“Christmas Playlist” Series

“The Trumpet Sound” – Revelation 11:15

Revelation 11:15

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

Have you ever been so sure of something that it was like it already happened?  I remember feeling this way when I played basketball and was losing by 50 points with 5 minutes left in the game.  Coach set us down and said, “Welp boys, we are going to lose, but you keep playing hard til the end.” Fantastic night!  Well, the verb tense in this text says the future event is so certain that it can be spoken as if it has already happened.

What is this event? It is the prophetic declaration that one day, a trumpet will sound and heaven will declare that the kingdom of the world is now the Kingdom of Christ. We know that God is sovereign over all creation, but this is a promise that Christ will physically take over the kingdom of the world. Jesus will literally be the President of the USA, King of England, Pope, and monarch of every country all at once.

The earth has crowned thousands of monarchs, 260 popes, hundreds of Imams, and billions of individual kings and queens.  But only Jesus is the rightful King.  The latter verses state that He will rule with power and with stability.  He will cleanse the world of sin. Jesus Christ is and will be the rightful King to rule in grace and justice forever. 

The cool thing is there will be no election, because Jesus purchased the crown with His blood and given the throne by God Himself.   

C. W. Boot once noted that there is a statue of Emperor Fredrick in Vienna, standing with arm uplifted, and at the tip of his extended fingers are the five vowels, being interpreted, “Austria will conquer the world.” Yet, on the hearts of every believer and in the pages of Scripture writes, “Jesus has conquered the world.”* 

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following question: 
  • Does the coming of Christ bring you comfort or anxiety? Why?  
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Pastor Stephen Williams




*The Biblical Illustrator, Commentary on Revelation, ed. Joseph Excell (Grand Rapids, Baker Book House), pg. 430. 

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“His Name Shall Be” – Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

In the midst of political uncertainty and unrest, we are blessed to be approaching the Christmas season, a time when we celebrate the birth of Christ over 2000 years ago and all that would transpire through His coming. 

We are reminded through Isaiah’s prophecy, uttered some 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth that God would give us a divine and perfect ruler, His son. He would come as a child but would take upon himself a rule without equal – a son, while also the Mighty God. Jesus has no need for a cabinet, his only counsel is the rest of the Godhead. His rule will be regarded as one of peace, stability and fatherly protection and guidance. The peace, love and Joy that the season contains is in the comforting fact that our God reigns! 

While using the HEAR method, dig into the meaning of each of Jesus’ titles given in this verse. 
Which of these titles speaks most to you? Answer in the comments below. 
Jesus is the King of Kings, but is the king of your life? Have you given your concession speech? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you? 
Explain – what does the passage mean? 
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today? 
Respond – how is God leading you to respond? 






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“The Best Made Plans” – Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18-25
 
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
 
There’s an old joke, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” This isn’t because we shouldn’t plan for the future. It’s because there’s only so much control that we have of it. We should be wise in planning ahead, setting goals and thinking of the future. But we should do so understanding that much of our plans will be left on the cutting room floor as unforeseen variables and events pop up to scramble our options.
 
Joseph had a plan, and it was a plan that followed the rules and honored God. But things went sideways when he found out that his bride was pregnant. To his credit, Joseph pivoted in a way that continued to honor God and would protect Mary, but that’s not the main story here. Until he was clued in by the angel, Joseph had no idea that God would turn this seemingly monumental disaster into something that would stun kings, delight children, inspire artists and change the way we reference history.
 
God’s ways are not our ways. His plans are profoundly greater than ours. We should make plans that honor Him, and be ready to give up those plans (while still trusting and honoring Him) when life knocks our blocks down. In Joseph’s case, God took the small but faithful plans of a carpenter and shifted them into the greatest story ever told!
 

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:

  • Are you a planner? Do you like to set goals and prepare for the future?
  • If so, how do you respond when your plans no longer fit the unforeseen changes in your day, week or year?
  • Can you think of a time when your plans were ruined but God redeemed the broken pieces into something even better?
  • Consider committing today to make plans but hold them loosely allowing God to have ultimate control of your future.

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond? 

Jon Price
 
 

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