Keith Burnett Ministries

Equipping for Evangelism

Christmas: The Best Presents

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Christmas celebrations are on everyone’s calendar. And so are shopping trips! So how do we celebrate? What is at the top of your list of presents? And why would I ask the questions? You know there is a point!

Christmas: Presents Required

The commercial side of this Holy-day (that’s how we got holiday!) is out of hand. With that said, what is the root of the seasonal gift-giving? There are competing thoughts. But let’s stick with Biblical realities.

First, Ephesians 5:1 tells us to imitate God. That’s a huge command! Our Father is the Giver of every good and perfect gift – see James 1:17. And Matthew 7:11, in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, tells us:

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

And I’ve said many times that Christmas is the original mission story. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son… You recognize those words from John 3:16.

Christmas: The Mission

I have a weak but useful illustration. The Christmas mission story is a little bit like your conversation with an ant. Does the ant have enough mental capacity to perceive the existence of a human being? The ant’s mental abilities are obviously inferior to those of a human. So let’s assume some limited ability of the ant to comprehend you or me. What would have to occur for the ant to gain understanding? In short, we would have to take the initiative.

ChristmasThat’s the Christmas mission story. God is infinite, holy, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and sovereign over all. How could finite, mortal, sinful beings ever perceive of Him? Answer: He took the initiative. He revealed Himself to us in many ways. His Word is a record of those acts. His Word contains the names by which we begin to gain an understanding of Him.

And we see His revelation completed at Christmas. How? God became a baby. He lived as we do. But in doing so He never sinned. That’s what we know about God the Son – Jesus. And in John 14:9, Jesus said:

If you have seen Me you have seen the Father.

The Best Presents

So we give because God gave. That is imitating Him. And the events of Jesus’ coming contain other examples of giving. The shepherds and angels gave Him praise. The magi gave Him gifts of worship, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those are great presents. But another surpasses them.

Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would conceive and His name would be called Immanuel. That prophecy is repeated in Matthew. And Matthew gave us the definition of the name.

The best of all the presents is not the gold, an iPhone, a tablet, a new X-box game, or even a new car. I love word play. It was often employed by Biblical writers. So what is the best of all the presents? His presence! That is what Matthew recorded:

Immanuel – which means: God with us.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

More on PRESENCE

All I Want…Soul Food

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soul foodSoul food… Could this post be about chicken fried steak, gravy, mashed potatoes, fried okra, greens and/or green beans, and pecan pie? Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? But, could soul food get any better than the things I mentioned? It can! And that’s the subject of this Giving Matters post.

Soul Food That LastsBeds For Boys

The ‘food group’ for my imaginary meal comes from a cultural term about some of our favorite, southern foods. These foods have at least three common characteristics:

  • Filling
  • Comforting
  • BUT…hunger will return

And that brings me to soul food that lasts! What is that? It’s a little play on words. I’m talking about food for the soul.

Soul Food For Disciples

ChristmasThe following resources are great gifts for any believer. And my personal view is every believer ought to read each of these and several other titles as well. Why? Think of your table, menu, and general eating habits. You know certain physical foods are not good for you for various reasons. The same is true for things people tell you are good for your soul. These are classic works of time-honored value. In essence, really good food to grow your soul.

So what follows is a short list of resources that can be purchased through Amazon via the links provided here. Yes, Amazon will send us a dollar or so if you make the purchase. However, I’d recommend these to you if I had to send Amazon a dollar! Each of these soul food resources will challenge you and/or a loved one on your giving list. Need a stocking stuffer? These will do nicely!

Eat This Booksoul food

I first encountered this book as part of doctoral studies. But don’t let that scare you. It’s anything but dry and boring. I like practical. And the subtitle of Eat This Book tells you its practical intent as well as why this book is on my list:

A conversation in the art of devotional reading

Devotional reading is a skill to be learned and honed. Eugene Peterson is the author. You may recognize his name. He was the lead figure in the development and publication of the Message Bible. This book is not a history of that work. However, Peterson does share a couple of applicable stories from that publishing process. And I can assure you they are fascinating. I highly recommend this book whenever anyone asks me for good devotional study materials.

Mere Christianity

soul foodThis soul food list will betray another thing about me. I am a big fan of C. S. Lewis. Mere Christianity stands as one of his greatest works. And you should know a couple of things about it.

First, it’s a defense of the Christian faith. One who defends his faith is called an apologist. So it doesn’t mean what we think when we see the word apology. The name given to this genre of writing is apologetics.

Second, Lewis provides a very logical rationale for the Christian faith. And that is why this book is included among the ones I said every believer ought to read. There are other quality volumes in the area of apologetics. But Mere Christianity is in the top tier of this kind of writing. And since I’m on this subject, you and yours might also enjoy the work of the Christian Apologetics And Research Ministry (CARM @ www.carm.org).

The Great Divorce

soul foodThis is another great resource by C. S. Lewis. One may find many things to like in this classic work. I have quoted from The Great Divorce in sermons and on this blog. It is here that Lewis wrote:

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’

That is a stunning summary of humanity. But I also like the creative nature of this book. The main character boards an odd kind of bus. His purpose is to take a tour through Heaven and Hell. He meets many different people on his journey. And he comes to some revealing conclusions about the nature of good and evil. I guess the creative setting appeals to the writer in me. But again, this is worth the time to read and it will be food for your growing soul!

The Great House Of God

soul foodI don’t think Max Lucado’s writings have had time to reach classic status. But when, or if, they do, I believe The Great House Of God will be on the classic list.

Lucado points to the believer’s heart as God’s habitation. And he correctly makes the point that God is not shopping for a vacation home or a weekend getaway spot. That should be obvious, but the point has to be made. And then there are logical implications for God’s permanent dwelling place. What does it look like? What’s the layout?

Those questions are answered with another creative piece of writing. The ‘floor plan’ for God’s house is to be seen in the Lord’s Prayer. That is Lucado’s path for teaching. It’s good, creative, engaging, and the clear simplicity is refreshing. And don’t be surprised if readers find themselves wanting to do a little house cleaning before they are done reading!

My Utmost For His Highest

soul foodMany of you may already have My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I have found this book to be very helpful and very challenging. Unlike the other resources on this list, this book is a daily devotional guide for an entire year. So, there are 365 entries. And in case you are not familiar with this classic resource, some quotes may give you an idea why it has been loved for so long:

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.

The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.

Summary

I hope this is helpful. And I hope your giving list will include some soul food so others will grow. The world needs more well-fed disciples!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

 

 

 

All I Want…Beds & Dreams

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Beds For Boys

All I Want…Beds & Dreams

Beds For BoysBeds are something we can do. But the dreams… Don’t worry; dreams tend to take care of themselves! So who needs beds? And can anyone really add that to a Christmas list? We can do it. Now, here’s why I’m suggesting this for our giving lists! And there’s a related item or two just for good measure…

Beds For Boys

Beds For BoysWhen I was in the Manos Amigas Orphanage last month, Jodie alerted me to a current need. You guessed it. There are some beds that need to be replaced.

The pictures show us beds that have seen better days. These beds were put in the orphanage when we completed its construction. And the need for replacement is an easy observation to make. But it’s not as big a challenge as it might appear!

Beds For BoysWe can get new beds for about $200.00 (U.S.). Most folks would find it challenging to add that much money to the giving list. So how do we address the issue? Let’s get…

Outside The Box

Things like this are much easier if groups handle them. Why is that true and which groups could do this? Groups allow many people to share a burden or obligation. That makes things easier for each individual. And groups that could handle this are ones like:

  • Bible Study groups
  • Sunday School class
  • Civic group
  • A workplace prayer group
  • You can think of others

Those groups, and ones like them, are great places for people to work together. So please share this need with groups like the ones above. But I think there is a better group. And you might be surprised to know why this group could be the best one to help supply beds for boys.

Beds For BoysIt’s good to be a hilarious giver. It’s even better to teach others to do the same. So how can all of us do both of those things?  Think in terms of the family group. And I am thinking of the big family gathering, not just the family that lives behind your front door. My family is a good example.

There are six households that can combine for our family gatherings. That gathering would include all 8 grandchildren. Now, what if I shared Beds For Boys with my family? I’d suggest that each household contribute one sixth of the $200.00. Now, imagine the scene as the family gathers around the Christmas tree…

Another Object Lesson

Beds For BoysLessons are always easier if they are seen rather than simply heard! Our family distributes gifts and we open them in turn so we can all see what everyone else has received. So who would open those 6 Beds For Boys envelopes? I’d probably give one to each of the six youngest grandchildren. When the envelopes were opened we’d talk about the orphanage, the boys, Jodie, Pastor Pedro, and why it’s important for us to include this need in our giving. And I’m fairly certain that moment would be remembered. There it is! My group choice is so we can meet a need and be faithful to teach the next generation!

That’s my challenge. And I am certain you can probably improve on my spur-of-the-moment illustration. It’s not too late to send out a family email or text. Give everyone a link to this post. Divide it how you will and include Beds For Boys as you imitate your Father this Christmas! (Ephesians 5:1)

Soli Deo Gloria! 

P.S. – If you take up the challenge, make the check(s) payable to Mission: Hope and send to:

  • Keith Burnett Ministries
  • PO 803
  • Scottsboro, AL 35768

All I Want For Christmas…Bible

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A Bible could already be on your Christmas giving list. If so, this Giving Matters post might help you add another Bible to your list. And if God’s Word is not on your giving list, then this post should give you a good reason to add to your list. You can see the details about this need in the paragraphs below.

Bible – For PastorsBible

I wish everyone could look into the eyes of the pastors in the Mathes Pastor Training School. What you’d find is a longing to learn. You would meet someone whose dedication would likely challenge you. And you might learn that these dedicated, hungry-to-be-taught disciples are making do in some cases with tattered children’s Bibles.

This need was detailed in an earlier post. That post also acquainted readers with the Giving Matters series. So what follows was taken from that earlier post. If you’d like to see all of the earlier post, just click HERE or on the previous link. Here we go…

A Helpful Example

I’ll do this section in a separate post. But this idea is one that illustrates the purpose. Pastors in our pastors’ training school have a need for Spanish study Bibles. This need arises due to the fact that we have changed the teaching locations in the Barahona area.

ChristmasWe now have a record number of students. And most are new to the school. So the reference materials we have supplied over the last several years are not in the hands of the current students. We need to equip these pastors and study Bibles are how that process will begin. A minimum of 50 Bibles are needed. We could use 100!

Here’s what you need to know in order to add this to your giving list. First, there is a link here to my Amazon page and the Bible we want to supply. You can purchase it from Amazon through the link at the bottom of this post. Then just send the Bible to us when you receive it.

Some may simply prefer to send a check. That’s  fine, too. Make the check (of any size) payable to Mission: Hope. In the memo line, write: Evangelism – Burnett – Bibles. Then send the check to:Christmas

  • Keith Burnett Ministries
  • PO 803
  • Scottsboro, AL – 35768

Check the website for more ideas.

Summary & Link

The specific Bible we want to provide is a Spanish version of the NIV Study Bible. That’s a good, basic resource for pastors. As we progress in their teaching, we will add other materials for their use. Use this link for Amazon or the image link below my sign-off!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

All I Want For Christmas…

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Christmas

All I Want For Christmas…

Christmas is a great celebration of God With Us (see previous post). The Christmas season is also a superb example of our ability to ask the wrong question! We are prone to do that in many areas of life. And asking the wrong question doesn’t lead to clear thinking. So what is the correct Christmas question?

Christmas Questions

The post title is a very familiar line. One of the most famous songs that posed this question gave the answer:

My two front teeth…

And then there was I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ For Christmas. Most of us will hear those lines this holiday season. And we will hear many more! That will include this line:

What do you want for Christmas?

All of us have probably answered that question. But each of us has probably asked it at least once! And the focus of the question is the problem. It’s too easy to see the season in terms of getting and receiving. But the words of Jesus (Acts 20:35) run in the opposite direction! And there are misconceptions about what Jesus had to say.Christmas

None of us can give if there is not someone to receive. And some believers mistakenly take the position (usually with pride) that they cannot receive from anyone. They take Jesus’ words in Acts 20:35 to mean they may only give. Jesus didn’t say it wasn’t a blessing to receive. Receiving clearly is a blessing. Jesus just put it into proper perspective. The greater blessing is giving.

So the focus of our thinking and our questions should be:

What can I give?

It Counts, It Matters

Are you making a list and checking it twice? You do that because giving brings you joy. That’s being like your Father. And that’s what the previous post series was all about. This post is meant to give you some practical help being a joyous, hilarious giver! Here’s a quote from the previous post about hilarity:

The word hilarious comes to us in 2 Corinthians 2:9. Don’t see it? The Greek word hilaros is translated as cheerful. But it is from this word that we derive the English word hilarious. And why would God love people who give cheerfully? Because…their joyous hearts and hilarious attitudes are accurate imitations of Him.

ChristmasSo, through the Christmas season there will be a giving resource series in the center column of the website. I couldn’t decide on a title. Giving Matters was one possibility. A Gift That Counts was another. I even thought about this: Making A List, Checking It Twice. The title is less important than giving to significant needs. So I’ll probably use all those title lines somewhere! The real goal is help great people join helping hands and be the givers our Father can use.

A Helpful Example

I’ll do this section in a separate post. But this idea is one that illustrates the purpose. Pastors in our pastors’ training school have a need for Spanish study Bibles. This need arises due to the fact that we have changed the teaching locations in the Barahona area.

ChristmasWe now have a record number of students. And most are new to the school. So the reference materials we have supplied over the last several years are not in the hands of the current students. We need to equip these pastors and study Bibles are how that process will begin. A minimum of 50 Bibles are needed. We could use 100!

Here’s what you need to know in order to add this to your giving list. First, there is a link here to my Amazon page and the Bible we want to supply. You can purchase it from Amazon through the link at the bottom of this post. Then just send the Bible to us when you receive it.

Some may simple prefer to send a check. That’s  fine, too. Make the check (of any size) payable to Mission: Hope. In the memo line, write: Evangelism – Burnett – Bibles. Then send the check to:Christmas

  • Keith Burnett Ministries
  • PO 803
  • Scottsboro, AL – 35768

Check the website for more ideas. Posts for this series will have one or more of the titles I’ve suggested here. And if you have a better idea, leave it in the comments. Would love to hear from you!

Soli Deo Gloria!  

Christmas: Worship, Wonder & Want

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Christmas

Christmas: Worship, Wonder & Want

Christmas lacks wonder because we want. Yet, want brings wonder! How does that work? I want some wordplay to help the wonder of your Christmas worship.

Christmas Worship

Jesus’ Incarnation, birth, life, death, and resurrection are all about worship. But that didn’t begin when the shepherds arrived at the Bethlehem manger. Here’s a mind-boggling thought:

Worship is eternal.

That seems rather obvious if you are only looking forward. You’ve read John’s Revelation and you know we spend eternity in worship. But there is also eternity past. Where was worship before the created order came into existence?

Christmas WorshipOnly God is worthy of worship. Further, He exists as God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So it is reasonable to believe each Person of the Trinity ascribes worth (worth–ship) to the others. Worship is therefore an eternal pursuit.

And let me quickly add another thought. Do not impose our human frailties on Jehovah God. The Godhead doesn’t engage in worship because of any ego issues. Our Father is Perfection Personified. He has no needs of any kind. Only Perfect Holiness is worthy of worship and there is only One Who fits that description. To worship any created being or thing is therefore idolatry because the created is less than the Creator.

So Jesus’ Incarnation and birth were acts of obedient worship. Verification of that statement is easy:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

So the shepherds in Bethlehem didn’t begin the worship of Christ. Their reverence is our reminder that Christmas is about worship. But what about wonder and want?

Christmas Worship: Want

We usually think of want in its verb form. And that is our problem at Christmas (and many other times!). How often do we hear:

  • What do you want for Christmas?
  • I want a…?
  • Do you want to go…?
  • What do you want to eat?

Christmas WorshipThe problem with that kind of want is I am at the center of it. It’s all about me. We are so used to it that we don’t see the danger. Wanting is all about getting. And that’s not like our Father Who is the Supreme Giver. Worship is about giving. We give or focus worthiness upon another. And this is impossible to do when we are constantly wanting.

Want is also a noun. The noun form is why Jesus came. Want can mean need. Jesus’ birth simultaneously met two needs. First, it met the need to worship the Father. We saw that above. Second, His coming meets the want in you and me. We need holiness. But that is not part of us. We need forgiveness because we are not holy. And forgiveness is not something we can give ourselves. So Christmas really is about want. But not the wants under the tree.

Christmas Worship: Wonder

When we think of Christmas in terms of our deep want, then we can sense the wonder of it all. It is a genuine wonder that:

  • Holiness came to sinfulness
  • Love loved the unlovable
  • Light came to people walking in darkness
  • Truth rang out: Glory to God in the highest
  • Peace can reign in lives conflicted by sin
  • The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want

I hope this helps focus your worship at Christmas. Next post will be from Barahona. Please pray for the mission team that leaves Monday!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

 

 

Real Christmas Joy: A How-To

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Real Christmas Joy: A How To

Real Christmas Joy: A How-To

Is Christmas joy an illusion? Have you stopped seeking joy and settled for survival? Maybe the busyness of the season just wears you out. When was the last time you found real Christmas joy? Even some good things won’t provide the genuine joy that should be associated with Christmas. And that joy can be found in a place you might not think to look!

Christmas Joy: A Confession

This is not an academic exercise. I need to write this at least as much as you might need to read it. Why? It’s easy to be distracted by good things. That is an effective tool in the hand of our enemy. We are tempted to focus on good things rather than the best things. And what good things distract us?

Christmas is a season of giving. Why? Because God so loved that He gave… We are being like our Father when we give. But we don’t give like He does. Let’s keep going.

What if your Christmas included sponsoring an orphan? That’s a great thing but there’s a deeper source for real Christmas joy. But while I’m on the subject let me add a thought. Sponsorships are urgent for several reasons. One is the “delay” in the funding system. The orphanage doesn’t have $ as soon as the sponsor account is drafted. Contributions are compiled each month. Then once a month they are forwarded to the orphanage. If this is part of your Christmas giving, please do it sooner than later.

Christmas Joy

Missions, the work of this ministry, is about giving. In the name of Jesus we give of ourselves, our time, and our resources. And this is also a very good thing whether we do it on our own, through a local Church, or as a ROW mission volunteer. You should know a great deal of time has been invested during this Christmas season in funding the last mission venture of 2016. Unavoidable circumstances made it necessary to try to raise mission funds during Christmas. That’s tough and I’m tired. So is missions the place to find Christmas joy?

Christmas Joy: The Sin Connection

Have you ever made up ‘new words’ to church hymns? We often did this while my dad was preaching. Our youthful activities went unnoticed most of the time. But the ‘sin connection’ I have in mind is NOT the same as some of the irreverent lyrics we composed:

I was sinking deep in sin…having a wonderful time!

If we are honest we can identify with that. But how do you really view sin? Let me be more specific. How do you view your sin? It’s easy to view sin as an idea or concept. We are good at that. We call it Bad and pat ourselves on the back for doing so. And even though that Bad thing called sin is out there, I’ve never really done very much that was all that bad.

Does that reasoning sound vaguely familiar? It sounds familiar if you are honest with yourself. But how does that line up with what Jesus said?

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

If I am to find real Christmas joy then I must come face to face with this fact: Any and every sin is an offense to our Holy and Righteous Father. There is no category for big sins and little sins. That thought came from the enemy and we enjoy entertaining it. We use that thought to comfort ourselves in false comparisons with others. ALL OF US have fallen short of God’s required perfection; all except Jesus. Things from within me have offended my Father. I have sinned in:

  • Thoughts
  • Words
  • Inaction
  • Actions
  • Pride
  • Evil desires
  • Selfishness
  • Indifference

All these things, and more, are the fabric of who we are. That’s the problem. And facing it head on allows to us to find real joy.

Christmas Joy: Mission of Hope

If I am honest with myself about my need of Jesus, then I can’t help but be overjoyed at the fact that He took on flesh and dwelt among us. The very familiar words of the Apostle Paul tell us that three things remain:

  • Faith
  • Hope
  • Love

Christmas JoyAnd the greatest of them is love. Christ’s coming is love demonstrated. Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 make that very clear. And that demonstration of love brought hope. Even though I am sinful and should stand condemned before a Holy God there is hope for me! Forgiveness is available. Faith allows hope to be realized. And when hope is realized He can love others through us. That’s a real reason for real joy.

And if He is loving through us then our giving takes on a whole new meaning. If we are mission volunteers or orphan sponsors then those things have new meaning too. His gift enables us to give so that others might have the hope He came to bring.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

 

Santa: On Mission in Dominican Batey

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Christmas Mission in Batey

Let me share the joy with you! Our mission teams are giving all year long. YOU make that possible. Well, it’s fitting that a ROW team was in the Dominican Republic just ahead of Christmas. They brought Christmas to the batey.

As you can see from the picture gallery, there was food, fun, Santa, love, bicycles and baseballs. Many donations were made in order for this to happen. One church donated enough baseballs for every kid

Spreading the good news of God's peace. Will you help?

Spreading the good news of God’s peace. Will you help?

in the batey to have one. That is a really big deal. That was probably the only present most of them received. However, they were probably happier with their new personal baseball than many children were with their newest electronic games.

If our mission is to share the love of Christ (and it is!), then what happened in this batey ought to brighten your day. I hope you enjoy the gallery! And I pray you will make it your mission to help us get off to a sound financial start in 2016!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

#1 Thing NOT To Put Away

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Christmas overwhelmed 2

Overwhelmed putting Christmas away? This helpful reminder is a follow-up to the Sounds of the Season series I did before Christmas. As we pack it all away, there is a very important thing we need to keep out!

Pushing back the Christmas Curtain was about encouragement. We need to see the big picture of our Father’s work. But here we are on the first work day after Christmas. What did we have in view during Christmas that needs to remain in view today?

Our Father focused centuries of His own work and the passion of His heart in the name: Emmanuel. That was last week, or was it? Before we answer that, let me ask another question. Is a Christian an imitation of God the Father? We know that should be the case. Some would say, I don’t want to be an example! That really isn’t an option. A Christian is an imitaion of the Father. The only question is, Am I a good example or a poor one? That connects us back to Emmanuel.

We had God With Us in view last week as we celebrated Christmas. That is what we must continue to keep in view. When God said He would be with us, and never forsake us, He meant exactly that. Like the example thing above, we don’t have a choice about His presence. He is with us every moment of every day. With that in mind, consider the places we ‘take’ Him:

  • Conversations – uplifting ones and ones filled with gossip
  • Transactions – honest ones and shady ones
  • Relationships – healthy ones and unhealthy ones

That list could get pretty long, but I think you’ve got the idea. God With Us is a truth we cannot put away until next year. It should color every action of every day. Take this truth with you into the New Year. Celebrate it daily. Let it encourage you to live in a manner worthy of the high calling you have been given. And if you run into a challenge, come back here and look through the Sounds of the Season series for a little more encouragement. 🙂

Soli Deo Gloria!  

Pushing Back the Christmas Curtain, 3

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Sounds of the Season 3

Emmanuel, God With Us; what does that mean to you today as you celebrate Christmas? Why is it important to devote 3 Sounds of the Season posts to one name of Jesus?

Sounds of the Season – I Will Be With You

ONE reason has already been cited: God does not change. We do not have to wonder what He will be like or how He will do things tomorrow. He is perfect and never changes. The only change He could make would be to imperfection and that would make Him less than God! God With Us has always been His plan and desire. We do Him, and ourselves, a disservice to think it only applies to Christmas.

It doesn’t take much to find out how many times God said to someone:

I will be with you.

This link shows He said that to Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Solomon, and the nation of Israel. The later references show us this was said of God by several people. It’s noteworthy to see God said He would be with Moses’ words. Interesting!

Sounds of the Season – I Will Go With You

Imagine being sent by God on an impossible mission. His words came as strength and comfort to men like Moses and Gideon. He intends the same for you and me!

Sounds of the Season – I Am With You

This has a different ring to it. I like it. The great name of our great God, I AM – with you. This phrase also occurs several times in the Bible. And these are the words the Lord said to the Apostle Paul in Acts 18:9-10:

And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.

Scripture repeatedly shows us God’s presence = God’s provision. What we need is in Him, not in something less that He brings. That all sounds great for a guy like Paul, right? Well I have news. Jesus said the same thing to you and me. Our service to Him is making disciples and Jesus connected that mission with His presence:

…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

See it? It’s right there to calm our doubts and fears – I am with you. It was enough for Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Paul and it’s enough for us!  Just to make sure we get it, He adds always. And in case that didn’t register with us, He repeats the thought: even to the end of the age. How awesome is that!

Christmas Present

So as you celebrate God With Us with your family, think long about Emmanuel. It’s as if God took a heavenly megaphone and shouted the message through time and space. With Us has always been His desire. We have seen it:

  • In the Garden of Eden
  • In the two Cherubim and the Flaming Sword
  • On the Ark of the Covenant
  • In His meeting us at the Mercy Seat
  • In Jesus meeting us in the Manger

And His divine, unchanging desire has one part yet to come. I mentioned it briefly in the previous post. The Apostle Paul says we now see through a glass darkly. You see, we have the promise of our complete redemption and salvation in the form of the Holy Spirit Who lives within us. However, it will not always be that way. Emmanuel will complete the work He began in us and we will see Him face to face. Paul says we will see Him as He is and we will know as we are known. And yes, our eternal worship of Him will be in presence of the Cherubim and all the other heavenly hosts!

Spreading the good news of God's peace. Will you help?

Spreading the good news of God’s peace. Will you help?

I hope pushing back the curtains has encouraged and equipped you. I hope you take comfort in our unchanging Father. And I hope you see more in Emmanuel than you ever have. I also hope you know the best is yet to come.

What a day that will be! Have a Merry Christmas 🙂

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Keith Burnett Ministries
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