Daily Advent

Advent 2013 ~ Bethlehem Candle

Sunday, December 8th

The second week of Advent, we light the Bethlehem Candle to remind us that the Son of God would be born in a humble stable in Bethlehem.

Old Testament: "On that day they will say to Jerusalem, 'Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:16-17

New Testament: "And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.'"  Luke 1:46-50

Interesting that the Greek word blessed, "makariousi," is in a future tense meaning that Mary would be blessed by future generations.  This makariousi verb is the word Elizabeth uses when she sees that Mary has believed that the Lord will fulfill His Promise through Mary (v.45 - "And blessed (makariousi) is she who believed...").  The meaning of makarios is to be indwelt by God and thereby to be fully satisfied.  The use of this "blessed" word by Mary shows that she is declaring that because she was indwelt by God, this fact would cause her to be blessed by future generations. Fascinating side-note: when Elizabeth first greets Mary she says, "Blessed among women are you..."  This "blessed" is an entirely different word! This blessed is "eulogeo" meaning, "to speak well of," like a eulogy.  When we bless (eugoleo) God, we are speaking well of Him which is asking Him to not merely to approve our plans but to interfere in our lives.

May God interfere in your life today.

Daily Advent

Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle

Saturday, December 7th

Old Testament: "Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens' the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing."  Daniel 9:25

Daniel prophesies, in the Jewish chronology, when Jesus would be born and die.

New Testament: "In a loud voice she (Elizabeth) exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!'"  Luke 1:42-45

I love the recognition of life within Elizabeth.  Her baby, John, leaps with joy when he hears Mary's voice.  It is amazing to me how much a growing infant takes in- while inside the womb.  John responds to the audible voice of Mary.  "Blessed is she who has believed..."  We can hear truth and grow in our knowledge of the Bible, but at some point the Lord challenges us to believe; walk out our faith.  Mary hears this amazing report from the angel, and believes.

May you have a blessed Saturday- and believe.
   

Daily Advent

Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle

December 6, 2013

Old Testament: "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a rot out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."  Isaiah 53:1-3

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus was be a plain-looking man who would ultimately be rejected by his own people.

New Testament:
"'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."  Luke 1:38-41

During a woman's first trimester, she would remove herself from society and stay with other female friends who could care for her.  It made natural sense for Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth since she too is expecting a baby - by the grace of God.  When Elizabeth simply heard Mary's voice, her baby leaped in her womb.  I've often wondered, since Mary is the one carrying Jesus, Immanuel- God is with you, then the presence/being of God is within her. Luke records that at the moment Elizabeth's baby (John the Baptist) heard Mary's voice, he leapt and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  What a fascinating occurrence! It seems to me that Mary is bringing God's presence with her.  The Light of the Word, Redeemer of all-humanity cannot be hidden within a body.

May your day be blessed and may you experience the presence of God in your life.

Daily Advent

Thursday, December 5th

Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle

Old Testament: "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  Isaiah 7:14

This is the prophecy Isaiah gave that Jesus would be born of a virgin and be called Immanuel, which means: "God is with us."  Fascinating that Jesus is called Immanuel and the angel first told Mary, "the Lord is with you."  The reality that the King of Kings, God of the Universe is with you and I is absolutely amazing.  Only in Christianity does God reach down to our level to and abide with us.  He remains a treasure inside our weak, earthen vessels, never leaving us, or forsaking us.

New Testament: "'How will this be, ' Mary asked the Angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.'"  Luke 1:34-37

Here we have the unfolding of Isaiah's prophecy.  This young girl, Mary, has not had relations with a man and does not understand logically how the angel's words can come about.  Notice she is not doubting the angels words (unlike Zachariah in the previous chapter).  Instead Mary is trying to figure out how the events being told to her will play out.

As you go about your fourth day of December filled with busyness and haste, remember the Angel's words, which are still true today, "Nothing is impossible with God."

Daily Advent

Wednesday, December 4th

Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle

Old Testament:
"Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."  Isaiah 9:7

Though Isaiah was born into relative peace and prosperity, it was not long until Judah was a land ravaged by war and internally torn apart. Many of the first parts of Isaiah are prophecies about the Messiah (Jesus).  In this particular passage, Isaiah gives the prophecy that Jesus will establish King David's throne and will rule forever.

New Testament:
"But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and his kingdom will never end.'"  Luke 1:30-33

Notice how closely the angel's proclamation echoes Isaiah's prophecy.  Her Son will be given "the throne of his father David, and his kingdom will never end."  The words of Isaiah hundreds of years earlier are spoken again to a new generation.  We may not see the evidence of His Kingdom in our lives everyday, but I guarantee if we pray for God to open our eyes, we will see His work going on around us to transform lives.

During this Advent season, we look with expectancy at the future promise that Jesus will be our King of righteousness and make all things right.  Whatever area of life you are struggling in, remember, God causes all things to work together for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose.  Be encouraged to stay strong and experience God's favor and promise.

Daily Advent

Tuesday, December 3rd

Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle

Old Testament:
"'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.  This is the name by which he will be called: the Lord Our Righteousness.'"  Jeremiah 23:5,6

This is the prophecy Jeremiah had foretelling that Jesus will come from the lineage of King David.

New Testament:
"In the sixth month, God sent an angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man name Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."  Luke 1:26-29

I love the angel's first phrases to Mary, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."  It reminds me of the angels first words to Gideon back in Judges 6:12, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior."  The angel tells Mary, just like Gideon, that the Lord is with her.  He also speaks a truth about who she is into her life - "she is highly favored."  Mary and Gideon are people who must have had a special connection with the living God.  They did not initially respond in fear, though later the angel does tell both of them not to be afraid, but they responded instead out of curiosity and faith.

May you experience God's favor and presence in your life today!
Connie

Daily Advent

Advent 2013 ~ Prophecy Candle

Monday, December 2nd:

Old Testament: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."  Micah 5:2

The Jews in Jesus' days were not in complete agreement as to where the Messiah would be born.  Some believed the place would be unknown (John 7:27) while others quoted Micah 5:2 sighting Bethlehem as the place of birth.  When Herod was approached by the wise men from the East and he asked the religious experts where the Messiah was to be born, their response was "in Bethlehem," and they quoted Micah 5:2 (Matthew 2:1-6).

New Testament: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

Jesus is the "Word" ~ He has been part of life since before the foundations of the world!  The Word (Jesus) became flesh (was born) and dwelt among us.  If you look up Revelation 19:13, John refers to a person who wears cloths dipped in blood as, "The Word."  Our Advent verses recognize Jesus' presence in the past (Old Testament) and in the future (end times- Revelation).

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." 1 Corinthians 16:23