Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for December 22

ADVENT MEANS COMING

From: December 22, 2023

‘The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you”‘ (Zechariah 2:10 NLT).

The book of Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Israel was called to “shout and rejoice” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Yet Israel as a nation did not receive Him, but handed Him over to be crucified.

“But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God” (John 1:12). Now God’s children sing and rejoice because Christ has come and is coming again. And on that day when Christ returns to dwell among us, Zechariah’s prophecy that beautiful Jerusalem would rejoice will finally be fulfilled. For Israel will finally recognize and receive Him as their Messiah and King.

The word “advent” means the arrival or coming of someone or something notable. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate the coming of Christ and look forward in hope to His soon return. We sing and rejoice that He has come and taken away our sin. We look forward to that Day when we shall live with Him forever. Strengthen us to proclaim this good news until His return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“… the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made” (Revelation 13:8 NLT).

From: December 22, 2022

KINGS ARE BORN IN PALACES BUT LAMBS IN A MANGER

In John’s revelation, the curtain between heaven and earth was pulled back and he saw events from God’s perspective. From God’s eternal, beyond time, point of view, the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world. For Jesus is the Lamb of God whose sacrifice was in the mind of God before He made the world. His first advent was so certain in God’s plan that it was as if it had already happened.

In the same way, God already knows the names of those who will be in the Lamb’s Book of Life. How does one find their name there? Those who believe in the Lamb of God will find their names written in the Book of Life. Those who do not believe, will not. Those who believe in the Lamb will worship Him. Those who do not believe are of this world and will worship the things of this world.

This Christmas, let us look and see the story of Christ’s birth from God’s perspective. Jesus is the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. The cross overshadows the cradle. This Lamb, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, came to die in our place.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you that You so loved us that You gave Your only begotten to die for us. He is our Lamb. We have believed in Him. Strengthen us to worship Him in Spirit and Truth this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—this is the Lord’s declaration” (Zechariah 2:10 HCSB).

From: December 22, 2021

ADVENT MEANS COMING

The book of Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Israel was called to “shout and be glad” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Yet Israel as a nation did not receive Him, but handed Him over to be crucified.

“But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God” (John 1:12). Now God’s children sing and rejoice because Christ has come and is coming again. And on that day when Christ returns to dwell among us, Zechariah’s prophecy that “Daughter Zion” would rejoice will finally be fulfilled. For Israel will finally recognize and receive Him.

The word “advent” means the arrival or coming of someone or something notable. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate the coming of Christ and look forward in hope to His soon return. We sing and rejoice that He has come and taken away our sin. We look forward to that Day when we shall live with Him forever. Strengthen us to proclaim this good news until His return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord.’ (Zechariah 2:10 NKJV).

From: December 22, 2020

ADVENT MEANS COMING

Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Here, Israel was called to “sing and rejoice” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Body, which is the Church. Yet, we are to continue to “sing and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “live among” us.

The word “advent” means the arrival or coming of someone or something notable. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we celebrate the coming of Christ and look forward in hope to His soon return. We sing and rejoice that He has come and taken away our sin. We look forward to that Day when we shall live with Him forever. Strengthen us to proclaim this good news until His return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made” (Revelation 13:8 NLT).

From: December 22, 2019

IS YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?

John’s prophecy tells of a figure that will recover from a “mortal wound” (Rev. 13:3), that will unite the world in worshiping him. This individual is called the Beast or the Antichrist. He is a counterfeit christ empowered by Satan to deceive the world during the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. Yet, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s “Book of Life” will not worship him, for they know and follow the true Christ.

How does one keep from being deceived by a counterfeit? By knowing and believing in the genuine article. For Jesus is the Lamb of God whose sacrifice was in the mind of God before He made the world. His first advent was so certain in God’s plan that it was as if it had already happened. Those who believe in the Lamb of God will find their names written in the Book of Life.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we desire to worship You alone. We will not give our worship to another. Empower us to have discernment of false idols and counterfeit worship. Help us to give wholehearted worship to Christ alone, who is the Lamb of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘The LORD says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.”‘ (Zechariah 2:10 NLT).

From: December 22, 2018

ADVENT MEANS COMING

Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Here, Israel was called to “shout and rejoice” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Body, which is the Church. Yet, we are to continue to “shout and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “live among” us.

The word “advent” means the arrival or coming of someone or something notable. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.

“For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day'” (Zechariah 3:9 NKJV).

From: December 22, 2017

Zechariah prophesied that a “stone” would be “laid” by God to “remove iniquity” in “one day.” Who is this “Stone?” Isn’t he the “Precious Cornerstone” of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 28:16)? Isn’t he the “stone that the builders rejected (Psa. 118:22, 1 Pet. 2:6-8)? Isn’t he the Lamb with “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God” (Rev. 5:6)? And what was “engraved” upon that Stone? Wasn’t it the piercing of His hands and feet and side that “removed the iniquity” of us all? Didn’t the Lord say, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16)? Yes, this Stone is certainly the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:20)!

Join me in looking up each of the Scripture references listed above, and you will experience the joy and profound wonder of our Precious Cornerstone, Jesus Christ!

“all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:8 ESV)

From: December 22, 2016

John’s prophecy tells of a figure that will recover from a “mortal wound” (Rev. 13:3), that will unite the world in worshiping him. This individual is sometimes called the Beast or the Antichrist. He is a counterfeit christ sent by Satan to deceive the world during the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. Yet, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s “Book of Life” will not worship him, for they know and follow the true Christ. How do you keep from being deceived by a counterfeit? By knowing and believing in the genuine article.

“’Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the Lord” (Zechariah 2:10 NKJV)

From: December 22, 2015

Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies. Here, Israel was called to “sing and rejoice” in anticipation of Christ’s coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled on Christmas day with the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Church. Yet, we are to continue to “sing and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “dwell” with us as both Priest and King. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.

“Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch” (Zechariah 3:8 NLT)

From: December 22, 2014

“The Branch” is a title referring to a coming King in the line of David. The Davidic line in Zechariah’s day was preserved (in Zerubbabel), but no longer in possession of the throne. A branch is part of a family tree that has yet to reach its climax. One from David’s line would again take the throne, yet in this future day this “Servant/Branch” would be both King and Priest. The high priest, Jeshua (Yeshua, Jesus), and his fellow priests were “symbols of things to come,” they foreshadowed the coming Messiah who would combine the offices of king and high priest and make all of His followers a kingdom of priests with Him. This messianic prophecy is partially fulfilled in Christ’s first coming, but will be completely fulfilled in His soon return.