Author: Mr.ScottV.Black

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”- Matthew 2:1-2 BSB

Warrior;

As we enter the season of Gratitude and Giving, we will hear about the incarnate birth of our Savior. We read in Luke’s Gospel and hear in the music, every Christmas season, about the Wise men and the baby Jesus in the manger. There’s always MORE TO THE STORY. When we dig a little deeper using the Bible and extra-Biblical resources like a Bible dictionary and a cross reference and para-Biblical writings and sources like http://www.GotQuestions.org- we get a more complete, in-depth understanding of scripture. The 2 questions we should consider is: what is WISDOM and what made these men, WISE MEN? Then, if we want to be wise, FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE!

Leader based on KJV bible dictionary WISDOM is a moral rather than intellectual quality. To be “foolish” is to be GODLESS. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. (Psalm 14:1) True wisdom is a gift from God- it comes from above- and wisdom is only given to those who DESIRE it and ASK GOD for it! True wisdom may only be found by seeking Jesus Christ for HE IS the great I AM, HE IS the WISDOM OF GOD! So, when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1: 3-24)

Conduit what made the MAGI from the EAST–non-Jews, Gentiles- WISE? They feared God and wanted to honor God. When we read about the Magi in Matthew 2 you can see why they were considered WISE. The magi were men who 1) read and believed God’s Word, 2) sought Jesus, 3) recognized the worth of Christ, 4) humbled themselves to worship Jesus, and 5) obeyed God rather than man. They were truly wise men! The wise men were guiding to LOOK for JESUS and they followed God’s guidance. Keep It Simple Soldier! If we are to be wise and if we are to be in the presence of our KING, then we need to be WISE and follow the example given! Look for Jesus, and you will find HIM in HIS WORD, the Bible. Then follow God’s guidance; apply-LIVE the WORD OF GOD. Then you too will be considered wise and you too will be in the presence of the RISEN KING, our Messiah- Jesus! Amen!

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? -Numbers 23:19 ESV

Warriors;

We must REMEMBER we are made in the GOD class, we were made in the image of GOD! God was NOT MADE IN OUR IMAGE, for HE WAS NOT MADE. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the Beginning God…. The Bible starts with the understanding GOD IS, WAS and always WILL BE! I am God and always will be. No one can escape from my power; no one can change what I do.” (Isaiah 43:13) The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27a) Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. (Isaiah 40:28)

Leader, God is eternal; therefore, every promise endures for all generations. God is eternal; therefore, all that He provides extends into eternity. GOD IS ETERNAL; therefore, His purposes for His creation remain everlasting. 25 verses after the BEGINNING, we learn that we are in the GOD class! Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Our first introduction to God is as CREATOR and then we are told, we too were made to create!

Conduit, what are you creating in your life? Are you creating a clear path for people to find God or are you creating confusion by buying into the WORLDS LIES? God is immutable, He never changes, He doesn’t evolve like some in the church who want to be liked by the world. Malaki 3:6, God tells us, ““For I the LORD do not change.” Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The Psalmist affirms; Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heaven. (Psalm 199:89) We must remember we were made in the image of God, God was NOT MADE- HE IS NOT LIKE US, we are like HIM! What God hated in the old testament, He still despises in the NEW TESTAMENT. Jesus did not change the NATURE OF GOD, that is impossible. Jesus even addressed this lie INCARNATE: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17) Jesus brought MERCY and GRACE in the dispensation of GRACE. God never changes, that is our job! We are to change to be like God: For I am Yahweh your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44a) God doesn’t change CONDUIT, it is our job to become more like HIM. It is NOT HIS JOB-nor HIS NATURE, to become more like the world- it is one thing HE CAN’T DO!

After the death of Moses, the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— Joshua 1:1-3 NLT

Warrior;

If you are God’s chosen- we can be stubborn! “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. (Acts 7:51). In Joshua’s time, much of the land of Canaan was brought under Israelite control. In the time of David and his son Solomon (approximately 1000 BC, or 400 years after Joshua), a wide area of land was under Israel’s control or influence. Yet the entire territory promised to Israel in Scripture, both in Joshua and elsewhere, has yet to be fulfilled. The question we must ask ourselves today is what blessings are we leaving on the table? Where are we NOT fulfilling God’s BEST BLESSINGS for ourselves because of OUR DOUBT, our lack of FAITH and FUNCTION?

Leader, It was God’s purpose that the whole land should belong to the children of Israel. The conquest was intended to be complete. Not a foot’s breadth was to rest in the hands of its former owners. But here, as with other places in the Bible, we may mark the way in which man’s sin and LACK of FAITH has marred the purposes of God. In the Book of Judges, we read that the Canaanites were not only NOT driven out, but that the children of Israel made marriages with them, worshiped their gods, and practiced their abominations. Jerusalem remained in the hands of the Jebusites until the time of David, while the Philistines remained in possession of their portion of Palestine until it was reduced under the power of the king of Babylon.

Conduit, the promise to Joshua was like the promise to Abraham, to Moses and to each of us who worship and FOLLOW our LORD JESUS CHRIST! And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. (Galatians 3:29). God made the same promise 40 years earlier to Moses, that He made to Joshua, see Deuteronomy 11:22-25. He made the same promise some 450 years earlier to Abraham, see Genesis 15. It is our FEAR, our lack of FAITH that keeps us from having and being all that God promises us; “We can’t attack those people,” the men who were with him said, “because they’re too strong compared to us.” So they put out this false report to the Israelis about the land that they had explored: “The land that we’ve explored is one that devours its inhabitants. All the people whom we observed were giants. We also saw the Nephilim, the descendants of Anak. Compared to the Nephilim, as we see things, we’re like grasshoppers, and that’s their opinion of us!” (Numbers 11:31-33) Today, let GOD’s word take precedence over the WORLD’s opinion of you! Today let us FOCUS on God’s promises, and NOT the world’s opinions! My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. – Matthew 27:22-27 ESV

Warrior;

As we move into the Christmas season and we celebrate the ‘Babe in a manger’, this is the real question, “What have you done with JESUS?” UP UNTIL NOW, have you ‘washed your hands’ of Jesus? Have you shared Him with others this year? How many people have you shared the LOVE OF JESUS with this year? What have you sacrificed in the name of JESUS? What have you done for HIS GLORY, and not your own? What have you lost because of JESUS? What have you given up…FOR JESUS?

Leader, it is so easy to be appalled by what the Jews, the Romans and the Religious leaders of Jesus time did to Jesus- but HONESTLY, do we do much different? We might NOT be screaming CRUCIFY, but are we saying things that are JUST AS BAD- or holding our tongues when others are? When was the last time you STOOD UP FOR JESUS in a public setting? When did you RISK, being uncomfortable, being mocked, being ridiculed for standing up for Jesus? The Bible says, “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. (Luke 8:8-9)

Conduit, the TIME IS NOW, to decide, “What will you do with Jesus?” Pilate condemned Him. The crowd accused Him. Herod mocked Him. Judas betrayed Him. Peter denied Him. What are you going to do? The right thing is to receive Him as Savior and Lord. Today, you can have a BRAND-NEW beginning as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Draw the GREAT LINE IN THE SAND and know HIS WORD: So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this AND TELL IT TO OTHERS. (Rom 10:9-10) GIVE All glory and honor to JESUS who PAID IT ALL!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.- John 3:16 NKJV

Warrior;

This is probably the most well-known verses in the English Bible. Even though Matthew 7:2 is the most quoted by NON-believers, John 3:16 would be considered the most popular verse. The Bible is considered a mystery, a shadow of things to come. Just like it pleases a lover to want to know them more and find out about them; it pleases God when we want to FIND out about Him, to understand His mystery. The verse number 3:16 is very unique in the Bible. If you went through and read every 3:16 in the Bible it is an interesting study. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke 3:16)

Leader, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Tim 3:16) In his book, “Numbers that preach”, Troy Brewer says that God loves ‘Insider Information’. In other words, He loves to say things in a way that ONLY those who SEEK HIM and study HIS WAYS, get the value- see Matthew 13;10-11. Just as God employed mathematical laws to create everything, He used numerals in the design of His word. The Scriptures exhibit a numerical design that can only be explained by the direct inspiration of a Creator. Edward F. Vallowe, in his book entitled Biblical Mathematics, writes the following. “Only to the students of the Word, those to whom God’s Spirit has given spiritual insight, will the code be plain. God is ‘The Great Geometrician’ and does everything after a plan by number, weight, and measure. If God is the Author of the Scriptures and the Creator of the Universe (and He is) then the Words of God and the Works of God should and will harmonize.”

Conduit; Three in the Bible is divine fullness or completion as in the Godhead of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Some examples of three being the number of spiritual fullness: Jonah was in the belly of the big fish three days and Jesus was in the grave three days. Three is the minimum number necessary to establish a pattern. Something can happen once by chance; twice by coincidence; but three consecutive times usually indicate a pattern. The Number one in the Bible means “unity” and “uniqueness.” There is one body; the church made up of true believers. There is one Spirit; the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer individually also indwells the church collectively. There is one hope; the hope to be like Christ. There is one Lord; Jesus Christ who died for us all. There is one faith “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Six is the number for man because he was created on the sixth day. It should remind us of our human incompleteness. Man, without God will always be incomplete. No matter what we do in our own strength, we will always fall one below the perfect number seven. Even the sixth commandment calls our attention to the value of the human life that was created on the sixth day. It says, “Do not kill” (Exodus 20:13). You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. (John 5:39) SEEK GOD, SEARCH His WORD and SUCCUMB to HIS LOVE!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” -Rev 21:3-4 ESV

Warrior;

Jesus is our FIRST LOVE, HE is to be our everything. Once we realize that He is the ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the end and ACT AS IF HE IS- THEN, everything changes- just like heaven! 1 Cor 2:9 entices us; “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” Revelation 21, is about payoff and HOPE! Jesus replaces everything; The Temple, Sun, Moon, the Sea! And He takes away the DROSS; NO MORE tears, pain, death, mourning, crying.

Leader, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”(C. S. Lewis)

Conduit, it was the TREE of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that was our downfall in the garden. It was the TREE OF LIFE that our Savior hung on so that we might spend eternity in heaven and have access to the TREE OF LIFE in the NEW Jerusalem! And he said to me, “It is done…to the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” Jesus Rev 21:6. Are you hungry for HOLY- are you Thirsty for RIGHTEOUSNESS? The TIME IS NOW to go back to your FIRST LOVE- He was nailed to the TREE of LIFE with Love!

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. – Matthew 25:1-13 ESV

Warrior;

Jesus incarnate ministry was all about the good news!  That God so loved the world, that HE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT!  And if we would openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, WE WILL BE SAVED.We then SHARE the GOOD NEWS- for, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD of GOD!  But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  We are called to OPEN our mouth and share our LOVE that we have for our LORD and the fact that HE LOVES US SOOOOO MUCH….

Leader, In the Bible certain things, represent certain other things.  There is hidden meaning, that is why the Bible is called a MYSTERY; “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2–3). OIL is representative of the HOLY SPIRIT.  These 5 “people’ where were they were supposed to be, they were with who they were supposed to be with, but they were without ONE KEY element; the HOLY SPIRIT! They had RELIGION, but not RELATIONSHIP!

Conduit, Matthew 7 gives us the same OMINOUS warning; On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’(Matt 7:22-23) It is one thing to know GOD, or to know OF GOD, but it is another for God to know you!  A relationship has a cost, the cost is: Time, Emotional connection and a willingness and\or DESIRE to be known!  Today, the question is; Have you PAID the price for JESUS TO KNOW YOU?  The Time is NOW- open your heart, and your mind and let JESUS know you intimately- CRY out to our LORD and spend time with HIM!