THE MESSIAH

Merry CHRISTmas!

This week, you will be celebrating the birth of Jesus. There is no better time than now to praise Him as Messiah.

If you search for Messiah in the Old Testament, you will not find it. However, one of the earliest prophecies found in the Bible about Jesus is located in Genesis 49:10.

The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet until He whose right it is comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to Him.

The King James Version interprets the verse this way …

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

While Shiloh usually describes a place, this is the only time in scripture the word is used as a person, an epithet of the Messiah. It amazes me to realize that Moses wrote this verse more than 1400 years before Jesus’ birth.

This time of the year, I love to look at the multitude of prophecies about Jesus that prove He is the Messiah. Depending on the source, it is estimated there are between 200 and 400 prophecies in the Old Testament. I encourage you to search for Messianic Prophecies and read about all the ways God fulfilled scripture.

What traditions does your family have to keep Jesus the Messiah at the forefront of your celebrations together?

As you celebrate this week, praise Him as your Messiah.

Sunday Supplication

Jesus Messiah, this week as I celebrate Your birth, help me to focus on what Christmas is all about. Thank You for willingly leaving heaven to come as our Messiah, our Savior. I praise You as Messiah who came to a manger in order to give Your life on a cross. Let me never forget all You did for me. AMEN! SO BE IT!

Monday Manna

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

John 4:25-26

Tuesday Treasure

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31

Wednesday Wisdom

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-16

Thursday Truth

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 14:60-62

Friday Fact

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Revelation 12:10-11

Saturday Song

A GOD OF POWER

Do you believe God is as powerful today as He was in the Old Testament?

• The same God who spoke creation into being in Genesis 1 is the same God of Revelation. (Jeremiah 27:5 and Revelation 4:11)
• He is the same God who holds the stars in place. (Isaiah 40:26)
• He is the same God who led the Israelites out of Egypt and parted the Red Sea. (Deuteronomy 9:29 and Psalm 74:13)
• He is the same God who shut the mouths of lions to rescue Daniel and delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire. (Daniel 3 & 6)
• He is the yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
• And one day, you and I will see His power displayed in all His glory when He returns. (Matthew 24:30)

He is the all-powerful Omnipotent God.

The Greek word for power is dynamis. Our English word would be dynamite. The Strong’s Greek Dictionary describes it as miraculous power. Isn’t that a great image of just how Powerful our God is? Have you ever considered that God’s power is even more powerful than TNT?

When is the last time you saw a demonstration of His Power?

If it’s been a while, ask God to make you more observant to all that He is doing around you and in our world. Pray for an awareness of His presence and power every single day.

I hope this journey has helped you discover just how important it is for you to make praise a consistent part of your prayer life. As we close out our year of Praise, this week praise Him as the God of Power.

Sunday Supplication

(Todays prayer is taken from Psalm 71:18 and 68:28)

God of power, I praise You! Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. AMEN! SO BE IT!

Monday Manna

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3

Tuesday Treasure

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Wednesday Wisdom

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Ephesians 6:10

Thursday Truth

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Friday Fact

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”

Psalm 62:11-12

Saturday Song