Balaam's Prophesy: (cont) (1) ) God's people are HAPPY, most particularly because we belong to God and so are "out-of-reach" of any curse when we live in obedience (Deut 28:15)to God! (2) God's people are BLAMELESS and so haven't left a door for a curse to come on them. Evildoers are cursed (Prov 3:33). (3) God's people have PREVAILING STRENGTH, supernaturally so. This is to the extent that, as long as we persevere in faith and patience, we can't be overcome! We should impact the world around us, not the other way around. To trust in "the arm of the flesh" is trusting in ourselves or someone else, and will lead to failure (Jer 17:5). (4) The KINGDOM OF GOD, established and led by Almighty God, overrules and outlasts every other kingdom. This is because it is an alternative universe with its own culture, characterized by light, love and Life (Rom 14:17). The opposite is true of the "kingdoms of this world" (2Cor 14-15).
RESPONSE: Prov 26:2 says, "the curse causeless shall not come." When we are Christians, we must never live in unbelief or in unrepented sin (especially unforgiveness 1John 3:8; Eph 4:27) Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law, so we need to stay under His protection instead of exposing ourselves needlessly to trouble. We can lead forays into enemy territory to bring sinners out to the light, or to bring righteousness to an unrighteous situation without partaking of it. And remember to never, never, never, never despise those trapped in a curse. We are, above all, freedom fighters. We can be a "friend of sinners" as long as we guard our hearts, that is, we don't allow the darkness to penetrate and impact us. We are the happy, blameless, prevailing, children of Light! Act like it.
LUKE 2:1-35
Death and Taxes: Even in the Bible you can't get away from them! Thus arrangements were made for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. Hebrews 10:5 ways "Wherefore when He cometh into the world,..." The word "cometh" actually means "as He was coming" - and here are Jesus' thoughts as He came into the earth and into Mary's womb: (v.7) "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God." Submitted from the womb to the tomb. Born to die. Meeting of Angels and Shepherds: First one angel appeared to make an announcement, then he was joined by a WHOLE ARMY of angels marching across the sky, celebrating peace.
Simeon: The Old Testament prophet holds the new beginning in his arms.
RESPONSE: In the instant that Jesus transitioned from heaven to earth, He knew He would be the "acceptable sacrifice" to save all of creation from the Fall. I wonder if His thoughts reverted back to "baby thoughts" once He was born? I think they probably did, except that at age 12 He seemed to know Who He was. And those angels!!!! Imagine a whole army marching from horizon to horizon across the whole sky! And they were all speaking together about Jesus! It would be fantastic! And scary!
PSALMS 59:1-17
Saul sent messengers to kill David. While David tried to sleep, they shouted threats all night. Ever heard voices in the night? Oh, not real ones, but threatening nonetheless. Psa 59 describes them as threatening, bloodthirsty, subtle, unjust, hateful, like howling dogs, "belched out", like swords, proud. It is not poverty that makes people unhappy, but discontent.
PROVERBS 11:14
When one person rules by his own impulses with disregard for "wise council", everyone suffers. This has never been more true than today.
RESPONSE: I think Saul was smart to send messengers instead of soldiers to destroy David. That would probably work with most of us. That is why it is so important to bolter ourselves with Truth - lots of it. It's what saves me in the night.
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