More on the birth of Jesus -- part 4
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In case you missed the point of the birth of Jesus in the first three gospels John let's us know, it was the word that was in the beginning. Look at Matthew's account, it shows how the Jews will be saved, look at Mark's account, it shows how those left behind will be saved, and look at Luke's account. In every case the word was in the beginning giving us a roadmap, prophesying about the what will happen, a word that connects us to God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
The word was not simply in the beginning, it was in the beginning with God. The beginning is the creation and the word was there with God, working together with God for this creation. We are looking at this account to compare the birth of Jesus with the rapture of the saints. In every case our salvation began with the word, and that word that we received began to work with God to bring us to a full salvation.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
You can look at a gifted member of the body, maybe they are receiving dreams and visions, maybe they are a prophet or they heal others or they are eloquent evangelists leading many to the Lord. In every case they were "made" into a gift for the body by the word of God. There is no shortcut. Growing up I had a negative impression of priests and I didn't have any interest at all in seminary. However, I was very interested in the Bible and read it voraciously.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
This is really big. I have seen many "watchmen" who are looking at the signs and current events seem to run out of gas. The word of God is filled with life and light. If you feel like you are running out of gas then you aren't spending enough time in the word.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
This is a really interesting word, "comprehendeth it not". It reveals a lot about the enemy. You may think the enemy ridicules, slanders and despises the word. But the reality is the enemy wants to lay hold of the word to make it his own. That is what this word means. The antichrist will be a counterfeit of the real Christ and so like any forger the evil one is looking at the word under intense magnification trying to copy it down to the finest detail and yet he can't.
Can we learn from this. Stop trying to use inferior tools to be transformed. The word of God is the best, most incredible gift we have. Now I am definitely referring to the Bible when I say the word of God but people need to realize, the Bible is a special form of the word of God. The Bible is a covenant, a testament. God made a legally binding document whereby we will inherit Jesus Christ, that is what the Bible is. This does not mean that God cannot speak in addition to this covenant. Three NT apostle's refer to the book of Enoch and quote it, so that means it is part of our covenant, it also tells you the entire book is the word of God (not the phony books of Enoch, those are Satanic attempts to deceive the elect). So then God can speak through prophets, dreams and visions. Still, like Peter said, the Bible is a "more sure word of prophecy". In this blog I have tried to demonstrate this. With my own posts I stick closely to the Bible, but I have shared links to many others who have had dreams, visions and prophecies given to them by the Lord.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
That was a very unique name, the man came from God and even the name came from God. It means "Jehovah is a gracious giver". Think about that, we saw that John comes at the beginning of the gospel of Mark to help those left behind, if it had been me or you we might be a little bitter that these believers had been asleep, faithless or not seeking the Lord with all their heart. Not God, He is a gracious giver, He sends them the help they need when they need it.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
How do we know if you believe? I was a teacher in High School, how do you know if the kids have learned what you taught? It is the same, if you have believed then you also will be a witness who bears witness of the light.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Isn't it incredible how prone we are to become arrogant. We share one little bit of light with others and all of a sudden we think that we are the light. That is the same temptation that brought Lucifer down. Don't fall for it. If you do then the word that the Lord spoke will come true: 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In case you missed the point of the birth of Jesus in the first three gospels John let's us know, it was the word that was in the beginning. Look at Matthew's account, it shows how the Jews will be saved, look at Mark's account, it shows how those left behind will be saved, and look at Luke's account. In every case the word was in the beginning giving us a roadmap, prophesying about the what will happen, a word that connects us to God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
The word was not simply in the beginning, it was in the beginning with God. The beginning is the creation and the word was there with God, working together with God for this creation. We are looking at this account to compare the birth of Jesus with the rapture of the saints. In every case our salvation began with the word, and that word that we received began to work with God to bring us to a full salvation.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
You can look at a gifted member of the body, maybe they are receiving dreams and visions, maybe they are a prophet or they heal others or they are eloquent evangelists leading many to the Lord. In every case they were "made" into a gift for the body by the word of God. There is no shortcut. Growing up I had a negative impression of priests and I didn't have any interest at all in seminary. However, I was very interested in the Bible and read it voraciously.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
This is really big. I have seen many "watchmen" who are looking at the signs and current events seem to run out of gas. The word of God is filled with life and light. If you feel like you are running out of gas then you aren't spending enough time in the word.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
This is a really interesting word, "comprehendeth it not". It reveals a lot about the enemy. You may think the enemy ridicules, slanders and despises the word. But the reality is the enemy wants to lay hold of the word to make it his own. That is what this word means. The antichrist will be a counterfeit of the real Christ and so like any forger the evil one is looking at the word under intense magnification trying to copy it down to the finest detail and yet he can't.
Can we learn from this. Stop trying to use inferior tools to be transformed. The word of God is the best, most incredible gift we have. Now I am definitely referring to the Bible when I say the word of God but people need to realize, the Bible is a special form of the word of God. The Bible is a covenant, a testament. God made a legally binding document whereby we will inherit Jesus Christ, that is what the Bible is. This does not mean that God cannot speak in addition to this covenant. Three NT apostle's refer to the book of Enoch and quote it, so that means it is part of our covenant, it also tells you the entire book is the word of God (not the phony books of Enoch, those are Satanic attempts to deceive the elect). So then God can speak through prophets, dreams and visions. Still, like Peter said, the Bible is a "more sure word of prophecy". In this blog I have tried to demonstrate this. With my own posts I stick closely to the Bible, but I have shared links to many others who have had dreams, visions and prophecies given to them by the Lord.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
That was a very unique name, the man came from God and even the name came from God. It means "Jehovah is a gracious giver". Think about that, we saw that John comes at the beginning of the gospel of Mark to help those left behind, if it had been me or you we might be a little bitter that these believers had been asleep, faithless or not seeking the Lord with all their heart. Not God, He is a gracious giver, He sends them the help they need when they need it.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
How do we know if you believe? I was a teacher in High School, how do you know if the kids have learned what you taught? It is the same, if you have believed then you also will be a witness who bears witness of the light.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Isn't it incredible how prone we are to become arrogant. We share one little bit of light with others and all of a sudden we think that we are the light. That is the same temptation that brought Lucifer down. Don't fall for it. If you do then the word that the Lord spoke will come true: 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.