Epaggelia

The effect Jesus Christ has had throughout the centuries and all over the globe has been amazing. Why? Because He was born intrinsically royal and divine, yet into a peasant family with all the odds stacked against him. Yet he still is the greatest kind of King, we have ever known.
One of the world’s greatest Kings was Solomon. When he prayed, God listened. Not because he was great, but because Solomon was humble when he prayed in this way,.. “have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God” (1st Kings 8:28) you see, Solomon understood who God was…and he understood who he was himself. Solomon had riches, wisdom and power, but he knew he was nothing compared to the Almighty God. In this knowledge Solomon, in all his prestige, was a humble man. He knelt before the altar and prayed to God on behalf of all Israel. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that when Solomon prayed and glory filled the Temple that God was The God and Solomon was just Solomon.
Listen, Christian and consider, “Your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit” (1st Corinthians 6:19) and, “We have this treasure in jars of clay.” (2nd Corinthians 4:7) On this Christmas Day do not forget who the treasure is and who the pottery is. When Jesus was born, He was born as the greatest King that ever lived on earth, yet He was born in extreme poverty. Why? To prove to us that greatness is not in riches and the prestigious influence of powerful positions. No, but real everlasting greatness is in the mere presence of God, be it in a barn, or in a mansion. In Jesus Christ is where we want to be, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
1st John 4:4.

Immanuel – God with us! You can hear that word in Christmas carols and read of it in the Bible. In ancient days God was with His people. When He sent Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses feared, but the Lord assured him, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) Today, the Lord lives IN His people. Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He promised His disciples He would send a counselor, the Holy Spirit. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23) The words “we” and “our” tell of God’s presence as Father, Son & Spirit in Christ. “For in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, ….” (Colossians 2:9-10) What a privilege to be called a Christian! The Lord also craves your obedience and attention, for “He yearns jealously over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us.” (James 4:5) During this Christmas season, tell people of His presence in your heart, not just on a hay filled feeding trough wrapped in swaddling clothes at Bethlehem. Is He in your heart?