christcommunitywilson.com/file/d/0B1s0PkcVbPsEcUdNd2trZmxwX00/preview" width="640"></iframe></div>
JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-8786989607497034772015-12-25T13:50:00.001-05:002015-12-25T13:52:09.606-05:00Advent Day 25: Jesus Came to Come<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UyHP6sc_GOw/Vn2PxJpgX9I/AAAAAAAAAuE/91G6iJbDfmc/s1600/coming%2B-%2B600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UyHP6sc_GOw/Vn2PxJpgX9I/AAAAAAAAAuE/91G6iJbDfmc/s1600/coming%2B-%2B600.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;">"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again </b></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;">and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also"</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;">(John 14:3)</b></div>
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Jesus came to crush the head of Satan.<br />
Jesus came to serve.<br />
Jesus came to make us children of God.<br />
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.<br />
Jesus came to be our example of humility.<br />
Jesus came to show us the way to the Father.<br />
Jesus came to accomplish the will of his Father.<br />
Jesus came to become a curse.<br />
Jesus came to shine light into darkness.<br />
Jesus came to demonstrate God's justice.<br />
Jesus came to be our Great High Priest.<br />
Jesus came to be our righteousness.<br />
Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father.<br />
Jesus came to free us from fear of death.<br />
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.<br />
Jesus came to preach peace.<br />
Jesus came to bring a sword.<br />
Jesus came to call sinners.<br />
Jesus came to give us life abundantly.<br />
Jesus came to give his life as a ransom.<br />
Jesus came to be our example of love.<br />
Jesus came to show us how to suffer.<br />
Jesus came to teach truth.<br />
Jesus came to fulfill all of God's promises.<br />
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Jesus came for all these reasons and more. And, he is coming again. <br />
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In <b>John 14:1</b> he said to his disciples, <b>"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me."</b> Jesus says that our hearts should not be troubled because there are many rooms in His Father's house and he is going to prepare a place for us. <b>"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:3)</b><br />
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He came down in humble flesh so that he could return in his glorified body to take us to be with him forever. The fact of his next coming is just as certain as the reality of his last coming. As you celebrate Christmas today and reflect on the birth of Jesus, be reminded to look to the next time he will appear. As you look to the manger also look to the heavens.<br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Advent Day 4</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 12</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 13</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 14</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 15</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 16</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 17</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 18</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 19</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-20-jesus-came-to-give-his.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 20</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-21-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 21</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-22-jesus-came-to-show-us-how.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 22</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-23-jesus-came-to-teach-truth.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 23</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-25-jesus-came-to-come.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 24</a><br />
<b><br /></b>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-14031209823459155462015-12-24T16:00:00.002-05:002015-12-24T20:44:13.863-05:00Advent Day 24: Jesus Came to Fulfill All of God's Promises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. </b></div>
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<b>That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. </b></div>
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<b>(2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV)</b></div>
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The Bible is filled with promises from God. Various individuals have attempted to add up all the promises that God makes in the Bible and have come up with widely varying answers; anywhere from 3,000 up to 8,000. The final count depends on how some verses or statements are interpreted. </div>
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Whether the right answer is 3,000 or 8,000, the reality is that God made thousands of promises in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 1:20 Paul makes an astonishing claim. Every single one of these thousands of promises find their yes in Jesus. What does that mean? And, how can that be?</div>
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When Paul says God's promises find their yes in Jesus, he means that apart from Christ the promises of God would never come to fruition. Every promise God made in the Old Testament was made knowing that Christ would come in the flesh in perfect obedience, laying down his life on the cross, and victoriously rising from the dead to sit at the right hand of God the Father. And, it is through this glorious work of Jesus Christ that all of God's promises become yes to you and to me.</div>
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Therefore, Paul says it is through Christ "that we utter our Amen to God for his glory" (2 Cor. 1:20). When we say Amen, we are saying "so it be" or "it is so." The only way we can say "so it be" to the promises of God is through Christ. Apart from him there would be no "it is so."</div>
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Though it's difficult to wrap our minds around, at Christmas we are celebrating the coming of the fulfillment of all of God's promises. In the child that laid in a manger, thousands of God's promises found their fulfillment. So, as we prepare our hearts for Christmas tomorrow, let us praise God that we have received our yes in Jesus Christ!</div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html">Advent Day 17</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html">Advent Day 18</a><br />
<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html">Advent Day 19</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-20-jesus-came-to-give-his.html">Advent Day 20</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-21-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 21</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-22-jesus-came-to-show-us-how.html">Advent Day 22</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-23-jesus-came-to-teach-truth.html">Advent Day 23</a>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-77839826976734687702015-12-23T11:14:00.002-05:002015-12-23T11:55:50.613-05:00Advent Day 23: Jesus Came to Teach Truth
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<b>[37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world</b></div>
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<b>—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”</b></div>
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<b> (John 18:37 ESV)</b></div>
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Just about everywhere Jesus went, he taught. That's what he spent the vast majority of his public ministry doing. He was a teacher. Yes, he healed lots of people and even raised some from the dead. But, if we were to try and calculate the amount of time he spent on any given activity, it seems that teaching wins by a long-shot.</div>
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Mark 6:34 tells us that when Jesus came to the shore he saw a large crowd and, in that moment, his heart was filled with compassion for them. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. How does he respond? Verse 34 says that he began to teach them many things. Jesus' compassion drove him to teach.</div>
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Jesus was passionate about teaching because he held the words of truth we all needed to hear. In fact, in John 18 Jesus says, <b>"for this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth" (John 18:37)</b>. Once again, we see that there were a multitude of reasons Jesus came to dwell among us. It wasn't just to die on the cross, but also to spend three years teaching truth.</div>
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And, he taught like no one else had ever taught before. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, we're told, <b>"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes" (Matthew 7:28-29).</b> His teaching wasn't dependent on any outside source. He is the truth, therefore he doesn't need to footnote his sources. He is the authority on every subject.</div>
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Jesus, being God, could have imparted information in any way he saw fit. He could have miraculously transferred knowledge into the head of his followers with very little effort. But, he came to make disciples by teaching. God continues to desire that disciples be made in the same way: through teaching. Therefore, the leaders of God's church must be teachers (1 Tim. 3:2). Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that he gave teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry. </div>
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Teaching is central to God's work on earth. Jesus proved this by spending three years teaching; for this purpose he came into the world.</div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 17</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 18</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 19</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-20-jesus-came-to-give-his.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 20</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-21-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 21</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-22-jesus-came-to-show-us-how.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 22</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="footnotes" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"></a>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-36117519695170441042015-12-22T11:53:00.001-05:002015-12-23T11:14:35.606-05:00Advent Day 22: Jesus Came to Show Us How to Suffer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>[20] For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? </b></div>
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<b>But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. [21] For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, </b></div>
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<b>leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. </b></div>
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<b>(1 Peter 2:20-21 ESV)</b></div>
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Suffering is difficult in all its forms; emotional, physical, or mental. Though we do our best to avoid suffering, all of us will face some degree of it in our lives. It's unavoidable. Therefore, because it's inevitable for a Christian, we need to be sure that we suffer in a way that brings glory to God. <br />
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The temptation when we suffer is to shake our fist at God and declare that we don't deserve what we're going through; that he is treating us unjustly. Others give up on God altogether believing that God, were he real, would never allow such suffering to occur in the first place. So, how should a Christian respond? Should we be angry or bitter with God? Is suffering evidence that God doesn't really love us? Does it show there is no all-powerful, loving God? Should we complain and grumble? </div>
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Apart from God's Word, these questions would be difficult to answer. We would be left scratching our heads trying to understand how love and suffering can possibly come from the same source.</div>
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In Christ, however, we see the answer to all of these questions. Jesus took on flesh, and all the weaknesses that entails, in order to suffer for you and me. He dealt with hunger and fatigue. He felt physical pain. He experienced emotional hurt - Jesus wept. And, of course, he experienced the mockery and humiliation in his phony trial and beatings. He suffered intense physical pain in his crucifixion. Yet, <b>2 Peter 2:23</b> says,<b> "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."</b><br />
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Jesus didn't complain. Jesus didn't grumble. Jesus didn't see suffering as his Father abandoning him. Instead he continued to trust his Father because he knew that His Father was in control and that whatever happened was for the glory of his name.<br />
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Jesus is our example of how we are to suffer well. We must keep trusting our gracious Heavenly Father. <b>Romans 8:28</b> tells us <b>"that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."</b> This is why James is able to say, <b>"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2-3).</b><br />
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Jesus knew the Father was at work in his suffering, therefore he continued to trust him without wavering. In the same way, we can be confident that God is working for our good, and His glory, in our suffering. Therefore, we are called to follow Jesus' example of suffering.<br />
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Because Jesus came in the flesh and suffered as we suffer, we can never shake our fist at God and say, "You just don't understand." He perfectly understands because of his miraculous incarnation. <b>"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).</b><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 17</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 18</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 19</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-20-jesus-came-to-give-his.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 20</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-21-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 21</a></div>
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-15469954439736176472015-12-21T17:51:00.000-05:002015-12-21T21:10:57.384-05:00Advent Day 21: Jesus Came to Be Our Example of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>[9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. </b></div>
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<b>(1 John 4:9-11 ESV)</b></div>
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If you do an internet search for "What is love," your results will be filled with all kinds of philosophical pondering. You'll read statements that sound profound, but ultimately have no meaning. Everyone has an opinion about love, from actors to authors, from scientists to scholars. </div>
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Currently, a lot of research is going into trying to understand how the brain creates feelings of emotion. Scientists are trying to see what chemical and neurological interactions create the emotion we call love. Their goal is to try and remove the mystery of love and show that it's nothing more than an evolved neurological response to a specific set of external observations. Their view of love will make marriage proposals just a little less romantic, "My neurons consistently fire when I'm around you, therefore it seems logical that I should spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" That doesn't sound like love, does it?</div>
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When left to ourselves, humans will come up with all kinds of definitions of love: scientific ones, selfish ones, and philosophical ones. But, in Christ, God has shown us what love is.</div>
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1 John 4:9 says "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." The love of God was shown to us by sending Jesus to dwell among us. He loved us by sending his son to be the propitiation for our sins. (Propitiation means that he satisfied the wrath of God in our place). And, he did this not in response to our great love for him, but simply because he is love. Romans 5:10 says that God did this even while we were his enemies.</div>
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God defines love for us. 1 John 4:11 says that if God loves us this way then we ought to love one another in the same way. Therefore, love is more than an neurological evolutionary response that just happens based on certain circumstances. When we are called to love our enemy or love those who don't love us or love the unlovely, we're not acting on chemical reactions. We are demonstrating the love God has already shown us in Christ to the watching world.</div>
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When Christ arrived as a baby, God showed us what sacrificial love really is. He showed us that love is more than just an emotional response; it's a willingness to love those who don't deserve to be loved.</div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 17</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 18</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 19</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-20-jesus-came-to-give-his.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 20</a></div>
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-32765855937306923502015-12-20T17:46:00.005-05:002015-12-20T17:46:47.251-05:00Advent Day 20: Jesus Came to Give His Life as a Ransom <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>[28] even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, </b></div>
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<b>and to give his life as a ransom for many.” </b></div>
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<b>(Matthew 20:28 ESV)</b></div>
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A ransom is money that is demanded in exchange for the release of a prisoner. For example, the United States of America has a long-standing policy of not negotiating with the ransom demands of terrorists. The US will not pay for a prisoner to be released.</div>
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This is often how terrorist organizations fund much of their efforts. They kidnap people with the intention of demanding millions of dollars for their release. </div>
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From the perspective of the US government, a definitive and unwavering policy of refusing to pay ransoms protects Americans. If the terrorists know that the US will not pay a ransom they are less likely to kidnap Americans in the first place. If, on the other hand, the US paid millions of dollars to meet the demands of a ransom every time an American was kidnapped, then we would actually be encouraging the enemy to kidnap Americans as a means of raising money. </div>
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So, if this is what our modern day notions of ransoms are all about, then what does the Bible mean when it says Jesus gave his life as a ransom?</div>
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After Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, God made the consequences of sin clear - they would now die; not just a physical death but a spiritual death. Romans 6:23 makes this clear, "the wages of sin are death." Because of our sin, we are all under an eternal death sentence from God the Father; not because he is cruel but because he is just. He will not and cannot let sin go unpunished; to do so would make him unjust.</div>
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God, however, was willing to make a way for us to be freed from our death sentence by allowing his son to die in our place. He was willing to accept the life of Jesus as a ransom that would free us from the eternal judgment we deserved. Matthew 20:28 says this is why Jesus came to earth. He came to serve us by paying a ransom with his own life that we might be free from our death sentence.</div>
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It is fair to say that Jesus came to die. He came to pay a ransom and Jesus knew the only ransom that could save God's people would be his own death in the place of God's people. Yet, he was willing to come as a man to die, anyway. </div>
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Because Jesus is our ransom, we are free from the demands of the Law. His ransom eternally satisfied the demands of God the Father. We don't don't need to worry about God demanding more. He is perfectly satisfied with the ransom of his sacrificial Son. </div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 17</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 18</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-19-jesus-came-to-give-us.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 19</a></div>
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-50062261816129404702015-12-19T09:13:00.001-05:002015-12-19T22:46:42.696-05:00Advent Day 19: Jesus Came to Give Us Life Abundantly<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>[9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out</b></div>
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<b> and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. </b></div>
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<b>I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. </b></div>
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<b>(John 10:9-10 ESV)</b></div>
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When we hear the phrase abundant life, all kinds of images flood into our heads. Some imagine a large family, some a life of relaxation, others a life of great material possessions. Whatever most people imagine, it typically includes having more than they have now.</div>
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In fact, what is commonly referred to as the prosperity gospel or the "health and wealth" movement takes verses like this and abuses them. See, they would say, <i>Jesus wants you to have abundant life. He came for that very purpose. God wants you to have wealth and great material possessions. He doesn't want you to live in poverty.</i></div>
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To come to those conclusions, however, they have to ignore verses where Paul speaks of being content with both much and little (Phil. 4:12) or the command in Hebrews to be content with what we have (Heb. 13:5). They have to ignore the expectation of suffering from James 1 or 1 Peter 1. </div>
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They're also ignoring what Jesus is saying in John 10. Jesus says that all who enter through him, enter into eternal life. If you listen to anyone else and try to enter another way, then you will not be saved or find eternal life.</div>
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Jesus is setting up a contrast between eternal destruction and eternal living. Jesus' point is not, "If you enter by another way, you'll be ok, but your life will be miserable. So, enter by me and you'll have a life of great possessions and influence." Jesus is not comparing the quality of life, but whether you will have life at all.</div>
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The word abundant is defined as "existing or having available in large quantities." In other words, Jesus is saying that we will have much life - large quantities of life. Jesus says nothing of the possessions of this life being abundant - only that our life will be, if we enter through him. </div>
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The problem is that we take eternal life in Christ for granted. Therefore, we think eternal life is not what Jesus is talking about. Instead, he must be referencing something added to this life. But, when we realize what we deserve is eternal death and destruction, then having eternal, abundant, large quantities of life is astonishing.</div>
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Jesus came to earth so that we could have abundant life; not a rich life or a life of ease or a healthy life on earth. He came that we might live for all eternity with the joy of knowing him!<br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 17</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-18-jesus-came-to-call-sinners.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 18</a></div>
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-45742845806939792252015-12-18T09:22:00.000-05:002015-12-18T12:46:34.664-05:00Advent Day 18: Jesus Came to Call Sinners<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, </b></div>
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<b>but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” </b></div>
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<b>(Mark 2:17 ESV)</b></div>
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The Pharisees couldn't believe what they were seeing. Jesus, a man that claimed to be godly, invited a tax collector named Levi to follow him. Then Jesus did the unthinkable. He actually went and had dinner with many tax collectors and sinners. They couldn't believe Jesus would do something so ungodly. When Jesus heard about their grumbling he said, <b>"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17)</b></div>
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Imagine a doctor that refused to be around sick people. He refused to go into a hospital because the risk of getting sick would be far too great. If he got sick, he wouldn't be able to care for his healthy patients. The sign on the front door of his office read, "Healthy check-ups only. No sick patients allowed." In his view his job was simple. He needed to reassure the healthy people that came to see him that everything was ok. He helped people by giving them peace of mind about their good health. If he discovered one of his patients was sick, he would immediately remove them from his practice so that they couldn't infect any of the other patients. They were allowed to come back when they got better.</div>
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Nobody would want that doctor. There would be no doctor of the year awards to hang on his wall. His community would mock and deride him. </div>
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Yet, Jesus says this is what the Pharisees wanted. They wanted their leaders to only spend time with people who saw themselves as righteous. To do otherwise would make them unclean. Therefore, only the righteous received their attention. </div>
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Jesus, however, came to this world with another purpose. He wasn't interested in the people who thought they were spiritually healthy. He wanted to spend time with the sick sinners because they needed him.</div>
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Jesus didn't come to earth because of how great we are. He came because we were in desperate need of a Savior that could make us well and save us from our eternal death sentence. The manger is not a reminder of the greatness of humanity, but of our great wickedness. Praise God that Jesus was willing to come dwell among sinners like you and me!<br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html">Advent Day 16</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-17-jesus-came-to-bring-sword.html">Advent Day 17</a></div>
JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-29712727239923029372015-12-17T20:37:00.002-05:002015-12-17T20:58:34.996-05:00Advent Day 17: Jesus Came to Bring a Sword<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>[34] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. </b></div>
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<b>(Matthew 10:34-35 ESV)</b></div>
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This isn't the kind of verse we normally think of when we picture the Christ child laying in a manger. We like to think about him coming to seek and save the lost, or making us children of God, or freeing us from fear of death. But, we don't get to pick the reasons Jesus came. This verse came from his own lips, so we must think about what it means, believe it, and worship him for it.</div>
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On Day 16 we reflected on the fact that Jesus came to preach peace because He is our peace. We recalled that when the angels announced his birth to the shepherds they declared "peace on earth." Yet, here we have Jesus seeming to contradict the angels and, for that matter, himself. How can he come and preach peace and, at the same time, say, <b>"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34)</b>?</div>
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Jesus explains what he means by sword in <b>verse 35, "For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."</b> In other words, Jesus doesn't mean a literal sword, but that his coming will create divisions in households: <b>"a person's enemies will be those of his own household" (verse 36).</b> Jesus is referring to the inevitable reality that there will be homes where some family members become his followers and some do not. As a result, in some homes, there will be tension, hostility, and even hatred toward his followers.</div>
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Now, to be clear, Jesus' point is not that he wants every family to have it's members set against one another. But, he does want to be clear that faithfulness to him trumps peace in the home. He's helping us set our priorities. If not for the clear teaching of Jesus in places like this, human reason may have led us to believe that we should pursue peace at all cost. <i>After all, that's what Jesus would want us to do,</i> we would reason. </div>
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Jesus, however, helps us shape our priorities. We don't pursue peace at all costs. If we have to choose between a peaceful home and faithfulness to Jesus, we must choose Jesus. That doesn't mean we dismiss our families, stop loving them, or hate them back. But, it does mean, that if our families make us choose - family or Jesus - then Jesus it is.</div>
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Now, what does this have to do with Christmas? Everything. It means that this child born to Joseph and Mary wasn't like any other man. He was (and is) the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. All things were created through him and for him. He holds them all together by the word of his power. He is eternal. He is the image of the invisible God. </div>
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This was no ordinary baby. Therefore, with him our allegiance must lie above all others. Not to give it to him would be the height of foolishness. That's why he says in Matthew 10:37, <b>"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."</b></div>
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He was no ordinary baby and he deserves extraordinary devotion.<br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 12</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html">Advent Day 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html">Advent Day 14</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html">Advent Day 15</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-16-jesus-came-to-preach-peace.html">Advent Day 16</a></div>
JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-10437228933119908962015-12-16T11:28:00.001-05:002015-12-16T11:29:30.159-05:00Advent Day 16: Jesus Came to Preach Peace<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. </b></div>
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<b>(Ephesians 2:17-18 ESV)</b></div>
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World War 1 was one of the deadliest in history. Over 15 million people died as a result of the war. The war was filled with fierce and brutal battlefields. Even so, during the first year of the war, something unexpected happened in the week leading up to Christmas.</div>
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In 1914, during the Christmas holiday season, armed forces in certain areas of the war laid down their weapons. British and German troops left their trenches and met each other in the middle of the battlefield to talk and wish one another a merry Christmas. Gifts were given, some prisoners were exchanged, and each side allowed the other to recover the bodies of their fellow soldiers. Some even speculate that the two sides in some locations may have enjoyed a spontaneous game of European football (you know, the thing we call soccer).</div>
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Of course, the truce was short-lived. Within days the soldiers were using the hands that embraced one another to shoot one another. Instead of exchanging gifts and pleasantries they were now exchanging gunfire and artillery. There was peace, but it was short-lived. </div>
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That's the problem with all human achievements of peace, they never last. No matter how hard humanity has tried to achieve peace on earth, sin always creeps in and destroys those efforts. Pride, greed, revenge, and foolishness all ruin the day.</div>
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Jesus, however, comes with a different kind of peace. Ephesians 2:17 says that Jesus came to preach peace. How was this man able to bring peace? Because, verse 18 says<b> "through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."</b> Jesus met our deepest need for peace; our need to be at peace with God the Father. </div>
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Not only does Jesus preach peace, but Ephesians 2:14 says that "he himself is our peace." On the cross, Jesus was able to accomplish peace by bearing the wrath that we deserved from God the Father. <b>"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).</b></div>
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Jesus came to preach peace because he is our peace. This is why the angels announced to the shepherds, "peace on earth." Peace arrived in the baby Jesus.<br />
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<br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 11</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 12</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html">Advent Day 13</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html">Advent Day 14</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-15-jesus-came-to-destroy.html">Advent Day 15</a></div>
JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-9453938205404896702015-12-15T14:07:00.000-05:002015-12-15T14:07:06.108-05:00Advent Day 15: Jesus Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>[8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. </b></div>
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<b>(1 John 3:8 ESV)</b></div>
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1 John is a hard hitting book. John challenges us over and over again to put sin away. That's what he's doing in chapter 3. For example, in verse 6, he says<b> "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning."</b> Or, verse 8, <b>"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil." </b> Those are hard words to swallow!</div>
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Now, to be clear, John isn't demanding perfection. In 1 John 1:8 he says, <b>"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."</b> In 1:9 He points us to the gospel for our hope (not perfection), <b>"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</b></div>
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Even so, John still calls us to rid our lives of sin. The fact that God forgives us when we confess our sins is not an excuse for continuing in sin. John says one reason to put sin away is because Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. This is why Jesus appeared - in the flesh as a baby.</div>
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John's basic argument is this: Why should those who follow Jesus continue to take part in the very things he came to destroy? </div>
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On D-Day, America and it's allies, courageously stormed the beaches of Normandy to drive the Nazis out of France and gain a foothold in Continental Europe. Thousands of men sacrificed their lives that day. Can you imagine those who made it to the shore then helping the Germans repair their defensive positions, reload their artillery and machine guns, and get them back into position? That would have been treasonous. That would have never crossed the mind of an Allied soldier.</div>
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In the same way, John is essentially asking us: Why are you giving life and vitality to the very thing Jesus came to destroy? Jesus humbled himself and laid aside his glorious position in heaven to come to earth and give his life to destroy the works of the devil, which is sin. How can you work against his purposes and follow him at the same time?</div>
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Therefore, when we meditate on the Christ child lying in a manger we need to remember that one of the reasons he came was to destroy sin. Let Christmas be a reminder to join the victory of Jesus and put sin to death in your life!</div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 11</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 12</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-13-jesus-came-to-reconcile.html">Advent Day 13</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-14-jesus-came-to-free-us.html">Advent Day 14</a>JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-62220872287490952972015-12-14T10:37:00.003-05:002015-12-14T10:37:19.719-05:00Advent Day 14: Jesus Came to Free Us from Fear of Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>[14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. </b></div>
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<b>(Hebrews 2:13-15 ESV)</b></div>
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Fear can makes us slaves. When we're afraid of something we limit what we do to avoid the thing we fear. If you're afraid of the water, you never learn to swim and you stay away from the ocean. If you're afraid of crowds, you stay away from social gatherings. If you're afraid of spiders and insects, you may never go camping. All of these fears create virtual walls in our life that keep us from these experiences.</div>
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In the same way, the author of Hebrews tells us that we were held in lifelong slavery by fear of death. Fearing death make us slaves because it keeps us from living life to the fullest in obedience to Christ. When all death holds for us is eternal condemnation, then we have every reason to be terrified of breathing our last. Satan, the accuser of the saints, loves to remind us of what we deserve. He wants us to be terrified of what waits for us in eternity. </div>
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Jesus, however, took on flesh and blood so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death, the Devil. Without flesh and blood, Jesus could never die. He is eternal. But, by taking on mortal flesh he allowed his body to be killed. Through his substitutionary death on the cross he destroyed the Devil, achieved our redemption, and freed us to fear death no longer.</div>
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This kind of freedom allows you to live for the glory of Christ, even if it may cost you your life. Hebrews 13:5-6 says, <b>"5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,<br /><br />“The Lord is my helper;<br />I will not fear;<br />what can man do to me?”</b></div>
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Of course, there's an answer to that question. Man can kill us. But, the author of Hebrews knows that we need not fear death. Man cannot take eternity with Christ away from us. That's why Paul was able to say, <b>"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21)</b></div>
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Jesus came as a baby, sharing in flesh and blood, to free us from fear of death. Therefore, we are no longer slaves of fear, but free to live in obedience to Christ, </div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 1</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 12</a></div>
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-18159943346463342442015-12-13T21:42:00.002-05:002015-12-13T21:43:35.789-05:00Advent Day 13: Jesus Came to Reconcile Us to the Father<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>[18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself </b></div>
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<b>and gave us the ministry of reconciliation</b></div>
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<b>(2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV)</b></div>
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What's the difference between a reunion and a reconciliation? I think we sometimes use these words in the same way, but the difference between them is really important. A reunion happens when two or more people who haven't seen each other for a long time come together again. They have been reunited. Reconciliation, on the other hand, happens when two or more people who have intentionally distanced themselves because of a conflict come together again. One requires finding someone and working out your schedules. The other requires forgiveness and grace.</div>
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Many people believe they just need to be reunited with God; like two long lost friends that have just drifted apart over time. They've done their own thing for a while. They haven't talked to God for a while, but now they're ready to return to the loving and accepting arms of God. That's a reunion.</div>
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The Bible, however, says we need more than a reunion with God. We need to be reconciled to God. Romans 5:10 says we were God's enemies in need of reconciliation, <b>"For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son." </b>We weren't just strangers or former acquaintances that had not seen one another in a while. We were God's enemies. All of us. Enemies don't need a reunion to come together, they need to be reconciled.</div>
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The only way for us to be reconciled to God was for the wrath of God that stood against us to be satisfied. The full cup of the fury of God's wrath stood against us. But, Jesus stood in our place and on the cross took the cup of wrath we deserved and drank it to the bottom. Therefore, because God's wrath was no longer aimed at us, we could be reconciled to God the Father. Our relationship could be restored. That reconciliation could have only happened by Jesus taking on flesh and standing in our place. <b>"All this from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18).</b></div>
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1 Cor. 5:18 says God took the initiative to bring us back to himself in the death of his Son; an astonishing act of grace from God the Father. There's nothing we could have done to make things right with God. He had to bring it to pass. And in the person of Jesus Christ taking on flesh he brought it to pass.<br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Advent Day 1</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 2</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 3</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 4</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 5</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 6</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 7</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 8</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 9</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 10</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-12-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 12</a></div>
JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-64963420679175944502015-12-12T10:56:00.002-05:002015-12-12T11:50:03.921-05:00Advent Day 12: Jesus Came to be Our Righteousness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, </b></div>
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<b>righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, </b></div>
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<b>“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” </b></div>
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<b>(1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV)</b></div>
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Forgiveness is a common word, even outside of Christianity. There's a common recognition that healthy relationships must be based on forgiveness. People, for the most part, quickly realize that holding on to anger and bitterness toward others only serves to tear apart their own souls. Furthermore, everyone has been in a position of needing to be forgiven. We've all wronged someone and wanted them not to hold it against us.</div>
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Therefore, when people talk about God, forgiveness is a familiar concept. We can understand our need for forgiveness; for God not to hold our sins against us. Most people who believe in a divine power, however, believe that forgiveness comes easy. They believe it's accomplished with a wave of a wand. Of course, that's not possible for the One True God who is also the perfect and righteous judge (<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html" target="_blank">See Advent Day 10</a>). Jesus had to take the wrath of God we deserved for our sins in order for us to be freely forgiven.</div>
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But, forgiveness is not enough for us to be with God for all eternity. Even the blood-bought, atoning work of Christ on the cross and the forgiveness it affords, by itself, is not enough. That's a shocking statement. Let me explain.</div>
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The Law of God demands that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength. That's what God requires. We can be forgiven for every sin we have committed and every righteous act we have neglected, but that will never get us to obedience. Therefore, forgiveness doesn't make us righteous. And, we need to be righteous to spend eternity with God the Father.</div>
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That's why Christ not only died for us, but he also lived for us. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says that Jesus became to us righteousness. Or, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, <b>"For our sake, he made him who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."</b> The righteousness we need is the righteousness God gives to us through the perfect life of his son. <b>Romans 5:19 </b>puts it this way, <b>"For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."</b></div>
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When Jesus walked this earth in the flesh, he never failed to obey his Father. He perfectly kept the Law and never faltered in faith. He loved His Father with all his heart, soul, and strength. And, in the grace of God, when we trust in Christ, God takes that perfect life and places it on us. He imputes it to us so that, at the judgment seat of God, we are seen with the righteousness of Christ.</div>
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Jesus came to die, but he also came to live. We need the righteousness given to us by his perfect life just as much as we need the forgiveness bought by the cross. He <b>"was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25).</b></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-11-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 11</a><br />
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-54314331055598198802015-12-11T13:33:00.000-05:002015-12-11T13:33:44.375-05:00Advent Day 11: Jesus Came to be Our Great High Priest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ-8Qr4RW1I/VmrPDUAqKlI/AAAAAAAAAo8/oP5eYoTUc8M/s1600/High%2BPriest%2B-%2B600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ-8Qr4RW1I/VmrPDUAqKlI/AAAAAAAAAo8/oP5eYoTUc8M/s1600/High%2BPriest%2B-%2B600.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, </b></div>
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<b>so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God,</b><b> </b></div>
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<b>to make propitiation for the sins of the people. </b></div>
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<b>(Hebrews 2:17 ESV)</b></div>
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When we hear the word priest, many different images come to mind. If you're from a catholic background, you think of the leader of your local parish. Many just picture a man with a white block in the middle of his collar in sharp contrast to the black shirt. Others may think of Old Testament images of the Levitical priesthood offering sacrifices.</div>
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When Hebrews uses the language of priest, it's referring to the sacrifice offering, Levitical priesthood. These men were responsible for administering the many different sacrifices and offerings the people of Israel were required to give. It was their job to mediate between the people and God. The priests were allowed to do certain things and be in certain places in the Temple that the common people were not. Hebrews 5:1 defines their role this way, <b>"For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins."</b></div>
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These priests, being sinful humans themselves, also had to offer sacrifices for their own sins in addition to the sins of the people. So, their work was never done because they and the people they served were never done sinning. And, because the law and sacrificial system has <b>"but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near" (Hebrews 10:1).</b></div>
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Therefore, if our sins were to be forgiven, we needed the substance, not the shadow. And, in Christ we have been given the substance. He came to be our perfect and last Great High Priest, "<b style="text-align: center;">Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, </b><b style="text-align: center;">so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God,</b><b style="text-align: center;"> </b><b style="text-align: center;">to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17)</b><span style="text-align: center;">. Because Jesus took on flesh, he was able to become the high priest we needed. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Jesus, being perfect and without sin, did not need to offer sacrifices for himself; nor, does he need to continually offer sacrifices for the people. Instead, he <b>"offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins" and "sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12). </b>A priest was never able to sit down because his work was never done. The temple had all kinds of furniture - tables, bowls, and candles. But, one thing it didn't have was chairs. When Jesus offered himself as the propitiation for our sins he sat down. He was finished. There was no more sacrificial work to be done.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Let's be thankful this Christmas that Jesus was made to be like us by taking on flesh so that he could become our merciful and faithful high priest.</span></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html">Advent Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html">Advent Day 5</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html">Advent Day 6</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html">Advent Day 7</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html">Advent Day 8</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html">Advent Day 9</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-10-jesus-came-to-demonstrate.html">Advent Day 10</a><br />
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15178893.post-41927658422669233862015-12-10T10:22:00.001-05:002015-12-10T10:22:56.300-05:00Advent Day 10: Jesus Came to Demonstrate God's Justice<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>[25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. </b></div>
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<b>(Romans 3:25-26 ESV)</b></div>
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In America, we take great pride in the justice of our judicial system. We want judges to preside over cases, treating both sides with fairness and equity. We don't want judges to decide the outcome ahead of time, but judge on the facts of the case - or lead a jury to do so. </div>
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Imagine, however, if there was a judge that continually let guilty people walk out of the courtroom as free men. I don't mean controversial cases where there's uncertainty about guilt or innocence, but cases where guilt is absolutely clear. Yet, the judge keeps letting them walk free, declaring their guilt and not giving them the sentence they deserve. The public outcry would be loud against the lack of justice in the judge's courtroom.</div>
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In Romans, Paul is saying we should have similar feelings after reading the Old Testament. Romans 3:25 says that God, "in his divine forbearance, he had passed over former sins." In other words, there were sins committed before the days of Jesus, for which God had not held people accountable. That's what "passed over" means. He didn't give them what they deserved for their sins.</div>
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For example, in 2 Samuel, King David murders Uriah and takes his wife as his own. If there's a sin worthy of the death penalty, that's it. Yet, David lives on as King of Israel. He faces consequences and punishment for his sin, but he's not stoned like the man who gathers sticks on the Sabbath in Numbers 15:32ff. David's punishment was not justice. God passed over his sin.</div>
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How can a perfectly just judge, pass over sins, not giving people what they deserve? According to Romans 3:25-26, we have to look at Jesus for the answer to that question. God put Jesus forward as a propitiation by his blood. That means Jesus was given as a sacrifice that appeased the wrath of God. So, by putting Christ forward as a propitiation it showed God's righteousness. It showed that he will not leave sin unpunished. How? By providing Jesus as a substitute for the punishment that His people deserve. </div>
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According to Romans 3:26, this allows God to be both just (punish sins as they deserve) and the justifier (one who makes someone righteous) of those who have faith in Christ. In other words, for God to declare guilty people righteous and not punish them would be unjust. But, because Christ's death on the cross satisfied the wrath of God, he can remain just and justify his people at the same time.</div>
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The only way any of this grace and forgiveness is possible is by Jesus taking on flesh and dying on the cross for sinners. Because of Jesus, God remains just and we are able to be forgiven. This is at the very core of what we should meditate on this Christmas.</div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-1-jesus-came-to-crush-head.html" style="color: #33aaff; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 1</a><br />
<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-2-jesus-came-to-serve.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 2</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-3-jesus-came-to-make-us.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 3</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-4-jesus-came-to-seek-and.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 4</a><br />
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-5-jesus-came-to-be-our.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 5</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-6-jesus-came-to-show-us-way.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 6</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-7-jesus-came-to-accomplish.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 7</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-8-jesus-came-to-become-curse.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advent Day 8</a></div>
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<a href="http://hiswordistruth.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-day-9-jesus-came-to-shine-light.html" target="_blank">Advent Day 9</a></div>
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JonathanRBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14934726605819653214noreply@blogger.com0