January 2nd, 2023
by Jon Welch
by Jon Welch
Preparing for a life of Multiplication
Our study will being with the Birth of Jesus and go all the way to His death, resurrection and ascension. In this first phase of the movement, we will be looking at how the Father prepared for His Son to be the the greatest leader that has ever lived on Earth.
As we open the pages of the New Testament, we see that the people were waiting for the Messiah, a deliverer to free them from the strong hand of the Roman Empire. They were awaiting a promise made to Moses and their forefathers.
“I will rise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.” (Deut.18:18)
God made a promise for a deliverer like Moses. Yet, before this deliverer would come, there would be one who would come before and proclaim the Day of the Lord and prepare the way for the coming Messiah. He would be like Elijah, the prophet of old.
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (Mal. 4:5)
Israel was waiting for Elijah to appear and then the Messiah would come and strike fear in the hearts of the enemy and return Israel to her glory.
As the people were anxiously waiting for the coming of Elijah the prophet, God stepped out of heaven’s splendor and entered our sinful world as a human– not as a man, but as a Baby. Jesus became flesh and lived with us (John 1:14). God, in the form of Jesus, emptied Himself and took on the form of a man.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself to death–even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:5-8)
He was made like us in every way (Heb. 2:17). He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Come take a look at the God who was willing to become a man. Come see the sacrifice that God took upon himself for our sake.
As we start this study tomorrow, I want to again encourage you to prepare yourself and pray,
God, I’m willing to obey. Show me more of who you are.”
I’ll see you tomorrow!
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What Is Prayer?AdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplicationScripture Is The Word Of GodGod’s Word Guides UsGod’s Word Convicts UsGod’s Word Connects UsGod’s Word Encourages UsWhat Is Worship?Worship In Our WorkWorship In Our FamilySunday WorshipWorship Even When You Don't Want ToWhat is Fasting All About?Giving God Our Meal TimesEmptied of Ourselves and Filled with ChristFasting Develops FocusFood Is OverratedGod Is NOT In The FireJesus Sneaks OffWe Make Our Own Noise
February
We All Need SpaceGod Is Not Santa ClausWith Great Blessing Comes Great ResponsibilityCan Stewardship Be Scary?Filling the Need When We See ItIt's All His AnywayTime Is NOT On My SideWe Need Each OtherDevoted To The WordBreaking Bread TogetherGroup Conversations With GodFour Hands Are Better Than TwoLet’s Keep It SimpleOnly Take What You NeedSlow DownThe Great PurgeA Simple MessageGod’s Word Is A WeaponDo You Have A Game Plan?What You Remember Most Matters MostStart With the Basics
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Sin Is RealDistraction Leads to Cover-UpWandering In DisobediencePride Comes Before the FallI Do What I HateThe Beauty of RedemptionRedemption Has A PriceWe Need To Claim Our PrizeYou Gotta Have FaithEven When You Look Like a Fool….God Will ProvideTrust the ProcessI Forgive YouGrace Is Free, But It Isn't CheapI Was Wrong, You Were RightThe Mob
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