Lessons from the Triumphal Entry of Jesus

By:  Min. Angela Lee Price

The triumphal entry of Jesus marks the beginning of Holy Week on the Christian calendar.  The welcoming cheers of the crowd would turn to yells to "crucify him" by the end of the week.  There is so much which we might learn from the event of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the events which surrounded Palm Sunday.  Notice at least the following:

1.  Though disguised and poor, Jesus is still the King of the world.   Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey in fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus offered himself to Israel on Palm Sunday as her long-awaited Messiah. The people wanted Jesus to be their king, a great political and military leader who would free them from the Roman empire. But little did they know, he had come to offer salvation to the whole world.  They did not understand that the kingdom of God is not of this world. It is a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of those who put their faith and trust in Him.  We ought not be so quick to judge a book by its cover.  Just because you're not from a certain ethnicity, class, or zip code, doesn't mean God has not sent you to be a great source of blessing.  Put your faith in Jesus.

2.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and His victories are by the weapons of peace.  Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem with artillery and a military brigade. Those are weapons of war.  On the contrary, he rode in with weapons of peace. Jesus taught to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). He taught blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). Jesus taught us how to pray, forgive, and endure to the end; about love, mercy and kindness, making real changes in our lives through the power of his might. He taught not how to die, but how to live.  He taught us how to find the real peace of heart and mind that only he can give (John 14:27).  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Jesus Christ.

 

3. The Lord can use even the humblest of his creatures.  Jesus sent his two disciples to the village to bring a donkey and colt (Matt. 21:1-2).  If Jesus can use the humblest of creatures in his service, how much more then can he use any one of us who is willing to humble ourselves in service to him.

4.  We should gladly give to his service whatever he has need of. Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone says anything to you, say the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." (v3) They...placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on." (v7) We should gladly give of our time, talents and treasures.  Jesus has need of you.  Will you serve him?

5.  Christ brings gladness wherever he goes.  A large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road" (v8) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed after shouted Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest heaven" (v9).   Hosanna means "save now."  While the Jewish people wanted a political or military to save them from Roman rule, they were mistaken about his kingdom, but not about his many miracles.  Wherever Jesus went, he made folks glad as he healed, delivered and set folk free of the affliction. Jesus' miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead brought large crowds not only to Bethany but also to Jerusalem during the Passover indicating an ongoing and growing movement of people in Jerusalem putting faith in Jesus (John 12:9-11).  Jesus brought gladness to people of his day, and he continues to bring gladness to those who put their faith and trust in him today.

6.  Jesus encourages expressions of one's inner joy. The Pharisees insisted that Jesus silence those who were praising him, but Jesus refuses, stating that if he does so even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:39-40).  We ought always to give praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Don't let the rocks cry out in your place.  Jesus saves!

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Prayer: Take Me to the King!

Min. Angela Lee Price

I am declaring, "Take Me to the King!"  I have been reading the book of Hebrews this week, and I have a new appreciation for this book.  In this one book, we find the attributes and character of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In this one book, we see the connection between the old and new covenants. If you want to know who Jesus is, read Hebrews. It will take you to the King of Kings and Lord of Lord! 

The opening chapters of Hebrews tells us about King Jesus.  Jesus is the son of God, appointed by the Father as "heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (1:2). Therefore, Jesus is creator just as God the Father is creator, existing with God in the beginning having "laid the foundations of the earth" and the heavens (1:10).  All the angels of God worship Jesus (1:6).  Jesus was the sinless sacrificial offering for everyone (2:9). Jesus is our great High Priest within whom we can find rest (4:8).  Jesus is the sinless, sympathetic Son of God who receives our requests at the "throne of grace" (4:14-15).  Therefore, whatever your concern, whatever your problem, you can take it to the King of Kings! Jesus is presented in the order of Melchizedek.  Melchizedek was the "King of righteousness" and "King of Peace) (v7:2) who was without geneology (7:3), and to whom Abraham gave a tenth of his plunder (7:4).  The priesthood of Jesus is superior to that of King Melchizedek.  Jesus atoned for sin once and for all through his shed blood on the cross and was a fulfillment of the Law (7:26-27). I could go on, but I will stop there. 

To recap,

Jesus Christ Is Superior to:
1. all angels
2. all the Jewish leaders
3. all the Jewish prophets
4. all the Old Testament priesthood

Jesus Christ Is:
1. God
2. the ultimate authority
3. the believers' link to God
4. the complete revelation of God.
5. the believers' perfect representative with God
6. the perfect sacrifice for the believers' sin
7. the Messiah, the Son of the Living God

If you have a problem, concern, worry, care, try taking it to the King and leaving it there! Jesus saves!

Choose God's Way!

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me; for you are the God who saves me (Psalms 25:4-5). NLT

What magnificent verses for facing life in this new year full of important choices and decisions to make.  Psalm 25 is a psalm of protection and deliverance and a lament.  The psalmist combines confessions of guilt, with heartfelt pleas for mercy, protection, and guidance and expressions of confidence in God to be a compassionate deliverer. 

There are so many choices and so little time!  You can be sure you're choosing God's way when you ask Him to "show you the right path" by "pointing out the road to follow."   Isn't it good news to know that God will point out your path when put your faith in Him. He won't be vague about it, but will tell you exactly what to do. The Bible says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In choosing God's way, the Lord will give you specific guidance, direction, and instruction, but you must be willing to follow the path.  Isn't it terrible when God tells us what to do, but we don't it!  Let's not second guess God in 2020, brothers and sisters!   Don't think you know it all, or that you know more than God!  Pray and see what the Word of God says about your problem!  The Bible says, "There is a path before each person that seems right but it ends in death" (Proverbs 16:25).   

No matter how well you lead on the job, at home, church, and/or school, in choosing God's way, you must be willing, like the psalmist, to follow, "Lead me by your truth" and a learn, "Teach me". We must be willing to be led and taught by the Word of God which is the truth of God.  God's way provides more benefits than any other way!  God's way is the way of truth (Ps. 25:5), mercy (Ps. 25:10), obedience (Ps. 25;10), peace (Prov. 3:17), holiness (Isa. 35:8), safety (Isa. 35:9), prosperity (Gen 24:56).

How can we learn and choose God's way? Through Jesus Christ the God who saves (John 6:40, John 8:12, John 10:28; John 10:9)! I love it where the psalmist says, for you are the God who saves me (v5b).  That's what the Lord did and still does for me.  He saved me, and he keeping on saving me, even when I don't deserve it.  He is merciful just like that.  He gives us another chance to get it right.  And the best part,  Jesus wants to save anyone who is willing to put faith in Him.  Jesus saves!

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God Speaks. Are You Listening?

For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:20

We see so many people today with headphones on their head and ear buds in their ears.  Sometimes I wonder, though, if they are listening to the voice of God.  God does speak, and he wants to speak to us if only we would listen. 

How does God speak?  He speaks through His Word, through people like ministers and teachers, and through providence. 

God speaks through His Word, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go" (Ps. 32:8).  That is why we should study the Bible on a regular basis, and ask questions in small group settings.  Jesus says, "My sheep know voice"  (John 10:14).  We know the voice of God by studying the Word of God.   God speaks through providential means, that is, through timing.  Sometimes God's timing is so profound that we know instantly, beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is the voice of God because no one could have done it but Him.  He puts people in our lives at just the right time in answer to prayer.

God speaks  through divinely-called ministers.   Ministers and teachers, ask God for direction and for a word for the people.  Then, believe that what God gives you is what He wants preached.  We must pray for ministers to preach the truth of a balanced gospel in love; to speak with holy boldness even when what God has to say through them makes us uncomfortable. Who goes to a mirror and sees something on their face and does not wipe it off? As listeners, we should be ready to actively listen and act upon what we hear.  This is why we should not be distracted or walk out of church at the preaching moment, or leave before the benediction.   God speaks.  Are you listening?

It is important to understand that God speaks through His divinely appointed pastors, ministers, teachers, and evangelists.  But know this - God will never say anything through the man or woman of God that contradicts His word.  The Bible warns us about false prophets, so we should test and examine everything that is said (Micah 3:11-12). 

God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, "For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you" (Matt. 10:20). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God in us.  The Holy Spirits comforts, teaches, convicts, helps, and warns us.   This why we should not lie, grieve, quench, resist, insult, or blasphem the Holy Spirit, nor conduct ourselves in ways contrary to the will of God.

God speaks with His people, "and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ"  (1 John 1:3).  God speaks with us as a friend, for He is "a friend that stickteth closer than a brother" (Proverbs 17:17).  God speaks with us as a companion, for He has promised never to leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  God speaks through His people through songs, poems, speeches, prayers and artistic gifts.  We should ask God's guidance and believe He speaks through us when we visit the sick and bereaved and witness for Christ.  Can you hear the voice of God?  Is He speaking to you?

Psalm 65: Praise waiteh For Thee

I thought I would share the lyrics to one of my favorite Richard Smallwood songs, "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)." This song is based on Psalm 65.  This song of David is a song of thanksgiving for an abundant harvest received after a drought was averted.  

Psalm 65 opens with a vow (resolution or promise) to praise Yahweh for hearing and answering the prayers of the people of Israel.   "Praised waiteth for Thee..." in the KJ in verse 1 is translated in the NLT, "What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion.  We will fulfill our vows to you for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you. (Vv1-2).

Oh, what praise still awaits God in 2021 from his people because He is faithful to his promises.  This is potential praise.  Potential praise is energy waiting to happen.  We turn potential praise to active praise through focus.  I don't know about you, but I owe God back praise!  If he doesn't do another thing for me, He has already done enough for me to praise him the rest of my life.  There is praise within all our spirits that awaits its intended Recipient,  Yahweh, the true and living God.  We must focus.  When we focus on the acts of God, the blessings of God, and a future with God, potential praise is activated.   

Let us praise the Lord this MLK Holiday weekend,  and keep our promises to worship and obey him.  He has brought us a mighty, mighty long way!  He has heard and answered our ancestors.  In spite of bigotry, racism, and hatred, He has blessed us, as a people, and as a nation in so many ways!  Hallelujah!   Jesus saves!

Oh Lord, Your My Everything

Praise Wait-Eth For Thee My King

Oh-Oh, Thou Who Hear-Eth Everthing

Oh Lord, Your My Ev-Ry-Thing

Repeat As Directed

You-Are My Light

That Shines-In The Midst Of Darkness

You-Are My Help

Your're There-In Times Of Trouble- [Modulaton]

Where-Would-I Be

If Not But For Your Mercy

Oh Lord, Your're My Ev-Erything

[Repeat As Directed]

Praise Wait-Eth For Thee

My Everything

Devotional: Don't Look Any Further

Get A Grip! The Bible Will Improve Your Life!

By:  Angela Lee Price

Is your life spinning out of control?  Get a grip!  That's right.  I said get a grip...on the Bible, of course!  It will improve your life!

Sometimes we get careless, and we become prayerless. There are four causes of prayerlessness, overestimating ourselves (pride); underestimating God (unbelief); overestimating its difficulty (ignorance); and underestimating its value (time). When we are prayerless, the devil distorts situations and cause us to get anxious and become sidetracked.

When we get a grip on the Bible, we can remind God of His promises. God, you said in your word, "No weapon formed asked me shall prosper" Isaiah 54:17. God, you said in your word, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5.

When we get a grip on the Bible, we can remind God of different stories in Bible and how He fought battles for His people. You can remind him of how He rescued the three Hebrew boys from the fiery furnace, and Daniel from the lions den. You can remind Him of how he delivered Israel from capitivity, and how Jesus quieted the raging storm, saying "Peace. Be still." If He did it for them, He can do it for you.

When we get a grip on the Bible, the Holy Spirit will bring scriptures to our remembrance in times of trouble to counter the fiery darts of the enemy, like Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." And Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."

Here's How to Get a Grip on your Bible:

Pinky Finger - Hear

Ring Finger - Read

Middle Finger - Study

Index Finger - Memorize

Thumb - Apply

Palm (Center of hand) - Bible

Listen to the Word of God daily, read it, study it, memorize it, and apply it to your life. Keep the Bible in your hands. Get a grip on the Bible and see won't it strengthen your relationship with God, improve your life, especially your prayer life!

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Put Your Weight On God

"Trust in the the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths"  (Proverbs 3:5-6.)

Do you have a weight problem?  If the answer is yes, then put your weight on  God! I have discovered that God knows what He's doing at all times, in times of extreme illness, chronic health challenges, even obesity. When we sit in a chair, we just sit down in it. We place our whole weight in the chair without giving it a second thought. We trust that the chair will hold our weight. Likewise, we should trust God to hold our weight, carry our burdens and our problems without second guessing His ability to do so.

When we lean, we place part of our weight on God and part of it on ourselves, someone else, or something else. This causes us to worry, snack and eat all the wrong foods.  This prolongs our ability to get lean and lose weight. This proverb teaches us to "lean not on our own understanding." We should not lean, for example, on ungodly weight loss plans and surgeries that could potentially leave us in worst shape than we were in the beginning.  We should lean not on drugs and appetite suppressants that could potentially leave us jittery and cause us to become addicted to them.  We should lean not on quick fixes to cure what it took, in most cases, years to create.   

God may not give you a quick fix to your weight problem, but He will give you a certain promise.  God promises to "direct our paths" when we acknowledge Him "in all our ways."  In acknowledging God and walking in His paths, you might discover it's not what you're eating that's your biggest problem, it's what's eating you!  While you wait on God, put your weight on God. Trust in Him fully. He will carry you through!

If you are trying to lose weight right now, how are you putting your weight on God? 

Are You The One?

By: Angela Lee Price

Have you ever heard people say "thank you" insincerely, only because it was the politically correct thing to say, or simply as a way to end a conversation as if to say, "that's all, goodbye!," "you may go," or "you're dismissed"? There is a difference between worldly thanks and Godly thanks. With worldly thanks, what is said is not what is meant. With worldly thanks, there is no sincere "holler up" to God as the provider of all things, and neither is there "follow up" with actions commensurate with the sincerity of our hearts. Jesus healed ten lepers, but only the one, a foreigner, a Samaritan, returned to say thank you. Jesus asked the whereabouts of the other nine, and then told the one, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well" (Luke 17: 11-18). Don't miss the blessing of giving thanks. When praises go up, blessings come down! All ten lepers were cleansed, but only the one was cleansed and made well. As believers, we should be thankful to God not just at Thanksgiving, but at all times. The Bible says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18 NIV). The Bible declares, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalms 107:1-2). And Hebrews, 12:28 states, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Are you the one offering Godly thanks, "follow up" to your "holler up"? God is good! Jesus saves!

Make His Praise Glorious!

"Shout with joy to God, all the earth!  Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!  Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!  So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.  All the earth bows down to you.  They sing praise to you.  They sing praise to your name.  Selah.  Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"  Psalm 66:1-5.

Gospel artist Martha Munizzi has a song entitled, "Glorious."  We play it on the radio.   When you hear this upbeat song, you can't help but to praise God because a reoccuring line in the song states, "I was created to make Your praise glorious!"   The song reminds us that our top priority on the job, at lunch, and throughout the day is to put God first and give Him glorious praise in thought and in deed.

Psalm 66 is a great foundational  and complementary text to Martha Munizzi's song, "Glorious."  The psalmist reminds us we are here to give God glorious praise!  When we think about how awesome God is, we should become thankful for His goodness towards us.  He's the uncaused Cause who causes everything to exist; He's the God who causes our solar systerm, the galaxies, and the universe to hang in the heavens; He's the God who delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and into the Promise Land; and He's the God who was so mindful of tiny, insignificant humanity that He gave His only Son to die for our sins!   When we think about all this, how awesome (terrible) is our God, we should want to make our praise glorious! 

To make His praise glorious we should  1) "Shout with joy to God (v1); 2) Sing the glory of his name (v2); 3) Say to Him (in prayer) (v3); and 4) Come and see what He has done (v5)!

This week, make His praise glorious!  Shout, sing, say, and invite the unchurched and dechurched to come and see our awesome God!  He is worthy to be praised!

Be Clothed And Ready!

Be Clothed And Ready!
By:  Min. Angela Lee Price

 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  Ephesians 6:10-18.

Ephesians 6:10-18, is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. No matter what anyone says about how to dress for success, this is what successful dressing looks like. I don't dispute the need to look your best, to put your best foot forward for that important interview and important meeting. You should do that!   We should make it a habit of being well-groomed because you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.   Some young people make the mistake of going on job interviews clothed but not ready.  They lack the education, skills, and training to meet the job requirements.  Further, they cannot articulate why it is that they are the best candidate for the job.  Still, others make the mistake of being ready but not clothed.  The men go in with pants sagging, no belt, no tie, tennis shoes; The sisters go in wearing mini-skirts, halter tops, and showing too much cleavage.  This is okay if you’re applying to be a lifeguard by the pool, but in a professional environment, we should dress professionally.

In February here in the Ohio Valley, we had to get creative, add on layers of clothing, and leave early in order to get to work on time because a lot of inclement weather came our way -- snow, ice, sleet, rain and sub-zero, frigid temperatures. But if you really want to be clothed and ready for whatever comes your way, you must put your armor on, and no, I don’t mean Under Armor, the fitness line. I am talking about putting on the full Armor of God!  

We have an enemy, Satan.  Satan wants to throw much more at you than a little bad weather.  He wants to throw much more than a foot or two of snow.  He wants to steal, kill, and destroy you!.  He wants get you kicked out the choir.  He wants to see you kicked off the basketball team. You can be all dressed up, swanky and pretty on the outside, but if Satan has his hands on you that’s not how you look on the inside.  The Bible tells us man looks at outward appearance but God looks at the heart. Ephesians 6: 12 states,  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  

I want to remind you to be clothed and ready, not in Under Armor, but in the full armor of God.  Some people think wearing Under Armor and working out will keep them one step ahead of the devil.  They think being physically fit will protect them from the schemes, the tricks of the enemy. We should be physically fit, yes!  I say all the time, how can you reach your purpose, if you can’t reach your toes?  Former University of Louisville point guard Chris Jones worked out!  He was physically fit!  He was one of the best players on the basketball team!  And yet, he is no longer on the team.  While being physically fit is good, it is more important to be spiritually fit!  Draw close to God in times of trial, heartache, difficulty. Draw close to God when all hell breaks loose! Draw close to God in the sunshine and He'll have your back in the rain! Draw close to God when you feel like it and when you don’t!  Draw close to God and He will draw close to you! 

What does it mean to be clothed and ready?  

First, recognize that you are in a spiritual battle. We lose the battle because we fail to realize we are in a spiritual battle in the first place. Ephesians 2:1 says this world is controlled by “…the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” This prince’s power extends not only to the air, but also the air waves, television, radio, and the internet. 

History tells us that the great preacher and Civil Rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was in a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama in April 1963 when he wrote "Letters from A Birmingham Jail" an open letter defending non-violent resistance as a strategy against racism.  Later, he said it was the longest letter he had ever written. The apostle Paul, too, was in a jail cell near the end of his life around AD 60-61, most likely in Rome when he wrote this letter in defense of Christianity. It is believed he wrote Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians at that time.   Even in jail cells these men were clothed and ready to speak out against injustice and defend the faith!

Each day and every day, put on the full armor of God, the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  Be ready to speak the truth!  Be ready to do what is right!  Be ready to testify about how good God is to you!  Be ready to walk by faith and not by sight!  Be ready to hope for tomorrow assured of your salvation because Jesus has the keys to death, hell, and the grave!  It was not Don Cornelius, but Jesus Christ himself who was the originator of Soul Train.  He led captivity captive in His train and gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8). Be ready to quote the Word and use the Word as your offensive and defensive weapon!  Be clothed and ready!  I said be clothed and ready!

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, more valuable than Under Armor is the full armor. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. This is how we dress for success. Are you clothed and ready?

The Real Meaning of Christmas

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:10-14).

What is the real meaning of Christmas?  It depends on who you ask.  For many in society, Christmas is just another holiday or another season to make money. Christmas means jolly ol' Saint Nick is on his way to find out whose been naughty and whose been nice; that the halls are decked with bales of holly, lights, trees, and and shiny things.

For some, Christmas means family and foods from festive recipes loaded with sugar, spice and everything nice. Christmas to the sports fan can mean its the season for basketball and football - games galore, college rivalries, bowl games, NBA and so much more.

For others though, Christmas means not gladness but sadness, worries and stress about mounting bills, which gifts to get and which gifts to give.  It is the most dreaded time of the year. It is sad when gift-getting and gift-giving overshadow our greatest Gift, Jesus the baby in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing, when Christmas is lost.

The real meaning of Christmas, though, can be found in Scripture in the greeting the angel(s) gave the shepherds the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:10-14).

The real meaning of Christmas is...  
1) That God loves man:  “Fear not” (v10); (See also John 3:16 and 2 Timothy 1:7)
2) That God’s love is manifested” “For, Behold,” (v10); (See also 1 John 3:1)
3) That God showed His mercy before man sought it” “I bring,” (v10); (See also Romans 5:6-8)
4) That good tidings and joy are for every individual: “you,” (v10);  (See also Acts 13:32)
5) That God is no respecter of persons: “to all people,” (v10);   (See also Isaiah 52::10 and Romans 2:11)
6) That salvation from sin is within reach of everyone (v11). (See also Acts 4:12)
7) That God wants man to enjoy peace on earth, and good will among men (v 14) (See also John 14:27).

Happy New Year from Jesus Saves Ministries, Louisvillle

Celebrating 12 Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!

Be Persistent In Prayer

How persistent are you in prayer? Do you pray once or twice and give up, or do you PUSH -- Pray Until Something Happens? I was asked recently, "How many times should we pray to God about the same thing?" God has given me the word that we need to be persistent in our prayers.

Jesus tells us this in Luke 11:5-9 in the parable of the man who went to his friend at midnight for three loaves of bread. The story of Hannah praying to conceive a child is a story of persistence in prayer (1 Samuel 1:1-28). The widow pleading before the unjust judge is another example of persistence paying off (Luke 18:1-8). Romans 12:12 says, "Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer."

We know that God does not always answer prayers the way we want Him to or expect Him to, however, the good news is that in these instances of persistent prayer, God said "yes!" This suggests that we have not, in many cases, because we ask not persistently.

When it comes to prayer, in my humble opinion, it's important that we are consistently and persistently asking God for the lost to be saved and for our prayer requests to line up with His will for our lives! We all stand in the need of prayer, and we serve a God who is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask or think (Eph. 3:30)! Jesus saves!

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