The Angel of the Lord

Most people think of an angel as a handsome, feminine, or babyish figure in a white dress, a glowing halo over the head, and white feathery wings. That popular image is not Biblical. In fact, the word angel in the Bible simply means messenger.

There is an unique angel or messenger described in at least six of the Old Testament books of the Bible. He is called The Angel of the Lord.

Consider some of the unique actions and characteristics of this heavenly messenger. The Angel of the Lord:

• possessed power to give life (Genesis 16:10)
• was all-knowing (Genesis 16:13; Exodus 3:7)
• forgave sin (Exodus 23:20-22; Isaiah 43:25)
• blessed God’s people (Genesis 16:7-12; 48:16)
• accepted sacrifices and offerings given to the Lord as worship (Judges 6:18-22)
• made and kept covenants (Judges 2:1)
• is holy (Joshua 5:13-15)
• spoke as God (Genesis 22:12)
• is called the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25)
• is called Jehovah (Genesis 16:13; 32:30; Exodus 3:2, 6; Judges 6:22-23; 13:21-22)

This Angel or Messenger of Jehovah is none less than Jesus before His virgin birth.

When the Bible claims it reveals God throughout its pages (Psalm 40:7; Luke 24:27, 32, 44-45; Hebrews 10:7), we understand that the eternal Son of God, Jesus, was actively working in the affairs of this world before His earthly birth, together in harmony with the Father and the Spirit.

Click here to listen to more of this sermon.

The Lamb of God

Cold grey mist lingered in the air just above the ground, typical this time of the year. Another spring morning in Bethlehem, and the thin layer of green grass poked through the littering of rock.  Legend is that when God created the world, the angel carrying rocks from Heaven accidentally spilled most of his load all in one place: Israel. Any visitor to Bethlehem might wonder if the legend isn’t true.

Only days before, shepherds began leading their flocks out into the fields to pasture. The weather had been too cold up until then for the ewes and their little lambs to be in the fields all night. Today would be their first to remain outside together. In a few hours the fog would burn away, the sun warming the ground and the sheep’s fine wool.

The morning of anticipation was added to by the arrival of a man and his wife into the cave the sheep called home. There was plenty of room with the flocks leaving for the pasture lands, but many would wonder at the wisdom of these city folk in a sheep pen.

The night grew dark except for the pinpoints of a thousand stars in the sky above. Sheep lay still in the short-walled enclosure while shepherds warmed themselves by the fire, telling tales of mysteries of long, long ago. Without warning the black sky burst with a brilliant light as thousands of tiny stars erupted into glorious figures of heavenly angels singing with choral voices: GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN (Luke 2:14)!

The shepherds hurriedly made their way back to Bethlehem and the cave they had abandoned earlier in the day. There, these keepers of sheep and little lambs found a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. This newborn Child, hailed by the host of Heaven and seen by keepers of sheep, was the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Nothing About You is Insignificant

Wyoming springtime (RLR 2014)

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Colossians 1:16-17)

Contrary to common thought, Jesus didn’t come into being on a cold December night 2,000 years ago in a Bethlehem stable. The Bible identifies Jesus as the Creator of everything in the heavens and on the earth, both things we see and can’t see. Among these unseen things are a host of spiritual beings Paul listed and were commonly accepted by Jews in Paul’s day.

To have created all things in the heavens and on the earth, Jesus had to exist before everything He created.

He is the eternal Creator and more! He is the eternal Lord of Creation. As sovereign Master over His creation, the Bible says that “in Him all things consist.” Jesus created the universe and everything in it, and Hebrews 1:3 says He keeps it from falling apart or failing in chaos.

Paul also wrote that all things were created for Him, for His glory, honor, and purpose. In other words, all of creation – from flowers and mountains, clouds and stars, people and porcupines – has a divine purpose found in Jesus. Without Him, everything is meaningless.

Acts 17:26 says in Him we live and move and have our being. Jesus is your Creator, the One who sustains your life, and the One in whom you have meaning and purpose. Nothing about you or your life is insignificant to Him.

O Holy Night – John S Dwight (1847)

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Wise Men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

 … that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11)

He Died for His Wife

My Grandparents, Edward and Helen Losli

My grandparents had a wonderful, yet interesting marriage. The last decades of their lives they had what seemed to be a well-timed trade off.

My grandmother had many serious heart ailments and multiple heart surgeries from the time I was old enough to know what those terms meant. But as far as I know, my grandfather was in great health, but that changed as they aged. When my grandmother’s health failed, my grandfather was strong; but when he became ill and incapacitated, she was surprisingly strong.

My grandfather lived for my grandmother, but he didn’t die for her.

The Bible describes the relationship between Christ Jesus and the Church as like that of husband and wife. Yet there is a vast difference between Him and the Church and earthly husbands and wives. Jesus suffered more for the Church than any human husband has ever suffered.

Jesus suffered the loss of all He possessed, surrendering His splendor as Heaven’s born Prince to shelter in the womb of a servant girl. The King became a pauper by choice.

The Glory of God became a helpless Babe, a rough-handed Carpenter, a Suffering Servant and Man of Sorrows. He was humiliated, despised, and crucified between thieves. The Creator who adorned the blackness of space with flickering stars by the word of His power, was crowned with bloody thorns. The Friend to sinners died to make us friends of God.

Without concern for His own welfare, Jesus, the Bridegroom plunged into the ocean depths of the Father’s wrath to become the rescue for His bride.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).