Good News of Great Joy for all the people

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 

God came to the lowly of lowlys 

For King Herod, it is not a "Good News."

Even now, just like the King Herod. For many it's not a Good News, they outwardly reject the Gospel. 

God wants us to be happy

 Joy in the midst of suffering, the Bible is full of people who were Joyful even though they were in pain & suffering.

We haven't explored life so much with the gifts that we have and most often like Israelites complain God about the pain & suffering.

 Joseph in pit, Daniel in Lion's den, David in wilderness, Apostle Paul in Prison exhibited great faith, but also exhibited another important aspect in life and that is endurance or long suffering.

Matthew 24:13 KJV

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

What worrying does:

It brings down your energy level, it stops God's Blessing for your life. Often every Godly suffering is a blessing in disguise. If Joseph was just worrying and wondering about the pit or the prison saying the pit is this dimensions and the prison is for a misjudgment etc he wouldn't have come out of with the pit or prison to be the second only powerfully person. But, he was joyful in God, he was able to endure the sufferings.

The best of all examples is our lord and savior Jesus Christ's. Hebrew 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

all things work together for good to those who love God - Rom 8:28

 

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. ... It says: “In everything give thanks.” Both “bad” and good.



Today, as I was about to go to a place where we sought permission to distribute about 30 English NTs(New Testaments) yesterday, after reaching the place I realized that we didn't have enough NTs (had only 10-15) and the other box which I took was having only Kannada NTs, was so disappointed since I had also informed another Gideon to come to the place for distribution, He had already left home and has come to the place of distribution, but since we didn't have enough NTs we decided to seek permissions in the nearby Hotels and God helped us to get the permission from a Hotel which has 24 rooms in it. If in case we had the 30 English NTs with us, we would have only given those in this place, we might not have went to seek permission to the Hotels.

At the moment we got the permission, I just remembered the verse from Romans 8:28

Paul the Apostle wrote this Epistle to explain that salvation is offered through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans is the longest of the Pauline epistles.

Relying on God and His Word will enable us to see "Things working for Good", Note "All".

All and Everything:
I was little frustrated that I didn't have enough NTs, but asked God for his Wisdom and he helped us to go further to seek permission to the near by Hotels.

1 Timothy 1:17

New Living Translation

17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Luke 4:16-30

 Luke 4:16-30 NASB

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.

Luke 4:1-15 Jesus in the Wilderness

 The Temptation of Jesus

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around [a]by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of [b]the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and [c]its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore if You [d]worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written,

‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’

11 and,

‘On their hands they will bear You up,

So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Jesus’ Public Ministry

14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.



Questions to ponder about:

Describe this wilderness experience of Jesus.
Jesus was fasting for 40 days, the significance of 40 days in the Bible is enormous.

In What ways is he susceptible to Satan's attacks?
Physically Hungry, Alone without any one, No source of anything of the world like shelter.

At what times are you most susceptible to Satan's attacks?
In our highs and lows.

Compare the three tests Satan puts to Jesus as to 
a. specific content: Easu's example, if questions...
b. appeal to what aspect of human nature: Imagination, Deception, 
c. progression in intensity: From the inference of Jesus' response... "It is Written"..

Jesus' reply: 
Not only to physical or material...but Spiritual
We are not created to worship anything except to Worship God.
We are not to test God.

What is the real issue of the first temptation?
Real issue is "Spiritual" not "Physical".

How does the second test clarify your understanding for the problem of evil and world affairs?
Problem of evil and world affairs are "putting imagination instead of actual things", "distorting Truth", "Deception" 

Explain how Jesus' answer to the third test is a fitting response to Satan's challenge?
Jesus responded not only by saying "What is Written", but "What not to do". By this answer Satan left. Because if we are asked to "test" God and we don't that is the ultimate success. Testing God is "Not obeying his Word", "It is testing his patience and not being patience with him", "It is being insecure", "It is not trusting God"... etc So, everyday we are being tested to test God, but we as like Jesus should be shrewd enough to answer the evil.

Do you recognize temptation for what it is? 
Physical or Psychological
Imagination or Deception
Testing or Doubting

Are the issues here still temptations to the Christian church?
Yes, even more. Hebrews 12:16 - See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

How are these temptations inconclusive(not leading to a firm conclusion or result; not ending doubt or dispute)? 
It is so inconclusive that only God can answer, God will not allow us to be tempted these way - 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

James 1:13-15

King James Version

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.


Of what value to you is knowing that Jesus has been tempted in every way you are?
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.

Describe his return to Galilee. Imagine Satan's reaction to these facts.
v14-15 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

the very reason the devil thought Jesus to stumble and fail, Jesus won it victoriously, his reaction will be very sad because by the power of the Spirit, Jesus' news spread through all the surrounding district. And Jesus began teaching in their synagogues and was "PRAISED BY ALL" - "Only God is to be Praised".

Halfway

It is a good thing to introspect our lives this year, even as we have completed 6 months we still have 6 months. Many of us are wondering if we can make through this year because of the fear of pandemic. But, for those who trust in the Lord may say, "God has been our help in these times of trouble."

It is also like looking at a glass that is "either you could say, half filled or half emptied." Looking at the year we are at the beginning of the second phase of the year.

Israelite always remembered God and his providence through setting up stones.

Ebenezer:
Hebrew ebhen hā-ʽezer stone of help; from the application of this name by Samuel to the stone which he set up in commemoration of God's help to the Israelites in their victory over the Philistines at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:12)

So, even as we look at the half way through this year, one word that explains all is "Ebenezer", God has helped this far. But it doesn't end there, we look forward to the second half with greater expectations from God.

If we had bad experiences, injustices, hardship lets say like Apostle Paul, Philippians 3:13
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

The Hebrew writer says, Hebrews 12:2 NKJV
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For those who are seeking Wisdom in this year, continue asking God as said in James, James 1:5-6 NKJV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.


For those who are having tough time, Jesus says... Matthew 11:28-29 KJV
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.


Peter experienced the care of our Lord and Savior Jesus, because when he was tested and failed by denying Jesus thrice. But yet he knows the forgiveness of God and how we can rely upon him for our "Cares of the World" which "Chokes us in our spiritual life." 1 Peter 5:7 KJV Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.


The year ahead!
The year ahead seems so uncertain with more damages yet to be done in all the aspects of life. But, let us hope in God his work on the Cross. The Half filled or Half emptied Glass always tells us about the attitude of one's mind. When we look at the Life of Joseph, Moses etc and all the hero of Faith, we see a patter of their reliability and trust in God, God Alone. The positive attitude of the spies, David's attitude toward serving God in Praise & Worship to the Minor & Major Prophets.

So, may God lead us into the right direction, the Narrow path. Let us ask him for Help and Guidance. May he bless the other half of this year.

Verses to remember

We all go through difficulties, but what keeps us lighted up in spirit is God through his son Jesus, who says to us and in the Word of God that we get the comfort and assurance of God's Grace, Mercy and Peace. Peter said, his words are the very words of Eternal life.

John 6:68 Peter Simon answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.


Even hundreds and thousands of years ago, David would say of God's Word as the Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Why are Words important in our lives? We communicate through the Words, our action depends upon the Words we speak, the thoughts gets converted through Words which impacts our actions. So, Words are a medium in the process of communication.

Proverbs 12:18
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 

So, God wants us to know that his plans for our life is always Good, the Best. So, he has given us his Word.

John 1:1 ►

SUM   PIC   XRF   DEV   STU  Verse  (Click for Chapter) New International Version In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Love your Neighbor as your self

The Bible teaches about what it means when Jesus said, "Love your Neighbor as your self".


No wonder Jesus answered to the question raised by Pharisees, one expert in the Law asked:


 The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

It is so amazing as to how God relates to us who are not a neighbor but enemies, when we sin we become an enemy of God, but God still Loves us and wants us to establish relationship with him through his Son - Jesus. If God is distant and ignorant or silent about us, he would not have intervened. So, Loving our neighbor is continuing the relationship that we as human should have along with the most important relationship with God.

The Bible from the time of Adam to the time of Jesus and further at the time of Church and when the Holy Spirit is given to us. God was working to build the broken relationship both with him and with one another.

Leviticus 19:9-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life[a] of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.


https://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/guest-commentary/did-the-bible-play-a-role-in-shaping-the-u-s-constitution.html


Who else can give us the Law, but only the Law maker - God himself. He is a Just God, God of Justice, he can't ignore or be unjust when he see sin and injustice caused to the innocent. This is the Hope we have in him that he will bring Justice to each and every work.

“Establish justice…”
Psalms 82:3 - Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Proverbs 1:3 - To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

Proverbs 21:3 - To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Ezekiel 45:9 - Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.

Acts 10:34 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:


https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/parallel-concepts-between-the-u-s-constitution-the-bible


https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7211&context=penn_law_review


Does God's hand has anything to do with what is happening in this World? Is God Sovereign?

Proverbs 21:1-9 King James Version (KJV)
21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.


We see whenever there was an outcry of injustice God has interfered.  Psalm 10:18 You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more.

God acknowledges when he says: Jeremiah 32:27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Isaiah 59:1
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

We see the natural calamities and blame the nature, but we human are also responsible for the evil that which is within us and what we do in the society and to the nature.

What about Wars and Destruction:
“'Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and His anointed' [Ps 2:1]. The meaning is that the nations shall set themselves and conspire vainly against the chosen of Israel in the Last Days."

Bible clearly points out the prophesy:
Matthew 24:7-13 New International Version (NIV)
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

History's Lesson - David Takes a Census

1 Chronicles 21 New Living Translation (NLT)
David Takes a Census
21 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.”

3 But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”

4 But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab traveled throughout all Israel to count the people. Then he returned to Jerusalem 5 and reported the number of people to David. There were 1,100,000 warriors in all Israel who could handle a sword, and 470,000 in Judah. 6 But Joab did not include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census because he was so distressed at what the king had made him do.

Judgment for David’s Sin
7 God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. 8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.”

9 Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer. This was the message: 10 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’”

11 So Gad came to David and said, “These are the choices the Lord has given you. 12 You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague as the angel of the Lord brings devastation throughout the land of Israel. Decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”

13 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

14 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and 70,000 people died as a result. 15 And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah[a] the Jebusite.

16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground. 17 And David said to God, “I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O Lord my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people.”


Pride?
When David wanted to count and know the number, it is to say, "I have...."

Fear?
Is trusting God or Self? which is more important, for David, it is to trust self, knowing what is in the kingdom with the number was more important than God.

Leader like David even today go with instincts and fear, to diversify and divide on the basis of religion, cast, money etc. Like the case that we read from Chronicles we see God's Anger is not only with the Leader but also on the nation(people).