The shadow of the cross in the face of a baby.

Current mood: strong I was blessed last night to be able to bring the message at our local congregation. I am indeed blessed to know that when we are willing He is able! If I had been the one to write this message I would have titled it; "The shadow of the cross lays across a manger" As we prepare for the biggest celebration of the year, we must remember the reason Jesus was born. Not that we can give presents to one another. Not as a baby to be worshipped, but as a willing servant obedient to the death of the cross. Take a moment and reflect on the reason for the season. You will hear it repeated over and over in this holiday season, as we try to keep children from focusing on gifts and point them to the Giver of all life. Jesus came to defeat the works of the enemy. He finished His Father's business and He expects us to continue the work He has set before us. We are to defeat the works of the devil. Preach the gospel to the poor, heal the sick, cast out demons, and set the captives free. I know better than anyone how it feels to be held captive. To be in bondage and trapped in sin and death. I know that the resurrection power of God was wrapped in a new born baby and by His stripes I am healed. I truly believe He is coming back soon. Will he find faith at His coming?

One of the points the Holy Spirit had me to make last night at our little gathering, was a simple question; "Do you believe?" Do you believe? We are told that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Believe means Abraham stood firm on what God had told him and against all odds he was willing to offer up his only son Issac, in faith that God would give him back again alive. Abraham stood firm against what others might have said to him. He stood firm on the word of God who had told him that as many as the stars his decendants would be counted. Abraham stood firm that what God promised He was well able to perform and to do. Mary stood firm on the word she received and worshipped the LORD for His Greatness that is even today beyond our thoughts. As far as the east is from the west is His thoughts from us, we can not know them. Are you willing to stand firm, even when you do not understand. Mary often "pondered" things in her heart that were spoken over her new born baby, but she had not considered that He would die in her place, paying the pentality she owed for sin. She could only ponder in her heart the things the prophet said as she presented Jesus at the Temple as was the custom. Do you believe? Are you willing to stand firm?

This baby we think about, born in the manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes, this baby is the hope of the world, the salvation and deliverance of all of mankind, and this baby is the Lord of lords and King of kings. Knowing this then, what sort of persons ought we to be? Knowing the story from the beginning to the Finish at the cross, what respect do we offer to this the greatest celebration of the year? Do you stand firm, believing God? Not just believing in God, even the demons in hell believe in God and tremble, but do you BELIEVE GOD. Stand FIRM today in confidence that every promise in the Book is true, stand firm in the Lord's Word knowing that if He said it, that settles it. Never doubt for one minute that this baby born to a virgin, laid in the straw of a stable, witnessed by shepherds, angels, and cows, this child is the Same Who said in the beginning, "Let there be light" and there was light, now the Light has come into the world' the true Light of Man, Jesus Christ, who being found in fashion as a man, did not think it robbery to make Himself equal to God but in all ways humbled Himself and becoming obedient unto the death, leaving us an example that we too should die to self and live to righteousness for His Name's Sake. Stand firm. Believe. A firm ground is a gound that does not move.

A firm handshake is the mark of strength. A firm chin can be the mark of stubborn resistance. A firm footing is a sure thing and much to be desired. Stand firm. Firm in the Word of God. Believe God. This child that was born was firmly formed as a man but being more than a man He emptied Himself to make a way for us to be reconciled to God. Accept His full pardon for sin, by His finished work on the cross. Stand firm on the Word that says: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Heb 2:9-10) And again: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:5-11)

When we make up our minds to stand firm and believe God, we find in scripture a plan set forth from the foundation of the world, a plan that we call redemption, the plan of all the ages. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1Ti 3:16) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1John 3:5) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Rom 5:19) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Co 5:17-21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the

body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven.....(Col 1:21-23)

Do you see the shadow of the cross laying over a baby in a stable? Do you see the plan of the ages, wrapped in swaddling clothes? In our celebrations this year, let's remember that the reason for our joy is the agony in the garden, the sweat like unto great drops of blood, the slaughter of the perfect Lamb, Who opened not His mouth He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isa 53:7) There is a powerful story in scripture, concerning Philip and a man who was a faithful servant of Candace the queen of Ethiopian, who had come to Jerusalem to worship and was reading Isaiah, but without understanding. This man (the eunuch) was acquainted with the One True God, YHVH and was in Jerusalem to worship during the Passover feast. He may have been a descendant of the Jews from a son by Solomon, or perhaps he was a Jewish proselyte to the Jewish faith, the true faith.

There is no doubt he was reading from Isaiah 53 and there is no doubt that when Phillip begin to preach Jesus to him, he was preaching Jesus from the old testament. Jesus Himself tells us that beginning at Moses and all the prophets the scriptures concern Himself. Luke 24 and verse 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets He expounded unto them in all the scriputures the things concerning Himself. Do we find Jesus in the Old Testament? Do we find Jesus the Center of all history? Do you still have Jesus in the stable? When Phillip begin to preach Jesus to the enuch, he begin with the prophecy concerning His death. When we look upon the baby in the manger this Christmas season, let's not forget the shadow of the cross that darkens the baby's face and even as a lamb opens not his mouth before the slaughter, remember that Jesus answered not a word to His accusers as He was led to the sacrifical death, the moment of Truth that the whole world could see.' Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the

scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Co 15:1-4)

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Rom 5:9-11) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1Jn 4:10) Yes, I am firm in my mind, I believe GOD. I am firm in the LORD not because of my good works but because of HIS Great LOVE, His sinless life and willing death, makes me free to love all others even as He loved us and gave Himself for us. I stand firm. Confident. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he

might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Rom 3:24-26) I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. (Psa 40:10) And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (Act 13:32-33) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1:68-75) His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And

blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. (Psa 72:1719) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Eph 3:14-21) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb 13:15-16) Yep, this Christmas is a great time of rejoicing and love, but through it all be sure and remember Christ Jesus gave all of Himself in every way possible so that we might be reconciled back to God in Spirit and in Truth. Come to the cross with me today and stand firm in God. Believe God and do not take lightly the birth of our Saviour and God, as the shadow of the cross looms darkly across the face of a new born baby, we are called to obedience and

faith in the face of all opposition. We can each one judge Him faithful Who has promised and we can stand firm, believing God. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb 10:23-25) Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Php 1:27-29) While I continue to press in to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus I plead of you all to do the same, for the gift we have been given is the most precious blood of Jesus Christ shed upon an old rugged cross, making full payment for our sins as He became sin so that we might be made the righteousness of God through His perfect sacrifice. Friends I see a shadow over the cradle of the new born baby that holds all the power of redemption and atonement. Look to this Christ child and find salvation. In the Blessed and Holy Name of God I pray and give thanks amen and amen in the Name of Jesus the Christ my Yahshua the Messiah,

Wonderful Father, everlasting Saviour, the King of kings, remembered in homes all across the world this Christmas season. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be firm, believing God. amen and love to all ........in Christ Jesus I remain your sister and friend, gina 7:26 AM - 0 Kudos - 0 Comments - Add Comment - Edit Delete