And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:31 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-discipline (sound mind). 2 Timothy 1:7 Unbelief and lack of trust are at the root of fear. Lack of faith leads to the growth of sin (Read Isiah 43:1-3, Prov. 29:25; Psalms 56:3-4). When we allow fear to control us, we are actually forgetting the character of God (Read Isaiah 51:7-8; 12-13; Compare how men are described to how God is described). Sinful fear is an absence of a fear of God (Read Psalms 112:1-8). Finally, sinful fear is the absence of the love of God maturing in us (Read 1 John 4:17-18). Some important things to remember about fear:
Pray that we will not allow fear to control us, but instead we will seek God in prayer and take steps of faith in sharing the gospel in word and deed in our community where we live, work, and play. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9
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And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes (trusts, NIV) all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ... And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Cor. 13:1-8; 13 The Greek word translated as “believes” in I Corinthians 13:7 is a form of the verb pisteuo, which means “to believe, place faith in, or trust.” Those who love will always “believe” in the other person. There is no second-guessing or questioning whether the person should be loved. The loved one does not need to perform anything or achieve a certain goal in order to be loved. Just as Christ loves His children unconditionally, He calls us to love others. Love is based on who He is, not on what others do. (Gotquestions.com)
As we read these convicting passages, we can all recognize ways we have obediently shown God’s love and ways we have disobeyed and not shown His love in our relationships, especially those closest to us. The main evidence of maturity in the Christian life is a growing love for God and His people as well as a love for sharing truth with lost souls. It has been well said that love is the circulatory system of the body of Christ. In the context of this passage, Paul was dealing with the Corinthian church’s problems when he wrote these words: the abuse of the gift of tongues, division in the church, envy of other’s gifts, impatience with one another in meetings, and wrong behavior in general. The only way spiritual gifts can be used creatively is when Christians are motivated by God’s love. Note that all three of the Christian graces - faith, hope, & love - will endure even though faith will become sight and hope will be fulfilled. But when you love someone, you trust them and will always be anticipating new joys of what God is doing in your growing relationship. Faith, hope, and love go together, but it is “love” that energizes faith and hope. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” - John 10:9 In John 10, Jesus paints a vivid picture of Himself as the Shepherd and the door to the sheepfold. He isn't just a gate; He is the gate, the one and only access point to safety, salvation, and abundant life. In this passage, we see His heart for His sheep—a heart that leads, feeds, and fulfills. Listening to His Voice Jesus reminds us that His sheep know His voice. In a noisy world full of competing voices—voices of pride, religion, and power—it is vital to recognize and follow the voice of our Shepherd. He speaks to us through His Word, calling us by name and leading us into safety and peace. Are we tuning our hearts to hear Him today? Led by His Truth When Jesus says, "I am the door," He emphasizes His truthfulness and exclusivity. There is no other way to the Father except through Him. He is both a solid door that secures us and a swinging door that allows us to freely enter His provision and purpose. Through Him, we find both salvation and sanctification. Living in Victory Jesus warns of thieves and false shepherds who seek to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet He contrasts this with His mission: to give life, and life abundantly. This abundant life is not about material wealth but about knowing Him deeply, experiencing His peace, and walking in His eternal purpose. Jesus, the Gate Shepherd, invites us to listen, follow, and live in His abundant care.
Are you walking through the door He has provided? This Christmas, we reflect on the greatest gift ever given—Jesus Christ. In His arrival, we see majesty, a mystery, a prophecy fulfilled, and a humble sacrifice that would change the world forever. As we unpack this divine gift, we are reminded of four truths about Jesus that should touch our hearts deeply. A Gift from Heaven Jesus came from above. While He was born on earth, He is not of this world. He came as a perfect and good gift from the Father. James 1:17 tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” Jesus is the ultimate expression of this, sent to heal and save us. A Gift to Heal Us Jesus came to heal the brokenness caused by sin. Our sins separate us from God, but Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes, came as the perfect Lamb, sinless and pure, to take our place. As Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins... by His stripes, we are healed.” Jesus offers healing, not just for physical pain, but for the deeper pain of our hearts. A Gift of Humility Though He was the King of Heaven, Jesus entered the world in the humblest of ways—born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and surrounded by lowly shepherds. He came gently, never forcing Himself on anyone but offering the free gift of salvation. Philippians 2:7-8 reminds us, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” His humility invites us to respond with openness and trust. A Gift to Dwell in Our Hearts The most extraordinary part of this gift is that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, desires to make His home in us. When we put our faith in Him, He not only saves us but transforms us from the inside out. John 14:23 says, “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.” This is the gift of eternal life, a gift that lasts forever. As we celebrate this Christmas, let us remember the indescribable gift of Jesus—wrapped in majesty, mystery, prophecy, humility, and ultimately, love. He came to heal, to dwell in us, and to give us the greatest gift of all: eternal life. Have you received this gift?
If not, today is the perfect time to invite Jesus into your heart and begin a new journey with Him. Click here to learn about the game changer. As Christmas approaches, we reflect on the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh (John 1:14). This Advent season, we've explored the many ways Christ is "wrapped" in Scripture: in majesty, mystery, and prophecy. Today, we unwrap the profound truth that He is also wrapped in flesh—the heart of the doctrine of the Incarnation. Wrapped in Flesh: The Humility of Christ When Jesus came into the world, He took on human flesh, humbling Himself to the likeness of man (Philippians 2:7-8). He wasn’t adorned in worldly majesty or beauty (Isaiah 53:2); instead, He came in "plain wrapping paper"—a humble servant, born in a manger. Yet within Him was the beauty of perfect grace and truth. In this flesh, Jesus accomplished two extraordinary things: He Died to Give Us Life Through His death, Jesus destroyed the power of sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Like nature’s cycle of death sustaining life, Christ's death brought eternal life to all who believe. His perfect blood, free from sin, became the ultimate ransom for us (Mark 10:45).
He Lived to Teach Us How to Die to Ourselves Jesus didn’t just come to die for us; He also showed us how to live. By resisting temptation through the Word and learning obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8), He demonstrated the path of sanctification. As believers, we’re called to follow His example:
The Greatest Gift This Christmas, let us remember that Jesus was wrapped in flesh to unwrap for us the gift of salvation and sanctification. Through His death, we find life. Through His example, we learn to die to ourselves and live for Him. As we unwrap this truth, may our hearts overflow with gratitude for the indescribable gift of Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
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