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Nicodemus comes to see Jesus: John 3:1-4 John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus was a Pharisee- which means he was a deeply religious man, who scheduled prayer 7 times each day, he also visited the temple 3 times a day, and would include discussions on theology and perform charitable deeds on a regular basis.  Nicodemus was in the ruler of the Jews, a ruler of the people, in other words, a top man and a VIP. Some historians think that Nicodemus might have been part of the Ben Gurion family who were a wealthy and powerful family in Israel in those days. Nicodemus as a Pharisee would have known the Law and the Prophets' scriptures and would certainly have learned them by heart. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  v2 Might have been to avoid public scrutiny or might have been both men were busy during the day. Nicodemus calls Jesus rabbi meaning ‘professor’ or ‘teacher’ indicating that he was impressed with Jesus’ learning at a soulish level .   However, intelligence is soulish, and Nicodemus did not call Jesus Lord. When Nicodemus called Jesus Rabbi (a teacher from God) he had got it right thus far, for the many miracles Jesus did were a proof that he was messiah. The miracles of Jesus included those prophesied in the old testament for example from Isaiah 29:18-19 (deaf, blind healed etc.), and in Isaiah 35: 4- 6 (deaf ears opened, mute healed, and the lame leaping etc.). These miracles were prophesied some 700 years BC. Another miracle Jesus performed was to heal people with leprosy. Nicodemus would be aware that although the priests routinely diagnosed leprosy as in Leviticus 13, no one until Jesus had actually cured leprosy (see Leviticus 14). Modern medicine has only found a cure for leprosy in the last twenty years. When John the Baptist-heard of the works of Christ-he sent messengers to ask Jesus are you the expected Messiah…?  Jesus answered in a spiritual manner-quoting the miracles! Nicodemus wants to talk theology, but Jesus wants to talk spiritually to him (remember Nicodemus has only a dead spirit). v3 Jesus tells him, Amen, Amen, your spirit needs to be born again (regenerated or made alive) or you cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus’ dead spirit needed to be regenerated i.e. brought to life. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” v4 Nicodemus responds from his soul asking if Jesus meant a physical rebirth showing that Jesus’ words sounded crazy to him -he did not understand what Jesus was telling him. In Part 3 we continue to explore the fascinating dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3:5-8

The regeneration of the human spirit In our back-to-basics bible studies we have seen so far that two of the six stones in the barrier between God and man have been removed. The first two stones were 1. sin which was removed by redemption and atonement and 2. the penalty of sin was removed by Jesus, dying on behalf of all men. This is called expiation . It is useful for us to bear in mind that any one of the six stones would be enough to block man’s way through the barrier to God. Each and every stone has got to be removed by Jesus. Today we are going to consider the third stone in the barrier which is called physical birth. All people are born spiritually dead (we covered this in the study of the ‘Virgin birth.’ In Adam all die, Watchman Nee gives a good way of understanding this. If your father, or grandfather, or great grandfather had died as a child then you would never have been born. In a sense you would have died in your forebears who died as a child. In the same way we were all in Adam when he died spiritually and in the same way we were born spiritually dead. Adam doomed all humankind to spiritual death at birth. In our dead spiritual state, we cannot communicate with God. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. One of the main purposes of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to us all that God has prepared for the believers. Such things can only be discerned by our spirit not by the soul nor by the flesh. The natural (soulish) man (sometimes the soulish believer who wants to analyse be his mind) cannot receive the things of the Spirit. Speaking of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: As you know, His convicting work is to bring a sinner to a realisation that sin separates them from God, and that only through Christ can they receive forgiveness of sins and life-everlasting, for only by faith in Christ can an unrighteous sinner be declared righteous in the eyes of God. So we can conclude that the Holy Spirit has successfully preached the gospel to all believers. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit usually work together to bring people to salvation (we remind our outreach team (the John 3:7 ministry) of this. Asking them to always start the conversation with a passer by by quoting the scripture. Titus 3: 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit r egenerates  our dead spirit and makes it alive to God. This allows communication between God and the believer. We need to be born again to be able to hear what God is saying through his written and spoken word. A surprising number of people have been saved by reading God’s word especially John’s gospel. This shows the Holy Spirit and the Word of God working together to bring salvation. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 2 we discuss the famous conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus.

Understanding Joshua's Journey Today, we will explore the life of Joshua. A few weeks ago, we studied Nehemiah, another great man of God. Joshua stands alongside him as a remarkable figure. He embodies the qualities of a warrior: intelligence, decency, strength, and bravery. There is much we can learn from his life and leadership. Joshua: The Apprentice We first meet Joshua as Moses’ apprentice. He served faithfully as Moses’ assistant. Joshua did not seek his own ministry or try to make a name for himself. He was not the “look at me” type. Instead, he stood by Moses during some of the most challenging years of leadership. Moses led the Israelites, a group known for their complaints and rebellions. They were, frankly, a rabble. Eventually, leadership passed from Moses to Joshua. He became a judge of Israel and led the nation with distinction. Scripture records him as one of Israel’s great leaders. He was an accomplished military commander who achieved remarkable victories. Joshua also led the Israelites into the Promised Land, fulfilling God's promises to His people. The Call to Leadership It is interesting to note that although God promised the land to the Jews, He still required a strong leader to make it happen. That leader was Joshua. The Bible does not tell us about his height, social status, or appearance. Instead, it focuses on his heart, actions, and character — the kind of man he was. In Joshua 1:1, we see the beginning of his leadership: “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide…” This is his appointment. God Himself commissions Joshua and desires for him to succeed. Many of us have started new jobs and thought, “I have no idea how I am going to make a success of this. This is sink or swim.” But that was not Joshua’s experience. God provided him with clear, specific instructions for success. God’s Instructions for Success In Joshua 1:7–8, God speaks directly to him: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” God is unmistakably clear: Know the Word. Speak it. Meditate on it. Obey it completely. Do not drift to the right or to the left. Do not improvise your own version. Do it God’s way — and you will be successful. And Joshua was successful. Whether he was leading armies into battle or resolving disputes among the people, he succeeded because he followed God wholeheartedly. Key Episodes in Joshua’s Life Joshua never deviated from the Lord’s word. Because of his unwavering obedience, the Lord blessed everything he put his hand to. Let us examine a couple of key episodes in Joshua’s life — major moments that reveal the kind of man he truly was. Turn with me to Joshua 5:13–15 . At this point, Israel has crossed into the land of Canaan. Hostile tribes surround them — enemies sworn to destroy them. Reports have already come back that the inhabitants are large, strong, and capable warriors, and fear has begun to spread through the camp. Then something extraordinary happens: Jesus appears . I will explain how that is possible in a moment. Verse 13 states: “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’” The man replies, “Neither… but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Joshua immediately falls face down in reverence and asks, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander answers, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua obeys. The Encounter with the Commander Picture the scene: Joshua approaches a warrior with a drawn sword — and Joshua himself is armed. This could have gone either way. But notice something unusual: Joshua does not fall to the ground immediately. In Scripture, when people encounter angels, they often collapse in fear. That does not happen here. Why? Because this is not an angel. This is what theologians call a Christophany — an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Joshua falls in worship, and significantly, the commander does not correct him. In Revelation, when John falls before an angel, the angel immediately says, “Do not do that! I am a created being — worship God.” But here, the commander accepts Joshua’s worship and even declares the ground holy — the same language God used at the burning bush with Moses. This is the Son of God standing before Joshua. To reinforce this, look at John 18:4–6 . Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. A detachment of Roman soldiers — fully armed — comes to arrest Him. Jesus steps forward and asks, “Whom do you seek?” They answer, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replies, “I am he.” And at those words alone, Scripture says, “they drew back and fell to the ground.” Just like Joshua’s encounter — the presence of Jesus overwhelms them. Yet, despite being knocked flat by a single word, those same soldiers later arrest Him, torture Him, and crucify Him. What short memories they had. The Battle Plan for Jericho Now, back to Joshua. In Joshua 6:2 , the commander — now clearly identified as the Lord — gives Joshua his instructions. The scene is set: the children of Israel are commanded to enter Canaan and conduct God’s judgment on the inhabitants. The Israelites were fully prepared for battle. Forty thousand armed men stood ready to storm Jericho. They were equipped, trained, and eager to fight. But then Jesus — the Commander of the Lord’s army — gives Joshua a plan that no military strategist would ever devise. The Lord says to Joshua: “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse, and the army will go straight in.” The Bible does not tell us what went through Joshua’s mind — but you can imagine the moment. Forty thousand soldiers ready for war… and Joshua has to stand before them and say, “The battle’s off. We are going for a walk.” Yet God’s instructions were unmistakably clear. If we refer back to what God told Joshua at the very beginning — “Be strong and courageous… do not turn from My word to the right or to the left” — we see exactly what this moment required: courage. Not the courage to swing a sword, but the courage to obey God when His plan made no sense. Obedience Over Strategy Joshua had no wiggle room. If he wanted victory, he had to follow God’s command precisely. So Joshua relays the plan. For the next week, Israel marches around Jericho — unconventional tactics, minimal military engagement, and no opportunity for human pride. As Schofield notes, “Spiritual victories are won by means and upon principles utterly foolish and inadequate in the view of human wisdom.” And that is the point. When you face a battle in your own life — and it is a battle you have faced before — the world will offer advice. Friends, family, and professionals may all have opinions, and some may be helpful. But the One who will certainly be right is the Lord. Whatever your battle, He has a tactic. Imagine if the greatest struggle you are facing right now could be won simply by reading your Bible for twenty minutes a day and praying for ten. It sounds ridiculous — absolute nonsense to the world — but spiritually, it is true. God’s ways often look foolish until they work. The Miraculous Victory Israel did not take Jericho with swords. They marched, they shouted, and the priests blew their trumpets — and on the seventh day, the walls collapsed. Every stone fell. The city was completely exposed. Israel entered and conducted God’s judgment, sparing only Rahab and her family. It was a miracle. No one could take credit for it. The soldiers did not scale the walls. They did not batter the gates. They simply obeyed — and God acted. Joshua’s role was faithfulness. When God tells you to do something, do it, and He will work it for good. This entire episode — including the Christophany, the appearance of Jesus as the Commander of the Lord’s army — gives us profound insight into Joshua’s heart. He was a man who listened, obeyed, and refused to deviate from God’s word. Because of that, the Lord was able to use him mightily. Conclusion In conclusion, Joshua’s life teaches us invaluable lessons about leadership, faith, and obedience. His unwavering commitment to God’s word and his willingness to follow divine instructions, even when they seemed illogical, led to miraculous victories. As we reflect on Joshua’s journey, let us strive to embody the same qualities of faithfulness and courage in our own lives. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 2, the study of Joshua's life and leadership continues.

Galatians Chapter 5 – Christian Liberty and Life in the Spirit. Christian Liberty Opening Prayer Gracious Father, We thank You for this new day. We come in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, asking that Your Holy Spirit would guide us as we open the Bread of Life. Speak to our hearts, establish us in truth, and enable us to live out Your Word faithfully each day. We commit this teaching to You, for Your glory and our growth in grace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Introduction The Epistle to the Galatians stands as one of the clearest declarations of Christian liberty in all of Scripture. Written by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it confronts the danger of adding human works to the gospel of grace. The letter may be divided into three main sections: 1. Chapters 1–2: Paul’s apostolic authority and testimony 2. Chapters 3–4: Justification by faith alone 3. Chapters 5–6: Practical Christian living Galatians chapter 5 marks a decisive transition from doctrine to application. Having established that salvation is by grace through faith, Paul now teaches how believers are to live in that freedom—by walking in the Spirit. Galatians Chapter 5 (KJV) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased .I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Teaching Exposition 1. The Call to Stand Firm in Liberty (Galatians 5:1–6) Paul commands believers to “stand fast” in the freedom Christ has secured. This liberty is not political or personal autonomy, but freedom from the Law as a means of justification. To return to law-keeping for righteousness is to return to bondage. Circumcision, though once commanded under the Mosaic Covenant, cannot add to Christ’s finished work. To accept it as a requirement obliges a person to keep the entire Law, an impossible burden. True righteousness is received by faith and sustained by the Spirit. What God values is “faith which worketh by love.” 2. The Danger of False Teaching (Galatians 5:7–12) The Galatians had begun well but were hindered by persuasive false teaching. Paul warns that error spreads like leaven through dough. Doctrinal compromise never remains contained. The offence of the cross lies in its exclusivity. Salvation by grace alone leaves no room for human boasting, and this truth will always provoke opposition. 3. Liberty Expressed Through Love (Galatians 5:13–15) Christian liberty is not permission to indulge the flesh. Rather, it is freedom to serve others in love. Love fulfils the Law because it reflects God’s own character. Where love is absent, division and destruction follow. The church must guard against relational strife that undermines its witness. 4. Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16–18) To walk in the Spirit is to live under the Spirit’s control and guidance. This is the key to victory over sinful desires. The conflict between flesh and Spirit is ongoing, but believers are no longer slaves. Those led by the Spirit are not under the Law, because Christ has fulfilled the Law on their behalf. 5. The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19–26) Paul contrasts the visible works of the flesh with the beautiful fruit produced by the Spirit. The works of the flesh reflect self-centred living, while the fruit of the Spirit reflects Christ-like character. Believers who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh. Walking in the Spirit requires humility, self-denial, and continual dependence on God. Conclusion Galatians chapter 5 calls the believer to steadfast freedom, Spirit-led living, and love-filled service. This is not self-directed liberty, but joyful obedience empowered by grace. As we live in the Spirit, may we also walk in the Spirit, bringing glory to God and bearing fruit that remains. Amen Personal Prayer Links to teachings on how to walk in the Spirit are found below this post

Staff Blogger Steve C Green Lessons for the local church How to succeed We have looked at Joshua and how he handled difficult situations. But there is a message here for Encounter Church as well. We are a small church. Does that mean, in the natural, that the battle is already lost because our numbers are small? Absolutely not. That is not how God measures anything. That is not how His plans unfold. Things play out exactly as God says they will — not according to statistics, not according to demographics, and not according to what we can see with our eyes. Look across Bathgate and West Lothian today. Would you say everyone is living their best life? I do not think so. There are people who desperately need God. There are broken situations, hurting families, and lives that are crying out for hope. When we used to prayer‑walk Bathgate, we would stop outside nurseries and schools and pray: “Lord, protect every child in this building. Let each one know at least one person who will love them and keep them safe.”  Because that is a real need in our world. Outside the MP’s office we prayed: “Lord, if this MP will not do Your will or act for the good of the people, replace them with someone who will.” Walking past the bookies and pawn shops we prayed: “Lord, if these places are destroying lives and draining families, close them down.” And for every empty shop: “Lord, open this place again. Bring jobs. Bring life back into this town.” None of that was easy. But it was right. Let us return to God’s original promise to Joshua — Joshua 1:7–8 : Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the law. Do not turn from it to the right or the left. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips. Meditate on it day and night. Do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. As a church, we could make plans. We could form committees. We could organise strategies and give it our best effort. But that is not where the victory comes from. That is not how lives are restored. That is not how our town Bathgate is changed. Victory comes from knowing God’s Word and praying God’s will. Earlier we read Luke 4:18 — Jesus came to set prisoners free, to break chains, to bring freedom. It is not about us. It is about Him. Let me close with 2 Chronicles 7:14 : If my people, who are called by my name — that’s us — will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Imagine what it would mean for God to heal Bathgate and West Lothian. Lives put back together. Families restored. Communities transformed. Crime disappearing. Hope returning. Think of the Lewis Revival. When God moved on that island, everything changed. Police stations closed — no crime. Courts shut — no cases. Pubs emptied — people had no desire for them. Villages of two hundred people had to build a second church because the first could not hold the crowds. God made a difference in those lives. How would a social worker describe it? People slept well for the first time in years. Families reconciled. Friendships changed. People found energy, purpose, and joy again. When God moves, these are the signs you see. Amen Personal Prayer

Staff blogger Steve C Green Joshua and Caleb What God said, Joshua did — and things went very, very well for Israel. There is a clear lesson in that for us. But Scripture also gives us an example where Joshua did not do so well, and it is found in Joshua 9:3–14 . After the fall of Jericho, word spread quickly across the land. Every nation in Canaan was terrified. The Israelites were advancing, and no one could understand how Jericho — a fortified city — was not just defeated but completely wiped out. It was gone. Not captured. Not occupied. Gone. So fear grips the surrounding tribes. And in that fear, the people of Gibeon produce a plan — a ruse. They load their donkeys with worn‑out sacks and cracked wineskins. They put on patched sandals and old clothes. Their bread is dry and mouldy. They make themselves look like travellers from a far‑off land. Then they approach Joshua at Gilgal and say, “We have come from a distant country. Make a treaty with us.” The Israelites are suspicious: “You live near us. How can we make a treaty with you?” Joshua asks, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” They reply with a well‑crafted story: “We have come from a distant land because we have heard of the fame of the Lord your God — what He did in Egypt, what He did to the Amorite kings, to Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. Our elders told us to bring provisions and seek peace with you. Look — our bread was warm when we left home, but now it is dry and mouldy. Our wineskins were new, but now they are cracked.” Everything looks convincing. Everything sounds reasonable. But then comes the key line: “But they did not inquire of the Lord.” That is the whole issue. Joshua and the leaders were being played. These were not distant travellers — they were neighbours God had commanded Israel to destroy. Yet the Gibeonites convinced them to make a peace treaty. Joshua makes the treaty. The leaders ratify it by oath. And suddenly Joshua has a problem. God had commanded the destruction of the Hivites. But Joshua had sworn an oath to spare them. If he kills them, he breaks his oath — and Deuteronomy 23:21 makes it clear that breaking an oath is sin. If he lets them live, he disobeys God’s command and leaves an enemy on Israel’s doorstep. Joshua chooses to honour the oath. Scripture does not spell out his prayer, but it is reasonable to imagine him coming before God in repentance: “Lord, I have made a mistake. I acted without asking You. I will bear the consequences, and I will do better next time. But I will keep my word.” And God honours that humility. Joshua goes on to great success afterward. This moment becomes even more significant later in Israel’s history. Many years after Joshua, King Saul  breaks this very oath and slaughters the Gibeonites — and God judges Israel for it. That is how seriously God takes integrity and covenant‑keeping. Saul looked at the Gibeonites and thought, “I am not having this. I am not having these people living on our border.”  So he killed every one of them. And that act brought God’s judgment — three years of famine in Israel. The background to the oath did not matter. Once the covenant had been sworn, it was binding before the Lord. That is why Joshua did the right thing by honouring his oath, even though it had been made in error. Because he kept his word, God was able to fulfil His covenant with Joshua and continue making him prosperous and successful. Joshua honoured the Lord and His commandments, regardless of the personal cost and despite the inevitable criticism from the Israelites. And this pleased the Lord. Remember, Joshua was leading millions of people — people who were quick to complain, quick to judge, and quick to assume the worst. You can almost hear them: “He is getting weak, isn’t he? Ever since Jericho, that guy has been going downhill. I remember when he used to be brave — up for a fight. Now it is treaties, oaths, and diplomacy…” But Joshua was not weak. His strength was not in killing the Gibeonites. His strength was in obeying God — even when obedience made him look soft in the eyes of the people. That is real leadership. Let us look at another story that gives us insight into the kind of man Joshua was. We pick it up in Numbers 14:1 . The children of Israel have reached the edge of the Promised Land. They are in Canaan. Moses sends spies into the major towns: “Tell us what the land is like. How many fighting men are there? How strong are their armies? Is the land worth taking?” The spies return — and most of them are terrified. “You should see the size of them! They are huge. Their armies are powerful. We do not stand a chance.” But Caleb and Joshua come back with a different spirit. “Yes, they are big. Yes, they are strong. But if the Lord says we will win, then we will win. If the Lord says we can take the land, then we can take the land.” On the back of the negative reports, the people begin to panic. Numbers 14:1 says: “That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.”  They grumble against Moses and Aaron. They say, “If only we had died in Egypt!” Think about that. They were slaves in Egypt — whipped, beaten, abused — and yet they have the audacity to say, “It was better there than here.” They continue: “Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better to go back to Egypt?”  And then they say the unthinkable: “Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” There is so much going on in that paragraph. God had promised them victory every step of the way. He destroyed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. He split the sea so they could walk through it. He fed them with bread from heaven. But nothing was ever enough. You have heard the saying: “You’re only as good as your next miracle.”  The last miracle is forgotten the moment a new challenge appears. “Oh no, these big guys are coming. We are finished.” But the Lord never said that. And I think as Christians, we are all guilty of this at times. God does not bring us this far just to abandon us. Imagine someone going through a health battle. God heals them of cancer — but there are side effects. Do we think God will heal the cancer but leave the side effects untouched? Of course not. He does not bring us 90% of the way and then drop us. But the children of Israel forgot that. And often, so do we. And then the Israelites try to change the whole deal — the whole covenant. Suddenly they want a democracy. “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”  Where did that come from? These are God’s chosen people. Moses and Aaron are standing right in front of them. Only weeks earlier, they had followed a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God’s presence was visible. Tangible. Undeniable. And yet now they say, “No, no, no — we’re doing this our own way.” This is the beginning of the insurrection. It starts with the scouts who brought back the negative reports: “We cannot attack those people. They are stronger than we are.”  It was a complete collapse of faith. If you say God is your God — if you say He is the centre of your life — how can you forget everything He has done in an instant? As Christians, we believe Romans 8:28 — that God works through every aspect of our lives for good. That truth alone takes rebellion off the table. You cannot abandon Him. You cannot turn your back on Him. But the Israelites did. They began with quiet grumbling against Moses and Aaron, rejecting the Lord’s provision. Within minutes, it escalated into open rebellion: “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Realising the seriousness of this sin, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb fall face down and cry out for mercy: “Lord, do not judge them. They have made a mistake — please be gracious and compassionate.” Joshua tears his clothes in repentance. Then he stands up — in front of a mob of millions — and tries to reason with them. He reminds them of God’s faithfulness, His promises, His miracles. But the mob only grows more violent. They decide to stone them — to drag them out and beat them to death with rocks. And here we see Joshua’s character. He trusted God. He feared nothing. He knew the Lord was on his side. He knew that no matter what two million angry people shouted, God had promised to make Israel a great nation — and God keeps His promises. Joshua believed that with all his heart, and that belief gave him the courage to stand firm and make a difference. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 3 of this study we consider the relevance of this message to the local church.

The preparation of the Gospel of Peace (shoes) and the Shield of Faith Shoes and Shield 1.      Gospel of Peace (shoes)  Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Verse 15 says Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace refers to shoes (or boots). The Roman soldier had boots which were bound around his calf with leather thongs.  And the Roman legionaries were famous for the long distances they could march under pressure. And one of the great requirements of any soldier is to be mobile. And our mobility depends before mechanized transportation, on our feet. Soldiers in a battlefield area are usually ordered to sleep with their boots on because if there is an alarm in the middle of the night and they had to wake up in the dark and feel around for your boots! Soldiers in a battle must be mobile and available, So, what Paul is saying here is ‘Make sure that in a moment of crisis you have your shoes on’’. And this is what Paul is saying. Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  It has got to be done in advance. So what does that mean? It means two things. First of all, if we are to communicate the gospel, it requires advance preparation. We have to be acquainted out of Scripture with the basic facts of the gospel. Some believers who are saved and born again and members of churches are unable to explain the gospel. So the preparation is needed that we are equipped beforehand to explain to others what the gospel is. Then it says, “the gospel of peace.” There are two types of peace in the bible, first peace with God with followed by the peace of God. We receive peace with God at the point of our salvation and we then be to experience the peace of God in our lives. We can share the peace with God as we share the Gospel.   So, the shoes (or boots) are the preparation of the gospel of peace. 2.      Shield of Faith Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. In the Roman legions there were two kinds of shields. One was a small, round shield, the other was a long, oval shield. And the one that is referred to here is the long, oval shield which would protect every part of you from arrows and other missiles. And so, Paul talks here about a kind of faith that protects us totally. And we are going to need it because if we begin to minister for the Lord or challenge Satan, he is going to fight back.  And he will not only fight back at us personally, and our homes, our families, our business, and other areas of our lives. And we need a shield of faith that can cover ourselves, our family, our business, our car, whatever it may be. We need a total protection. And that is through faith and remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. In other words, we have got to take time in God’s Word to find out God’s provision. God does provide a total protection. It is there in His Word. But some of us do not have a complete shield. There may be areas of our lives which are unprotected.  We all know by now that when we are used by the Lord in any way, there usually is a backlash of the enemy who likes to step up the pressure on our family and life in general. And so Paul says very reasonably, “Take.  the shield of faith that will cover everything.” Please that we have to ‘take up’ each the shield. It does not drop.  into our hands. It does not grow. We have to lay hold upon it, grasp it. And it is true that the Roman soldier was trained to grasp the shield very firmly. It was strapped around his left arm. You have got to have it on your arm, firm and secure.  Amen Personal Prayer Next time in Part 4 we consider the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit.

A fresh look at the run up to the advent season Day 1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God John 1:1 2. I see Him but not now; I behold Him but not near. A Star shall come out of Jacob. A Sceptre shall rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah Genesis 49:10 3. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 12,13 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Messiah are fourteen generations. Matthew 1:16,17 4. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose going forth are from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2 5. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Malachi 4:5 6. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias…. His wife was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God…. But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and they were well advanced in years. While he was serving as priest before God in the Temple….. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him and when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him “Do not be afraid, for your prayer is heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John…. He will go before the Lord God in the spirit and power of Elijah. Lk 1:5- 17 7. Then he said “Hear now O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7;13,14. 8. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel said to her “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women”. But when she saw hi she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call His name Yeshua. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord Gord will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end”. Luke 1:26-33 9. Now the birth of Yeshua was as follows. After His other Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to in a dream, saying “Joseph, sons of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is ‘God with us’”. Matthew 1:18-23 10. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. Now Mary went into the hill country with haste to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:36, 39-41 11. Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. On the eighth day when they came to circumcise him and he would have called by the name of Zacharias his father, his mother said “he shall be called John”. But they said to her “there is no one among your relatives who is called by this name”. So they made signs to his father – what he would have him called, and he wrote, saying “his name is John”. 12. His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying “blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David. …….As He spoke by His holy prophets….. that we should be saved from our enemies…… to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham…… And you, child, will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways. Luke 1:68-76 13. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom. Isaiah 9:6,7 14. A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered, so all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7 15. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said said to them “do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Yeshua the Messiah. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”. Luke 2:8-14 16. So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:15,16 17. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. He came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Messiah he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart I peace, according to Your word: for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel”. Luke 2:21-32 18. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying “where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him”. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. So they said to him “in Bethlehem of Judea, for this it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel’ “ Matthew 2:1-6 19. Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said “go and search carefully for the young child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed and the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshipped Him. They opened their treasures and presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2:7-12 20. Now when the wise men had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying “Arise, take the young child and His mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. When he arose he took the young child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying “Out of Egypt I called my Son” (Hosea 11:1) Matthew 2:13-15 21. Thus says the Lord “a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more”. Jeremiah 31:15 22. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet. Matthew 2:16,17 23. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Judges 13:5 Day 24. Now when Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying “Arise, take the young child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’ “ Matthew 2:19-23 Amen By guest blogger Batnabas aka Linda Morris

Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 Immanuel Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 7:14 says The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. Permit me to explain These gracious words were spoken by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. This prophecy like some other old testament prophecies seemed to have a double fulfilment. That is the prophecy was fulfilled in the days around when it was first given for King Ahaz. However, its second and much greater fulfilment came several hundred years later when Jesus Christ was born. We know this Immanuel prophecy about was about Jesus because the Gospel of Matthew 1:23 quotes the Isaiah 7:14 scripture as follows Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Please note that both spellings are acceptable that is Immanuel and Emmanuel. So, what does Emmanuel or ' God with us ' mean? Emmanuel in a sense is an overview of God's full plan of salvation for mankind. First God becomes a actual man of flesh and blood, he can feel pain and the full range of human emotions. This brings God in a new way into a full identification with mankind. He now knows exactly what it is like to be a human being. This baby born in a manger, grows up to become the Messiah the Saviour, who at the end of his life saves mankind from our greatest foe...not the Romans, not the Egyptians, not the Russians… mankind's biggest foe is sin or we could say acting against God's wishes. This unique baby went on to provide a way back to God for mankind for a ll of us have gone astray. Imagine that, God the Son was with us and is still with us! What does that mean to you? Yes, that little baby in the manger, grew up to become the suffering Messiah who has provided a way back to God for all who want it. We can rejoice in Emmanuel We rejoice that God is with us. We can rejoice in God’s greatest ever gift Christmas gift- Immanuel, Jesus Christ who came to take our sins. If this is new to you then check out the teaching below 'How to be born again'. Amen Personal prayer

Why should we celebrate Christmas? As you all know there are two major festivals about to be celebrated shortly, Xmas the world’s version of Christmas but with the Christ taken out of it, includes Santa, Xmas, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas cards, tinsel, stockings etc. For many Xmas is a time of some happiness but Xmas is a very pale imitation of the real Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we reflect on the birth of our Saviour today, I pray that immense joy will be your portion today and forever. Let us look at the occasion of the giving of God’s greatest gift to humanity. Luke 2:1-20 Verse 10 ; Good news of a great joy for all the people Verse 11 ; What is this good news that brings great joy, a Saviour, the Saviour of all mankind has been born. After some 4,000 years the promised seed of the woman who would bruise (strike a deathblow to) the serpent's head had arrived. Verse 25-32 ; The consolation of Israel, the Saviour has come to comfort and encourage the few righteous. Isaiah 49:6 The long-promised Messiah, the anointed one had come. Isaiah 9:2-3, 6-7 The promised child called Mighty God That God had become a man, God with us Immanuel. John 1:14 The Eternal Word was made flesh. In the fullness of time, in the exact place named by the prophet Micah that which the blessed Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit was born. Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God was born. About the Saviour So the goods news of great joy was, and is, that the Saviour of all humanity has been born. A Saviour has been born; To save us from the wrath to come. A Saviour has been born; To save us from eternal separation from God. A Saviour has been born, Who restores our souls. A Saviour has been born, Who delivers his people from evil. A Saviour has been born, Who gives eternal life to his people. A Saviour has been born, Who brings justice and righteousness. A Saviour has been born, Who purchased us by the Holy sinless blood of his cross. A Saviour has been born, Who delivers us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, from the presence of sin. A Saviour for all humanity, for all who have sinned [ Romans 3:23 ]. That Saviour is Jesus Christ the Lord. Romans 5:6-11 ; The Saviour came at the right time to die for our sins, rebellion, unbelief, disobedience. A Saviour Jesus Christ who saves through His blood. A Saviour who saves us from wrath of God. A Saviour who brings the reconciliation of sinful man to God. So what are we going to do with this good news? Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? We can tell them how this good news of Jesus can be theirs. We can tell them it’s for all people. We can tell them God is making Jews jealous through this gospel. The Saviour, God made man, came to die for their sins and whoever will call upon him will be saved. That Saviour is Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate today the good news of the Gospel of Jesus, as partakers in it and also be sharing the good news. Amen Prayer

Psalms for Christmas As we stated Part 1 few people in the western world do not know nativity story. But let us just have a refresh our memory. Luke 2:8-20 Verse 10 ; Angels announce good news, tidings of great joy Verse 11 ; The birth of the Saviour, Christ the Messiah Verse 12 ; The babe will be found in a manger The ‘world’ today is happy to focus on the baby. He is no threat to their lifestyle, whilst in manger. Yet we in the church are filled with awe and wonder. The eternal word made flesh and yet even we can be caught up with tradition by focusing only on Jesus’ nativity. In our joy and celebration we must not forget the reason the Christ child came to earth. So why did he come? What was the mission of Jesus Christ, the Messiah? It can be put in different ways. To save man from sin To restore fellowship with God To destroy the works of the devil 1 John 3:8b... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. It is this direction we want to remember today. You may be wondering what it has to do with Christmas, but I hope to show you that this aspect of Jesus life and mission is really at the heart of the Christmas story. And may have greater importance than the traditional view of ‘Baby Jesus’. I first came across the underlying ideas as to why is Christmas is so thrilling to Christians whilst reading “ Reflections in the Psalms ” by C.S. Lewis. In this book I was surprised to find that the Anglican prayer book had appointed 4 Psalms for reading on Christmas day. [ Psalms 110, 45 (covered in Part 1) , 89, and 132 ] We are going to look briefly at one of these Psalms now to see if we can discover any connection between Christmas and the Psalm 110. In Psalm 110 there is not a lot about peace and goodwill or anything from the nativity. This Psalm appears to be a coronation poem/song for a new king or perhaps is a song addressed to a king on the eve of a battle. It predicts victory and empire. Some Christians call it David's creed; because it has has many elements of Christian faith in it. Verse 1 ; Right hand - enemies’ necks under foot. Verse 2 ; Sceptre of authority – ruling Verse 3 ; His people – the church Verse 4 ; Melchizedek – combined priest/king Verse 5 ; Shatter kings – enemies’ death, fallen beings Verse 6 ; Dead bodies abound – chief men shattered Verse 7 ; Samson at Lehi – drank head down at death, lifted in resurrection So what has Psalms 110 got to do with Jesus? Two main things. Jesus quoted it of himself in Matthew 22:44 ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? Jesus seemed to identify with this Son of David. 2. The Mention of Melchizedek in Ps110:4 (now see Hebrews 7:14-17) 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning [ c ]priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” Lets remind ourselves about this mysterious Melchizedek from Genesis 14:18-20 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. Things to note about Melchizedek; No details of where he comes from Blesses in name of the Mighty Holy God Assumes superiority over Abraham Ministers bread and wine A wonderful mysterious character but the fact that He is King/Priest made him the character in the whole Old Testament most like Jesus Christ. Psalms 110:4 links Messiah to Melchizedek's priesthood and not to an Aaronic or Levitical priesthood. Psalms 110 with the 3 other above psalms restore the ‘ Balance in Seeing Jesus Christ ’ as the victorious King of kings, our conquering hero not just a baby in the manger. Further study Let’s look very briefly at parts of the other ‘Christmas’ Psalms. Psalms 45:3-7 ; Note threatening tone to enemy. Verse 5 ; Sharp arrows in heart Psalms 89:20-29 Verse 23 ; Enemies crushed before Him Verse 27 ; Receives whole earth Psalms 132:17-18 Verse 18 ; Enemies shamed, and His crown is flourishing. These Psalms are very militant with Messiah as a champion, a giant killer, a hero King to fight and defeat death, hell, demon, and hordes. For this purpose Jesus Christ appeared to destroy the works of the devil. If you look at all the Old Testament scriptures quoted by Jesus, the evidence is that this is how he looked on Himself. Not in terms of His infancy but as the all-conquering King yet in gentleness and humility. Paradox: The Messiah came to destroy? Praise His Holy name that is exactly what he did. He defeated death, Satan all the powers and principals cancelled out our debts. Nailing them to the cross disarmed the enemy and publicly triumphed over them. Lead captivity captive ascended on high, gave gifts to men and sat at Fathers right hand far above all rule and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this but in the age to come and is head of His church. Hallelujah!! So when we remember the ‘Baby in the manger' let us also remember the all-conquering, victorious hero King who came and completely fulfilled His mission. Amen Prayer

An Advent story Today our topic is an Advent message: What happened to the baby in the manger? Advent, (Latin adventus , “coming”) in the Christian church calendar, is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 and then runs for a total of 4 full weeks of Sundays. In 2024 advent starts a four-week observation beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which began on December 1 this year and will finish on Sunday the 24th of December. The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ's birth in the world as it is today. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and charitable deeds what the true meaning of Jesus' birth is. At this time of year many people think of the baby in the manger, and it is good to reflect on the beautiful story of the nativity. However, Jesus Christ did not remain a baby but became the mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Saviour of the world, and the Bridegroom of his church. So often we can focus in on the wonderful meekness and humility of Jesus (the suffering servant of Isaiah 53; the crucified Messiah) and yet neglect His power and majesty as the mighty conquering King! Through the blood of the cross He defeated him who had the power over death and having risen entered the holy of holies and presented once and for all His holy sinless blood on the mercy seat as a propitiation (turned away God's wrath) for the sin of man. We are now going to consider Jesus Christ as the conquering hero. Psalm 45 is a didactic psalm i.e. Maschil is a psalm that teaches us (about the power and majesty of God). This is a delightful psalm bursting with royalty and nobility, power, and majesty. This is about the Messiah. The first part of the psalm is about Jesus the conquering hero (vv.3-6) and the second part about Jesus the Bridegroom (vv.9-14) see link below for the second part. 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth, meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach these terrible things. 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. 6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Comments v.3 Get ready for battle with the sword of the spirit, for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. In the wilderness Jesus defeated Satan with the word of God and at the end of time He will destroy His enemies with the breath of His mouth. O most mighty, there never was anyone else who was able or worthy to this title, the one who defeated Satan, death, and hell by His death on the cruel cross and now has the keys of death and hell. O most mighty Jesus Christ. The Lamb of God is the only one worthy to open the scroll in the book of revelation. v.4 When Jesus preached the Gospel He rode on the Word of Truth and meekness and righteousness not only proclaiming these but living them out before the very eyes of men. The glorious eternal Gospel was His chariot to bring salvation to fallen man. The Gospel prospered, turning certain peoples’ worlds the right way up! Jesus at the right hand of God brings salvation to the humble but a terrible and everlasting condemnation to the unrepentant wicked. There is no hiding place from the Son of God. v.5 His words are arrows and never miss the mark! No one can stand against Him and survive. We are also His arrows in His quiver for he fires us out at the lost so that as we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ by His spirit, he pierces their hearts with conviction of sin of righteousness and judgement! Some enemies fall convicted leading to salvation others refusing to repent to eternal condemnation. We were once His enemies but now are of His royal household! v.6 This most mighty warrior is none other than God Himself, God the Son, Jesus Christ, the eternal word made flesh, He who was in the beginning was the eternal Word and was with God and was God. It is Him who has an eternal throne not like any earthly king but a divine and everlasting Kingship. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Praise his holy name. he who was once a babe in a manger shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. His rule, His sceptre is the only right and lawful rule that is fitting to stand for eternity. Soon He is coming for his bride. Even so come Lord Jesus. Amen Conclusion That same baby in the manger is now the risen Lord, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Therefore the Christmas story is so very wonderful. Amen.