Month: November 2017

“What’s in a name?” Advent Week 1

by romans122life, posted in Bible, Christianity, Christmas, The Gospel

The word advent literally means “arrival”, and it refers to the arrival of Jesus into the world.  It is this time of the year where people all over the world celebrate Christmas.  For the Christian, it has a particularly special meaning.  This is the time that we get to celebrate our Lord’s birth.  According to what tradition you come from there are different ways to anticipate and celebrate this special day.  Whatever tradition you observe as a Christian, I hope you use it as a time to look to scripture and be filled with the joy that Jesus brings us.

Over the next month I would like to share a weekly thought or devotion to keep us looking forward to that special day.  Today, I would like to help us to remember His name and just who it is that came on that not so silent night.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on
His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

He Would Be Called Wonderful Counselor:

During Jesus’ 33 plus years here on earth he did many wonderful things.  He cast out demons.  He made the mute to speak.  He made the lame to walk.  He caused the blind to see.  He feed thousands with just a few fish and a couple loaves of bread.  He was full of mercy and awe.  He would not only instill awe because of his deeds but his teaching as well.  Even those who did not follow him understood his great council.  “The officers answered, ‘Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks’” (John 7:46).  Jesus truly was the Wonderful Counselor.

He Would Be Called Mighty God:   

Jesus is the God-man.  He is both 100% God and 100% man at the same time.  Claiming to be God caused others to want to kill him at times.  But there was no doubt that Jesus understood who he was and who the prophet Isaiah was pointing to when he said that he would be called “Mighty God.”  It was none other than Jesus himself.  There is no way of getting around it when Jesus says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:40).  What an excellent way of anticipating Jesus this season . . . knowing that He was fully divine.  What joy that should bring us.

He Would Be Called Eternal Father:

Jesus would be the eternal father to his people.  As the king from the line of David, he would care for and discipline his children.  To think of Jesus as our father is a glorious thought. Just as a father was to provide, protect, and instruct his children, Jesus would do the same for his people.

He Would Be Called Prince of Peace:

While there is not complete peace on earth today, we anticipate that one day when there will be peace on earth.  The Prince of Peace will come to make all things new.  He is the one that comes to bring peace within the soul of man.  None could have real peace apart from Him.  Paul said it right when writing to the Colossians, “and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20).  Jesus would come into this world to be king of it, and though him peace would eventually reign.

This week, let’s remember who it is that we say we worship.  Let’s remember that Jesus was indeed born a baby, but that was just the starting point.  He was born with a purpose.  As we anticipate the celebration of his arrival, let’s remember all of his glorious attributes, and not just the baby in the lowly manger.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Adam B. Burrell

Are we missing something when we say “All we can do is pray?”

by romans122life, posted in Christianity, The Gospel

We have all said it.  We have all heard it said.  There is a difficult situation going on and every effort has been made to fix said situation.  We are at a loss, so now, “all we can do is pray.”  In my 15 years of ministry, I have said it dozens of times.  However, recently when I said it, I had a revelation of sorts.  Not the kind my Pentecostal friends might think of here, but more of illumination.  Saying “All I can do is pray” is to pray from a posture of defeat instead of a posture of strength.  When we pray we must remember who we are praying to and who we get to make our petition to.  This is no small thing.  We get to pray to the Sovereign of the universe who controls all things (Isaiah 45:7).  So, when we pray, even when it seems like we have exhausted all other resources, consider these few things first.

Remember the Place of Prayer

Paul wrote these three simple commands to the church in Thessalonica, “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  Paul does not tack prayer on at the end of the list of things for us to do.  He exhorts us to make it a place of primacy in our lives.  Prayer should be a part of our daily life, not just something we do when all else fails.  I know that is not what most people mean when “All we can do is pray” is said, but prayer is not just something that we should be doing when a situation gets bad, but something that should be done before, during, and after every circumstances in life.  Prayer is our primary way of communication with the Lord.  Go to him consistently and constantly.  Don’t wait until things get bad.  Go to him when they are good as well.  Rejoice . . . pray . . . give thanks.  This is our rightful place before God.

Remember the Power of Prayer

Scripture is filled with examples of what the Lord does though prayer.  By the prayer of Moses, God brought the plagues upon Egypt and then removed them again (Exodus 7-12).  By prayer, the strength of Samson was restored and he pushed down the pagan temple to kill his enemy (Judges 16:28).  By the prayer of Hezekiah, God sent an angel and killed in one night 185,000 men that were encamped around His people that were going to attack Israel (II Kings 19:35).  The Lord give His people two offensive weapons when fighting spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:10-18). The first is scripture, which is primary.  The second is prayer, which is our second most powerful tool in our arsenal.  He has given us only two, because those are all that we need.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul asked in his letter to the Romans.  The Lord is for us, and nothing or no one can separate us from His love.  Prayer is how we speak to the Lord.  He answers the pray of the righteous.  He fights our battles for us.  We stand in a place of victory because our Warrior King was victorious for us as our substitute and head.  Prayer is not our final weapon in battle that we toss out on the battle field like our last grenade hoping it finds the target.  No, it is more like the mighty trebuchet of old.  When it was employed in battle, the enemies tremble.  When we employ prayer, our enemy – our adversary – hates it.  He trembles at it (Luke 18:7).  So again, pray with power.

When we pray we can pray with confidence (Ephesians 3:12-13) that our Lord will hear us and answer us.  When we pray, let us remember to pray before, during, and after all situations in our life.  Don’t leave it until the end and start praying.  Next time you are at the end of your rope or you are trying to encourage a brother or sister in Christ with words consider reminding them that, “We still have prayer,” instead of “All we can do is pray.” I believe it is a different and helpful perspective.  I believe it is praying from a posture of strength and victory, instead of one of timid hope.  Pray continuously.  Pray confidently.  Pray as if you are armed with the powerful trebuchet, and leave the results to the Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria

Adam B. Burrell