6 questions you can ask yourself to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

Want to plan for the new year under God's blessing? I've found 4 blessings in 2 Thessalonians and have come up with 6 questions to help myself align with them.

I saw someone creating their vision board and I was asking them about their inspirational images, wondering if was something I should do.

Then we started talking about goals and how they relate to our life's purpose and I sort of blurted out...

My goal is to Live LIGHT and to help others Live LIGHT too. I want to Live Loved. I want to Live Intentional. I want to Live Generous. I want to Live Hopeful. I want to Live Today.

Then I remembered I already had a vision board...without the inspirational images, so I went home and added the images that are usually on my desktop and viola!

You can see that roadmap at https://revtrev.com/roadmap I do very little that's not public knowledge.

It's up to me to make the plans and up to me to keep in step with what the Spirit is leading me to do TODAY.

I don't have due dates, but I will if God tells me there's a date that something needs to get done. If I can get every coaching session, every class, every book, every ebook, every audiobook set up this year - Awesome. If it take the next 5 years...that's probably more realistic.

How do you plan for the new year?

We have friends who wait on God for a word for the year. I think it’s a good idea. I’ve tried it for a few years, but I’ve never really got a word I was really excited to embrace. “Long suffering” “tenacity”. I mean the weren’t bad, just not “Let’s do up shareable image good”.

So this year I started to look for blessings. I figured if I could find out what God wants to bless and just go along with that, it’s going to be a whole lot better. And I found a good one.

I found a blessing that I pray for myself and everyone for 2020. It's in 2 Thessalonians. As I studied the context for it I actually found 3 other blessings in that letter that are all an incredible glimpse at God's will for us in the year to come.

It's more important to me that I please God in the day-to-day of everyday than I check off a to-list - even if checking off a to-do list is fun.

So I look for how God wants to bless me, and I line myself up for that blessing.

4 Blessings in 2 Thessalonians that help us to plan for the new year

So let's look at all 4 blessing in 2 Thessalonians. I'm going to read them out...because they are good. Then I'll unpack the verses they come from and see the challenges they have for us today. Then I'll read them again and we can reflect on them as we worship.

May God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call and may he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

May our Lord and our Father comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.

4 Blessings 2 Thessalonians and what it means for us to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

Background of book - In Acts 17 Paul was in Thessalonica and we see the start of the church. Those that didn’t accept his message started a riot and Paul and his companions had to move on to Berea.

Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica because he heard they were still going through troubles. Timothy had returned to Paul in Athens with news of the church and it was suffering persecution.

Paul wrote them to encourage them that Jesus could return at any time, so keep on doing good. Then about 6 months later he had to write them another letter because what he wrote the first time, people began teaching that it already happened... and they missed it.

This is probably my brother - Pastor Shawn's - story to tell, but growing up at church a Christian movie meant it was a movie like "Thief in the night" - remember that movie from the 70's when the rapture took place and everyone who missed it had to figured out what happened and what to do? After one of those movies one Sunday night we all went to someone's house for snacks. Except Shawn fell was asleep under a pew and woke up to an empty church.

The same thing happened in Thessalonica. Not the cheesy 70's movie, but the thought that Jesus had already returned and they missed it.

It's into this atmosphere that Paul wrote his second letter. And he includes 4 incredible blessings that help us keep in step with His leading in the heart to come.

1. May God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call and may he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 2 Thessalonians 1:11

May God enable you to live the life worthy...

Paul tells the the Philippians that we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) then goes on to tell us to live up to what we've already attained (Philippians 3:16). Peter tells us we have been given everything we need for living a godly life (2 Peter 1:3) but we need to do what we can to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:5)

What I’m trying to point out is this… God enables you to live a life worthy

See 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3

God's will for you is holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

He enables you to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3)

How awesome is that?

Yes, I have to do work to make it work But I need to learn to struggle with all His power that’s in work in me. (Colossians 1:29)

How’s that for a goal for 2020? It's a great way to plan for the new year to do everything with His power that at work in us.

Will you plan for the new year to work with God’s power that’s at work in you?

May God enable you to live the life worthy…of His call.

Remember Thessalonians problem...this is not "dream it and achieve it" theology. It’s not “the call on my life.”

This is "becoming more like Jesus in spite of (or because of) any of the troubles you find yourself in.

What is his call?

He has called us…

Servant (Romans 6:22)

Friend (John 15:14)

Child (Romans 8:14)

In one sense it is a progression,

You can’t be a friend before your a servant,

you won’t a child before you’re a friend.

in another sense you can’t leave one and move on to the other. Let me explain....

A servant obeys (Colossians 3:22). You are called a friend because you have obeyed (John 15:14) When you obey you abide with Jesus (John 15:10). As you abide with Jesus you keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25). All who keep in step with the Spirit are children of God (Romans 8:14)

So your calling of servant, friend and child means you need to

Obey, Abide and; Keep in step with the Spirit.

Will you be a servant, a friend and a child in the new year? Will you obey, abide and keep in step with the Spirit?

May God enable you to live the life worthy of His call.…May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

We’ve already talked about his power at work within us and that we have everything we need to live a godly life.

Can you do good things not prompted by faith?

Anything not done in faith is sin (Romans 14:23)

I know I can do good things and my motivation can make it sin. And yet I can have His power to accomplish all the good things I do that are prompted by my faith.

What I mean by that is is my motivation for everything I do needs to be that I'm seeking His kingdom - righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:7).

Am I doing what I’m doing to see His Kingdom here on earth?

If I am, I am walking by faith because faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).

2 Questions you can ask yourself to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

1. Am I living a life worthy of his call?
2. Are the good things I’m doing prompted by faith?

These are two of the questions that should help you make a plan for the new year. Let’s look at what else we can ask ourselves.

2. May our Lord and our Father comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17

…May our Lord and our Father comfort you

Why need comfort in doing good?

Doing good can lead to scary places. Thessalonians had outside persecution. The time is soon coming when more good will be called evil and more evil will be called good and you and I will need to decide “Do we do good or do we avoid conflict?”

Some of you may have already experienced it. You’ve learned to not talk politics or religion. I don’t care about politics, but you do need to be active in sharing your faith.

God has given you eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. He will comfort you in every good thing you do and say….every good thing your faith prompts you to do or say.

God is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

God comforts us in every good thing we say and do so we can comfort others.

Are you accepting God’s comfort in your life?

May our Lord and our Father comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

Why do we need to be strengthened in every good thing?

We can go weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9)

We’re told if we need strength we trust in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)

Isaiah 40:28-31

Trusting in the Lord is active, not passive. It involves your whole heart. We’ll talk more about this in in a moment. You need to make the decision to trust. You need to do the action to show you trust and you need need to feel something - I’ll talk about this more a little later on - trusting God you feel peace.

1 more question you can ask yourself to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

3. Will you accept God’s comfort and strengthening in the coming year?

I don’t know what the year holds for you and for me…but I know I’ll need his comfort and I know I’ll need his strengthening.

3. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God…

What is your heart?

Your heart is the seat of your emotion, the seat of your decision, the seat of your action

If your heart is going to be led to a full understanding and expression of the love of God you need to make the decision, feel the motion and respond to the love God has for you.

Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT)

Trusting God with heart…experiencing the love of God - so make the decision to respond to the love of God.

4 ways to respond to the love of God.

1. Know how to show you love God… Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27, Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:25, Matthew 6:24,Luke 16:13, 1 John 2:15, John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23, John 15:10, 1 John 4:18-22, 1 John 2:3-5, 1 John 3:10 , 1 John 3:23, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 1:6 , Hebrews 6:10, 1 John 3:11,17-18, Matthew 25:32-40, Matthew 6:33, James 1:12

2. Know how to love… 1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 5:6, Colossians 3: 17, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 8:7-8, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 5:1, Philippians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:10, Jude 1:21, Colossians 3:14-15, Philippians 2:1, Colossians 1:5, Colossians 3:12

3. Know how to love other people… Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, 1 John 4:10-11; 2 John 1:5 , 1 John 4:19-20, Romans 12:9-10, Romans 12:13, Matthew 18:35, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 13:5, John 17:23, 1 John 4:18, 1 Peter 4:8 , Romans 13:8

4. Live unoffendable… 1 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Luke 7:23, Colossians 3:13-14, Galatians 5:25, Romans 12:19, Romans 12:20, Luke 6:28, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 5:39, Matthew 5:45, John 13:35

…and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Whatever this year holds, we all need to grow in the patient endurance that comes from Christ. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Patience makes us more like Jesus.

2 more question you can ask yourself to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

4. Will you grow in patience this year?

5. Will you grow in your experience of God’s love?

How are you plans for the new year going to allow you do that?

4. May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace

Peace comes from trust

Isaiah 26:3-4

Our role is to trust and we need to trust him with our whole heart (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You get this right? God wants to empower you. He wants you to walk by faith. He wants you to do good things. He wants to comfort and strengthen you as you do good things.He wants you to know more and more about His love and grow in patience and He wants you to have His peace no matter what the future the holds.

What an awesome God. What incredible plans he has for us.

1 more question you can ask yourself to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

6. Will I trust Him and have His peace?

Here again are the 4 blessings in 2 Thessalonians:

May God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

May our Lord and our Father comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.

Here are the 6 questions you can ask yourself to help plan for the new year under God’s blessing

1. Am I living a life worthy of his call?

2. Are the good things I’m doing prompted by faith?

3. Will I accept God’s comfort and strengthening in the coming year?

4. Will I grow in patience this year?

5. Will I grow in my experience of God’s love?

6. Will I trust Him and have His peace?

Have a blessed #newyear and #liveLIGHT !

The Spoken Version of this Message

Here's how I shared this message with Kingdom Way Church on December 29, 2019

Why it’s essential you live intentional fearlessly

It is essential you live intentional. What does that mean in the Live LIGHT Manifesto? To live intentional means we intentionally live like Jesus. We only do what we see the Father do. We only say what we hear the Father say. Here’s some tips how to do that.

I Live Intentional fearlessly.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:18

To live intentional fearlessly, we look at what John wrote about perfect love. In context perfect love is complete love.

Perfect love is complete

I need to take the love I’ve received and give it to others for it to cast out fear. It’s only love that’s been given away that casts out fear.

What are you doing pertaining to the issue of fear?

This scripture compels us to serve some body. Stop waiting for another conference or prophetic word or for another stroking of your ego.

At some point we need to stop being impressed with the size of our problem And our deliverance begins when we’re no longer so impressed with the size of our problem that we can actually serve someone

Love has to become practical

Jesus said, come to me all who are weary and I'll give you rest.

If you ever leave prayer and are not refreshed you’ve likely been complaining and not praying.

The whole point of praying is that he takes your heart and you're supposed to gets his. It’s the exchange.

So what does perfect love has with us wanting to live intentional?

To live intentional, we what to be as much like Jesus as we can. He only said what he heard the Father say and only did what he saw the Father do. It’s the same thing that happens with perfect love.

The love I see in the Father, encourages me so I can encourage others to see the love the Father has for them.

I’m keeping in step with the Spirit. Paul says all who do that are children of God.

And perfect love casts out all fear.

Do you live intentional fearlessly?

Awesome!

Do you want to more often live intentional fearlessly?

Coaching can help https://revtrev.com/coaching

Do you want to learn how to live loved radically?

Live loved radically. In this next section of the Live LIGHT Manifesto you'll learn what it means to live loved and how you can live loved in the day to day of your everyday.

I Live Loved radically.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

What does it mean to live like this?

5 Steps To live loved

1. Know you’re loved by God… John 16:27, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:1; 4:10;19, Revelation 1:5, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:35-39, 1 John 4:7-8;16, Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19

2. Know how to show you love God… Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27, Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:25, Matthew 6:24,Luke 16:13, 1 John 2:15, John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23, John 15:10, 1 John 4:18-22, 1 John 2:3-5, 1 John 3:10 , 1 John 3:23, 1 John 5:2-3, 2 John 1:6 , Hebrews 6:10, 1 John 3:11,17-18, Matthew 25:32-40, Matthew 6:33, James 1:12

3. Know how to love… 1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 5:6, Colossians 3: 17, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 8:7-8, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 5:1, Philippians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:10, Jude 1:21, Colossians 3:14-15, Philippians 2:1, Colossians 1:5, Colossians 3:12

4. Know how to love other people… Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8, 1 John 4:10-11; 2 John 1:5 , 1 John 4:19-20, Romans 12:9-10, Romans 12:13, Matthew 18:35, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 13:5, John 17:23, 1 John 4:18, 1 Peter 4:8 , Romans 13:8

5. Live unoffendable… 1 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Luke 7:23, Colossians 3:13-14, Galatians 5:25, Romans 12:19, Romans 12:20, Luke 6:28, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 5:39, Matthew 5:45, John 13:35

Do you live loved?

You are loved. Live loved. Have fun storming the castle.

Do you need help to live out love in this way? Check out my coaching options https://revtrev.com/coaching

Do you choose to Live LIGHT?

Did you know to Live LIGHT is choice? It’s a daily choice, an hourly choice, sometimes a minute by minute choice. In this next section of the Live LIGHT Manifesto we look at how we live because of what we know and what we know Jesus told us about how we should live.

I choose to live LIGHT. I choose to Live Loved, knowing nothing can separate me from His love. Jesus said, “Make yourselves at home in my love.”  I choose to Live Intentional, the way Jesus only said and did what came from the Father. Jesus said, “I only do what I see the Father doing.” I choose to Live Generous, the way God lives towards everyone. Jesus said, “Give away your life.” I choose to Live Hopeful, knowing I can trust my good Father. Jesus said, “Don’t get lost in despair…” I choose to Live Today, knowing faithfulness to God is multiplication. Jesus said, “As you go...”

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:15-16

We love each other  because he loved us first. 1 John 4:19

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. John 15:9

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17

I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. John 12:49

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:17

In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. Matthew 5:45

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. John 14:1

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.  He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.  The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.  But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.  “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.  The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.  I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,  why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:7-8

I know the plan when I started to explain the Live LIGHT Manifesto was to unpack the Bible truths behind each statement. But I wanted to keep these posts to 30 for marketing purposes and this next set of statements is chock-o-block full of so much to say.

• To Live LIGHT I Live Loved - knowing nothing can separate me from His love
• To Live LIGHT I Live Intentional - the way Jesus only said and did what came from the Father
• To Live LIGHT I Live Generous - the way God lives towards everyone
• To Live LIGHT I Live Hopeful - knowing I can trust my good Father
• To Live LIGHT I Live Today - knowing faithfulness to God is multiplication

We’ll be unpacking more about all those in the posts to come. For now let’s do an overview of what’s in the manifesto.

Live LIGHT - I Live Loved - knowing nothing can separate me from His love

We love because he first loved us. Perfect love is love we get from the Father and share to others to point them to the Father. Nothing can separate us from His love so we love.

Live LIGHT - I Live Intentional - the way Jesus only said and did what came from the Father

We can’t be intentional about things that God doesn’t want us to be intentional about. Jesus showed us how we can live, only doing and saying what we get from God. It’s a challenge, but that’s why we need to be intentional.

Live LIGHT - I Live Generous - the way God lives towards everyone

God is generous in sending rain to the righteous and the unrighteous. Our generosity springs from God and is amplified by forgiveness. We can’t hold on to unforgiveness and have open hearts to be as generous and joyful.

Live LIGHT - I Live Hopeful - knowing I can trust my good Father

Hope comes from trust and trust comes from knowing a trustworthy God. We can survive without food and water for a time, we can’t survive without hope for that long.

Live LIGHT - I Live Today - knowing faithfulness to God is multiplication

To live today we need to mindful in the moment to what God wants to do. It’s understanding also that faithfulness to God is multiplication.

I guess I can say, "Welcome to Live LIGHT." There’s not much more hidden, although there is so much more to delve into. Read more about the Manifesto https://revtrev.com/manifesto and find out if one of my coaching options can help you live LIGHT. https://revtrev.com/coaching

Learn how to be interrupted and not get offended

Learn how to be interrupted and not get offended. Jesus was able to be interrupted and since you're following him, you should be able to be interrupted too. In this section of the Live LIGHT Manifesto we'll look at how you can do that.

I choose to be interruptible.

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”  When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48 

8 times Jesus was interrupted in the first 4 chapters of the gospel of Mark.

1. While praying Mark 1:35-39
2. While traveling Mark 1:40-45
3. While teaching Mark 2:1-12
4. While on his way Mark 2:13-17
5. While He worshipped with others Mark 3:1-5
6. While He withdrew Mark 3:7-12
7. While He tried to eat Mark 3:20-29
8. While He slept Mark 4:35-41

Miracles happen in the moments.

Can we live a life with those kinds of interruptions?

My best story of being interrupted to date has to be this one. When our kids were little, we attended a church that met downtown. One day I let Karen and the kids out and went to park the car. On the way back I saw someone stumbling towards me.

I thought I had two options. I knew he was going to ask for change. My options were simple, I thought, I could not give him anything and feel good that I wasn’t supporting a destructive lifestyle or I could give him the change in my pocket and feel benevolent for a few minutes. Unfortunately God interrupted me.

Give him something better

I felt him tell me, “Give him something better.”

I didn’t know what that better was, so I started a conversation with him. It wasn’t long before he was insisting I give him something, “But God told me to give you something better.” And I still didn’t have a clue what that could be.

“God doesn’t want me to have money?” He shouted. “No, that’s not what I said, God wants me to give you something better than money.”

He still had a fist in his hand when I started asking questions. I had to know what I could give him. “Don’t you have family?”

Don't you have family?

“My brother and my mother don’t want anything to do with me.”

“But you have kids, don’t you.”

“I don’t have any kids.”

“But you’re a father, aren’t you? You take care of the kids you know on the street. You make sure they’re warm and safe and you give them what you have. You share what you have with them. That’s what God loves about you. You’re a father to the ones who don’t have a father and you’re showing them love like God would.”

His fist went to a hug. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me, let me by you coffee!”

I told him I had to let my family know I was alive and he didn’t want to come to church with me. When I got back to the street after I had checked in, he was already gone.

Miracles happen in the moment.

Not being bothered or upset when you’re interrupted is a worthy goal for all of us to have. It means God has rights to our agenda and we’re attentive to what He wants to do in the moment.

Do you believe what I’m writing? Do you want to not be bothered when your life is interrupted?

I can help you with coaching. Check out what I am currently offering for coaching here https://revtrev.com/coaching

Do you want to be interruptible?

I want you to want to be interruptible. Then I want you to live this radical lifestyle of being interrupted and looking for the miracle.

#LiveLIGHT

Do you know the rhythm of Jesus?

Do you know the rhythm of Jesus? Do you know the rhythm he followed that will help you Live LIGHT? In this next section of the Live LIGHT Manifesto we look at some important ones and how we can practically live them out.

I follow His rhythms of abiding, margin, pause and rest

But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases.  But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.  One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Luke 5:15-17

and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!”  For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.  Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. John 7:3-6

 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).  But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”  When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41

“Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”” Mark 2:27-28

Rhythm of abiding

Jesus had a rhythm of being alone with God and then bringing more of God to the people.

• He was alone with God then brought great teaching Luke 4:1-15
• He was alone with God then healed people Luke 5:15-17
• He was alone with God then drove out demons Mark 1:35-39 
• He was alone with God then did all three and choose his apostles Luke 6:12-19 

Nine times Mark gives examples of Jesus going on spiritual retreat either alone with the Father or joined by his disciples. (Mark 1:9-13, 1:35, 1:45, 3:13, 6:30-32, 6:45-46, 9:2-13, 14:12-31, 14:32-42)

It’s the rhythm of abiding. It was a rhythm of with and a rhythm of out, listen and do, hear and obey, With the father, do the Father’s will. Be in His presence, flow in His power. Time alone and time with others. Time in prayer and time with presence.

Jesus used disciplines of self-denial like solitude and silence, fasting, Sabbath, and submission. And he used disciplines for connecting like meditation on Scripture, fellowship, worship, praying the Psalms, and service. 

It starts with our connection with God and flows into everything else we do. We’re not meant to do it the other way around. Yes, it’s a constant ebb and flow but I find most of us in the Christian world get focussed on the doing and we forget we’re human beings.

You have a rhythm of abiding.

We need to be with the Father to calibrate to His heart and get directions. Being sent out from the Father to heal and liberate the world.

It’s the rhythm of abiding.

Being with, being sent out was Jesus’ own rhythm of abiding.

I’m not setting up a false dichotomy. Recognize that God is alway with us. It’s a matter of “when are we with Him?” When are we aware of His presence? How do we best connect with the divine?

He taught his disciples to do it (Luke 9:1-10) and told them to teach others everything he taught them.

The rhythm of abiding is for all of us.

How do you practice it?

Do you meet together with others regularly?

Do you have alone time with God?

How has it looked like in different seasons in your life?

Tell us in comments.

If you need help to practice the rhythm of abiding, check out what I offer for coaching https://revtrev.com/coaching

The Rhythm of Margin

Can I ask you to consider Jesus?

Jesus had enough minutes every day. He wasn’t rushed (John 11:6) or influenced by other people’s schedules (John 7:3-6). He was never in a hurry and showed compassion with people’s intrusions (Mark 10:49). He took time with the Father (Mark 1:35) and time to recreate (John 2:2). He took time for meals, even after He died and rose again (John 21:13). He accomplished the work He was given to do (John 17:4).

Let’s talk about how we can live like that. It’s found in the practice the rhythm of margin.

There is a tool for the benedictine order of monks called Statio.

Statio

“If I am present to this child before I dress her, then the dressing becomes an act of creation. If I am present to my spouse in the living room, then marriage becomes an act of divine communion. If I am present to the flower before I cut it, then life becomes precious. If I am present to the time of prayer before I pray, then prayer becomes the juncture of the human with the Divine. We have learned well in our time to go through life nonstop. Now it is time to learn to collect ourselves from time to time so that God can touch us in the most hectic of moments. The practice of statio is meant to center us and make us conscious of what we’re about to do and make us present to God who is present to us. Statio is the desire to do consciously what I might otherwise do mechanically. Statio is the virtue of presence.” Chittister, Joan. 1990. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 176-178.

Statio is a working out of Brother Lawrence’s “The Practice of the Presence of God”.

Satio is often meant to denote the moment between moments, or the pause between those times when you are doing things. You can think of it as a mini-transition. You already experience this several times a day, for example, when you are figuring out what to do next or when you take a momentary break to regroup. With statio you make the pause intentional. Rest in the now moment. Take a single mindful, desire-free breath and recognize that God is present HERE NOW.

The point of Statio and margin is to ruthlessly eliminate hurry and busyness from our lives.

How can we practice the rhythm of Statio?

Start each day with a prayer that helps you to be open to God’s blessings and purposes in your life.

In your home, as you enter shared space, pause to take a breath and be aware of how precious this space and the people are (or have been) to you and the gratitude you have for them.

Intentionally show up early to meeting and pick up times. Rest in the presence of God that is always with you.

With statio you make the pause intentional. Rest in the now moment. Take a single mindful, desire-free breath and recognize that now God is present.

When entering the different spaces in your day (workplace, a colleague’s office, a restaurant or place of business, school or places where people meet) pause and take a deliberate breath.

When returning home pause to take a breath. If you share your home with others, be a loving presence.

Challenge

How will you start practicing statio this week?

Will you live with the rhythm of margin?

Tell us in the comments or if you need help with implementing this in your life, check out what I offer in coaching https://revtrev.com/coaching

The Rhythm of Pause

I could have called this section “How to be interrupted without losing your sanity.”

I don’t want to. It’s a higher priority for me to be present with the person I’m with than to be known as someone who always pick up the phone.

But I do want to live more like Jesus. Have you ever read a Gospel and noticed that Jesus seemed to always be interrupted?

Miracles happen in the moments.

Never is Jesus ‘thrown’. He doesn't even lose His temper. But He uses each occasion as a golden opportunity for some priceless teaching or wonderful miracle.

How do we live the rhythm of pause?

This is beautiful. I’m not going to add anything more to you, but challenge you to make this part of the day-to-day of your everyday. I see three steps in the rhythm of pause. When you’re doing these three things interruptions won’t challenge your sanity.

Abiding

It’s recognizing the rhythm of time spent and time sent.

It’s repenting from the thought of God’s time and my time.

When you’re being interrupted on God’s time, you’re not losing anything. It’s easy to partner with Him.

Statio

It is recognizing God is everywhere present.

It’s repenting from the feeling of busyness as a lifestyle.

The best advice I’ve gotten as a pastor is to “walk slow”. Walking slow is a rhythm we should all embrace.

Selah

71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk the word Selah occurs. We’re not quite sure what it means, but it probably means, “Pause to reflect and pray.”

Selah is different from Statio. Statio we recognize God is present. Selah we respond to His presence.

“Father how do you want to be glorified?”

Prophecy is finding the gold in others.

Will you live the rhythm of pause?

Will you invite interruption as opportunity from God?

You need the rhythm of abiding, you need the rhythm of margin. You can’t give what you don’t have.

If you don’t create margin, you won’t be free to be interrupted.

The Rhythm of Rest

So which of the 10 commandments do you think most followers of Christ don’t apply to their lives?

I think it’s the Sabbath.

Will you respond to the fear of the Lord with a rhythm of rest?

Will you hide behind excuses?

Why do we think the Sabbath is not for us today?

• We don’t know why we should celebrate the Sabbath
• We don’t really know who should celebrate the Sabbath
• We don’t really know what a Sabbath is
• We don’t know how we can practically celebrate the Sabbath

We don’t know why we should celebrate the Sabbath

Did you notice Moses included the reason for the Sabbath in the command? -Exodus 20:8-11

It’s tied to creation. When something is tied to creation it’s important. When we see it in the law, history, wisdom literature, prophets, gospels and letters, and we see it live out in the early church, it is core theology. It’s something we should be willing to die for. If I had time I could trace Sabbath and rest through every part of Scripture and the early church.

Why don’t we think it’s for us today? Why do we think it’s a suggestion not a commandment? I see three main reasons.

1. Jesus seems to have done a lot on the Sabbath. It was if he loved to heal on the Sabbath just to be controversial. Jesus even said…

“Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”” Mark 2:27-28 NLT

We can take that to mean we’re free from the Sabbath. But that wasn’t what Jesus was saying. Jesus was talking about rules created by man to obey the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a gift

“They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you.” Exodus 16:29 NLT

So Jesus wasn’t saying we’re free from rest, rather we’re free from the rules of man around rest.

The second reason I think we think the Sabbath is not for today is from what Paul said.

2. Paul said - some treat one day as special, some treat all days the same.

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Romans 14:5 (NIV)

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17

We can think we’re free to not have a day of rest. What if Paul meant some people treat every day as holy and not just one? That makes better sense since we can’t see every day as secular.

These Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God. Sabbath-keeping is an issue on which God’s Word instructs us not to judge each other. Sabbath-keeping is a matter about which each Christian needs to be fully convinced in his/her own mind.

3. I think we don’t obey the command because most of us really don’t believe we reap what we sow.

Look at what happened in the land of Israel. They were told after every 6 years to give their land and animals a rest Exodus 23:10-12. There is no historical evidence it ever happened. In fact the only evidence we have is that the land never had a Sabbath rest.

As someone who had to at least a year to recover from a heart attack I’m telling you… take the sabbath before the sabbath takes you.

We don’t really know who should celebrate the Sabbath

It’s for all of us. If you want a good book to read on it check out Shelly Miller “Rhythms of Rest”.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

Will you learn the rhythm of rest?

We don’t really know what a Sabbath is

What some of us think a Sabbath is: doing nothing, obeying rules, not doing anything fun. Others may think it is laziness or slacking off or leisure.

Mark Buchanan in his book The Rest of God writes:

One of the largest obstacles to true Sabbath-keeping is leisure…Leisure is what Sabbath becomes when we no longer know how to sanctify time. Leisure is Sabbath bereft of the sacred. It is a vacation - literally, a vacating, an evacuation. As Rybczynski sees it, leisure has become despotic in our age, enslaving us and exhausting us, demanding from us more than it gives. Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God p. 35

The Sabbath is not leisure.

What the Bible says the Sabbath is…

• Delighting ourself in God (Isaiah 58:14)
• Worship (Deuteronomy 5:12-14)
• Rest (Hebrews 4:9)
• Imitating God to remember we’re not God (Exodus 20:8-11)

Two orientations are needed for Sabbath-keeping - one is God focus. One is time focus

God focus requires gratitude. (Acts 16:16-30)

God focus requires trust. (Acts 4:23-31)

Time focus requires we are present. (Psalm 90:12)

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV

Kairos. Real time. God time. That time which breaks through chronos with a shock of joy, that time we do not recognize while we are experiencing it, but only afterwards, because kairos has nothing to do with chronological time. In kairos, we are completely unselfconscious, and yet paradoxically far more real than we can ever be when we are constantly checking our watches for chronological time. Madeleine L’Engle Walking on Water p.98

Time focus requires we give ourselves to God. (2 Corinthians 8:5)

They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Corinthians 8:5 (NIV)

Sabbath is a time to transition from human doings to human beings. Dr. Matthew Sleeth author of 24/6

Time focus requires we are curious. (Proverbs 25:2-3)

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.” Proverbs 25:2-3

If you keep the sabbath, you start to see creation not as somewhere to get away from your ordinary life, but a place to frame attentiveness to your life. Eugene Peterson, The Pastor

We don’t know how we can practically celebrate the Sabbath

To stop, rest, delight and contemplate God for a 24 hour period each week. Mark 2:27

Sabbath’s golden rule: Cease from what is necessary. Embrace that which gives life. Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God

Sabbath Attitude - rhythms of abiding, margin pause help in this

My rhythm -

An hour a day, to let God have His say.
A day each week, it's His voice that I seek.
Three days every quarter, to keep my steps in order.
Two weeks every year, to keep on drawing near.

This is my Sabbath rhythm. A Sabbath rest is to delight ourselves in God, it’s not for doing nothing. It’s different than our everyday rhythm and leaves space to connect with our Creator.

4 days out need to prepare.

Whatever day you choose to Sabbath, walk each of the four days beforehand toward a day of rest as the focal point so that preparing for Sabbath becomes the highest priority among a myriad of options. Shelley Miller Rhythms of Rest p.36

Spouses may need to celebrate on separate days.

Boundaries not rules.

What could your Sabbath look like?

Shelly Miller Rhythms of Rest, p. 150 “I tell them, whatever you do that doesn’t feel like work, that’s what you do on your Sabbath. It’s different for all of us.”

It means you’ll connect with God in the moments.

It means you’ll be present with your family and friends.

It means you’ll cease striving and be at peace.

It could be any day of the week that you can commit to it.

It may be in a gathered church, or fishing lake or golf course or deck chair, or mountain hike, or wherever you connect with your creator.

It will last for 24 hours. Jewish Sabbath begins in the evening, with sleep - a relinquishment, a self-abandonment: of control, of power, of consciousness, of identity. Yours can to if you want.

It will be something you come to look forward to.

Will you practice the Sabbath?

If you need help implementing this in your life, check out what I offer for coaching https://revtrev.com/coaching

Merry Christmas from the Lunds

Merry Christmas from my family to yours...and all the best in 2020.

Merry Christmas from the Lunds

May God enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Let's celebrate what John tells us about Christmas!

Have you ever celebrated what John tells us about Christmas? It's amazing!

Let's celebrate what John tells us about Christmas

Can you guess what my favourite Christmas account is?

Can you guess what my favourite Christmas story is?

Is it Matthew that tells us Jesus came as our King?

I love Matthew’s interest in how prophecy is fulfilled – I don’t understand it all, but I enjoy seeing how he saw prophecy fulfilled. But it’s not my favourite narrative.

Is it the lack of a story in Mark?

When I was a kid, Dad started a tradition of reading a Christmas narrative before we opened our presents. When we read from Luke it seemed like forever. Matthew was quicker, but lacked the angels in the field. I never could get Dad to read the Mark account, even though I’d ask him for it every year… I mean really, those gifts just don’t open themselves. I love remembering Jesus came with a purpose – He came to die, but the lack of an account in Mark is not my favourite account. Besides now I take some pleasure in making my kids wait to open their presents.

Is it the detail of Luke I so enjoy?

Luke is the classic account. It has so much detail and is so well written, it rolls of the tongue. I so appreciate knowing Jesus came for all, but it’s not my favourite account of the nativity.

So you guessed it.

Christmas according to John is my favourite account.

It puts the awe of the advent into me every year. I love reading it, reciting it, meditating on it. It’s powerful.

Where is it you ask? Well, here it is. I’m doing this from memory – I can’t remember how far it goes, but it starts with John 1:1:

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God – He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made, without him nothing has been made. In him was life and his life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not understood it. There was one sent from God his name was John, he came a witness to the light to testify so that all men might believe. He himself was not the light, he came as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came into his own and his own did not receive him. Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God. Children not born of natural descent or human wisdom or a husband’s will… but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling with us…

There it is: “The Word became flesh and (literally) camped out for a while.” Remember I said Matthew puts the birth of Jesus in Jewish history and Luke puts the birth of Jesus in World history and Mark puts Jesus in Soteriological History?

John puts the birth of Jesus in Cosmic history.

The One who spoke and the 400 million stars of this galaxy were formed and 400 million galaxies of this Universe came into being – the one who sustains the spin of an electron around a proton and makes the dark matter we’re only speculating about keep the universe together… took on flesh and camped out for a while.

Yes, Jesus came as our King. He came to die in our place. He came for all. But the thing that continually puts me in awe of Christmas is HE CAME. Immanuel – “God With Us” stripped himself of his omnipresence and omniscience and came as a helpless baby in a manger.

I don’t understand. I can only see the edges of this picture. But I appreciate it and I’m in awe of it.

Christmas According to John is GOD came.

And shouldn’t we always have that sense of awe when we consider the greatness and love of our great and loving God?

The real meaning of Christmas that John tell us is the GOD CAME.

Take time in the busyness of this season to reflect on that. May you have the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know the hope to which you’ve been called and have the incomparably great power for all who believe.

Why not use this season to start decide to live LIGHT? What are you wanting for? Let me know right now. I'd so enjoy calling you both my friend and Lighterati. If it works for me to coach you too, that would be amazing!

God Came...and that makes all the difference in the world for us.

My Goal is to live LIGHT and help you live LIGHT as well.

Have a very #MerryChristmas! #LiveLIGHT

Can Mark tell us anything about Christmas?

Mark - can it tell us anything about Christmas?

I wonder how many people came to this section with no idea that Mark says nothing about Christmas. I’m sure I snagged a few theologians who think I’m either unschooled or a heretic and are reading to find which it is.

Christmas According to Mark

If Luke places Jesus in world history and Matthew places Jesus in Jewish history, we can say Mark places God in Soteriological History. Don’t worry that’s just a big word for “salvation”.

Mark’s conspicuous absence of a nativity account speaks volumes to us and that’s what I want us to consider.

Why would Mark leave Christmas out?

Why would Mark leave Christmas out?

Why would Mark – that in many ways is so close to its synoptic brothers (Matthew and Luke) – leave out any mention of the coming of Jesus as a baby?

The book starts with a quick mention of John the Baptist and then right into Jesus’ baptism and ministry.

He doesn’t seem to care about the prophecies Jesus fulfilled like Matthew.

He certainly doesn’t care to put Jesus into Jewish or World history.

Some describe Mark a a passion with a longer introduction. Before I explain that, let’s take a look at a few things about this book.

History of Mark

Since the earliest times it’s been held that Mark, while a witness to the events of Jesus’ life, was the scribe for Peter.

Remember Peter was the one to jump onto the waves. He was the one to run into the tomb when John stopped at the entrance. He was the one to speak up when the rest of the disciples were quite.

Peter was the impetuous one.

Look at how Young’s Literal Translation renders three verses in Mark 1:

And the fame of him went forth immediately to all the region, round about, of Galilee. And immediately, having come forth out of the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John, and the mother-in-law of Simon was lying fevered, and immediately they tell him about her, and having come near, he raised her up, having laid hold of her hand, and the fever left her immediately, and she was ministering to them. Mark 1:28-31 Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

42 times in 16 chapter (and these are just the ones that make it into English) the word “immediately” is used in the book.

Everything is focussed on the one event.

Everything in Mark is focussed on the one event. Everything rushes towards the reason Jesus came.

Mark is so focussed on the passion of Christ – His death on the cross – that he doesn’t have time to waste on Jesus‘ birth.

And that’s something we can never forget in the Christmas season.

Yes, Jesus came as a baby and we celebrate his birthday on the only day early Christians could celebrate together as slave and free – the pagan holiday of Saturnalius – but we should never forget Jesus came to this world to die.

Christmas without the cross is no better than a pagan holiday.

And everything changed at the cross.

• Guilt was removed (Justification). Romans 3:23-24
• The price of sin was paid (Redemption). Romans 3:25
• Our sins were washed (Propitiation). 1 Corinthians 6:11
• We were made friends again with God (Reconciliation). 2 Corinthians 5:19
• We are no longer fallen (Identification). Ephesians 2:4-6
• Satan’s Rule Was Ended (Reclamation). Colossians 2:15
• The curse of the law was canceled (Expiation). Galatians 3:13

Everything changed at the cross.

The real, real, real meaning of Christmas that Mark tells us is that Jesus came to die.

So how do you respond to Jesus' invitation to become friends again with God? He's calling you to himself.

If you've already responded to His grace, he's calling you to a closer walk with him.

If you've decided to walk closer to God for either of reasons, I'd like to

1. Know about it
2. See if I can help you grow.

My Goal is to Live LIGHT and help YOU Live LIGHT too!

What can Matthew teach us about Christmas?

Matthew - the video explanation

This video was done in 2013

The background of Matthew

Matthew was written to Jewish believers, possibly Jewish people as an apologetic.

His genealogy places Jesus in Jewish history.

He continually points out how Jesus fulfills the prophecy for the Messiah – including, but not limited to the fact that the Messiah:

Prophecy about Messiah

• Would come from a descendant of Shem named Abraham ( Genesis 22:18; 12; 17; 22). Fulfilled: See Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1.
• Would be a descendant of Abraham’s son, Isaac, not Ishmael (Gen. 17; 21). Fulfilled: See Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1.
• Would be a descendant of Isaac’s son, Jacob, not Esau (Gen. 28; 35:10-12; Num. 24:17). Fulfilled: See Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1.
• Would be a descendant of Judah, not of the other eleven brothers of Jacob. Fulfilled: See Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1.
• Would be a descendant of the family of Jesse in the tribe of Benjamin (Isaiah 11:1-5). Fulfilled: See Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38.
• Would be of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 23:5; Psalm 89:3-4). Fulfilled: See Christ’s genealogy in Matthew 1; Luke 1:27, 32, 69. Note: Since the the Jewish genealogical records were destroyed in 70 A.D., along with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, it would not be possible for a Messiah impostor who was born later to prove his lineage back to David and thus fulfill this prophecy.
• Would be born in a small city called Bethlehem, specifically the one formerly known as Ephratah (Micah 5:2). Fulfilled: Matthew 2:4-6
• Would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Fulfilled: Matthew 1; Luke 1.
• Would come while the Temple of Jerusalem is standing ( Malachi 3:1; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 11:13; Haggai 2:7-9). Fulfilled: Matthew 21:12, etc.

Prophecies about Jesus' Life

• Will perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6). Fulfillment: See the Gospels
• Will open the eyes of the blind (Isa. 29:18). Fulfillment: Matt 9:27-31; 12:22; 20:29;
• Will speak in parables (Psalm 78:2). Fulfillment: Matthew 13:34, etc.
• Will have his way prepared by a messenger (a man of the wilderness) (Isa. 40:3; Malachi 3:1). See John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).
• Will be betrayed (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.
• Will be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10; 26:47-48.
• Will be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.
• The betrayal money will be cast onto the floor of the Temple (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.
• The betrayal money will be used to buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:6-10.
• Will not open his mouth to defend himself (Isaiah 53:7). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12.
• Will be beaten and spit upon (Isaiah 50:6). Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30.
• Will be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Fulfillment: Jesus was crucified as a criminal in between two thieves (Mat 27:38).
• Will be given vinegar and gall to drink (Psalm 69:21). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34, 48.
• Will be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Fulfillment: Matthew 27.
• Will be the Son of God (Psa. 2:7). Fulfilled: Matthew 3:17, etc.

What does Matthew teach us about Christmas?

If you want to learn more about Christmas check this out.

Jewish people around the time of Jesus were looking for a Messiah who would be King.

Their recent history proved that a dedicated resistance – with the help of God – could overthrow a world power and set up an earthly Kingdom.

This is exactly what happened during the inter-testmental period when Judas Maccabeus revolted against the Seleucid Empire. The Greeks had forbidden the practicing Jewish religion since 175 BC. Maccabeus was ultimately victorious, saw the miracle that is remembered in Hanukkah and forged an alliance with the emerging state of Rome to keep the theocracy free.

It happened once – not that long ago in the memory of an ancient people – and Lord willing it could happen again.

Genealogy

His genealogy ends with Joseph. He wrote about Joseph and the dreams God gave him. The father’s role of the Messiah was important to the early Jewish believers.

Angels

And Angels in dreams were more common to Jewish literature at the time. All the angels appear in dreams.

Matthew places Jesus in Jewish History.

The genealogy is Abraham to Jesus. He uses a hermeneutic lost on us today that made sense to the first century Jewish thinking.

His genealogy is 14-14-14.

We know it wasn’t that clean, but it made sense to first readers.

His prophecy on the Messiah being a Nazarene can’t be found in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Our best guess is he’s using the term for ‘branch’ in Isaiah 11:1 because it’s very similar in sound. Again, this is a perfectly legitimated understanding for first century listeners. Please don’t let it make you uncomfortable.

Matthew includes royalty.

The gifts the Magi brought were royal gifts. A start guided them – stars are symbols of royal action in our ancient past. By the way, they came to a house not the manger. We don’t know if they came later that night or later in time. We know King Herod killed all babies two years old and younger, so it might have taken them two years to arrive. If that was the case we don’t know if the star they followed reappeared or if it was always there to lead them to the baby.

Matthew reminds us that Jesus came as King.

What does this means to us? In our modern world, we don’t understand what a king was. We live in a recent concept of nation-states with various degrees of democracy or political influence.

Do you know there hardly a time in world history that there was a singular people gathered under rule? Even King David had Hittites and Ammonites as part of his mighty men. For most of world history, people gathered around men, not nationality.

It was the King who was responsible for provision, protection, identity, justice.

Jesus is King whether you acknowledge it or not. Will you follow Him as your king and trust Him for provision, protection, identity, justice?

The real real meaning of Christmas that Matthew tells us is Jesus came as King.

Will you make Jesus King of your life? I'd love to hear your story.

My goal is to help YOU live LIGHT