Faith Bible Fellowship

Pastor Lee Copeland
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Merry Christmas in 2007,

One reason we can be merry is that the birth of Jesus is announcing the beginning of the New Age, known in our time as the Age of Grace. Yet this joyful time did not come in peace and goodwill, but in conflict with the kingdom of darkness. (We will study Matthew 2:16-23) Satan’s minion, Herod the Great, is the poster child for all those who would try to defeat the purposes of God in Christ Jesus. He is certainly seen in his true character as the dragon who comes to kill and destroy. One lesson we must learn: never argue with evil, but flee. If we will not obey the Lord we are no match for the wiles of the evil one. Obey the Word: 2 Tm. 2:22 “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. We run away from sinful desires, never giving them time, and by doing that we stand firm against the devil’s clever schemes.” If we try to out reason the devil or justify our actions to him we will lose. His arguments of “oh, why not?’ or “just once won’t hurt” are familiar to us all.
Jeremiah 31 is the source of Matthew’s quote in verse 18, and is worthy of careful reading this week. It also contains the promise of God in the middle of Israel’s defeat that the kingdom will be restored and the people returned to the land. The New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34) will be different from the Law of Moses for God will indwell true believers and their sins will be removed. We, in the church, are part of this now, but the fullness of this covenant lies in the future. As Israel came out of persecution into victory so Christ will from this present humiliation emerge as the true Son who brings victory to God’s people.
See if you can find the Old Testament source of “and he shall be called a Nazarene.” What does Matthew mean by this description of Jesus? Remember what Nathaniel said about Nazareth in John 1:46.
This is a very difficult but insightful passage into the life of Jesus. It gives us one of the reasons Christians are hated by the world, and why it is good to remember we are strangers just passing through. The world is a battleground, not a playground, and quite often belief in Jesus will bring a sword into our family life as we stand against proud and selfish family members and others who in many respects may be very nice people. Note Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Even Mary was told “a sword will pierce your own soul.”
Please pray with me that the Lord will help us see reality despite the darkness in the world. Remember the victory is already ours in Jesus who defeated Satan and his demons. We may not always have fun or pleasure in life, but in Christ we can experience genuine joy as we believe the Gospel and enter into its treasures.

See you Sunday,

Lee