LET’S CELEBRATE THE MESSIAH
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!
Wednesday – December 25, 2019, Kislev 27, 5780
Greetings dear and precious partners and friends of this Ministry and publication and welcome back to this powerful and empowering Bible Study of the Book of John. We are now very near the end of the year and I want you all to know that we are thankful for your friendship and partnership. We encourage those of you who have been praying about partnership with this ministry to take the step of faith either in your yearend giving or start fresh in 2020. Donations postmarked by the 31st of December are tax deductible for 2019. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to encourage us and expand the reach of this Ministry.
We also want the faithful to this Ministry to pray about two things as we approach and come into the new year. First, we are in the planning stage of a new arm of the Eastern Gate Ministries International to be called Sabbatical Moments which is designed to reach out to and encourage Pastors and wives (or husbands) who are discouraged. Second, we are also in the planning stages of a Women’s Conference to be conducted in late spring to early summer in partnership with two other ministries. The theme of the Women’s Conference is to be “The Virtuous Woman”. Now let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text in the Book of John and read it aloud.
John 14:21-23 (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
We can say we love God, love Jesus, until the cows come home but if we are not doing the commandments we are not talking about or doing the agape level of love. We must value the Lord and His Word far (not a little above but far above) above everything else. Agape love is Blood Covenant with our Lord. It is a life dead to self, selflessness, meaning we are not motivated towards ourselves primarily but towards the Lord and others. And, then what we have been talking about for days, seeking after and finding the commandments of God, keeping them guarded in our hearts, and doing them. All is done in faith, motivated by love (agape), and led of the Holy Spirit. Remember, Jesus is our model (supreme example) and He only said what the Father said, did what He saw the Father doing, and the result was that the Father did the works (was manifested). Today will be brief since it is Christmas Day but remember this is a celebration of the Christ (the Messiah, the Savior which we all desperately needed) not family, turkey, beer, or football. That is not to say we are not to fully enjoy our family, the food, or other activities, but we are to be clear why we are going all out on this day. Let’s do a little review of the following Scriptures and then take a break until tomorrow.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (KJV)
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Here we see Moses writing what Jesus will say again centuries later, which is, do the commandments and it will be great, don’t and it won’t be great. It is really that simple. We were born with a fallen nature so unless we crucify it daily, we want to rebel against God just like the god of this world Satan did all those years ago. Didn’t turn out well for him and it won’t turn out well for you or me either. Let’s look at a part of what doing the commandments brings.
Deuteronomy 28:3-7 (KJV)
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Have you seen anything yet you don’t want? We seem to think that it is a sacrifice and will be an unfulfilling life if we actually follow after God 24/7 but that is a lie of Satan and keeps us in bondage. Will temptations of the enemy come? You betcha! Will persecution come? You betcha! In fact, if you are not getting pressured (persecuted) you are not in the right place yet. Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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