Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we begin our Christmas series, Emmanuel, where we are reflecting on the promises regarding God coming to us in Jesus. At present, I'm only posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Today, from Genesis 3:15, we reflect on the spiritual war that we are engaged in - a war that will be won because God has come to us in Christ.
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‘“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”’ (Genesis 3:15)
Our world is filled with immense beauty and wonder; do you know that there are approximately 17,500 species of butterflies worldwide! However, it’s also filled with great suffering. Christmas itself is a season of so much joy and promise whilst also being, for many, the most miserable period of the year! Our world and all that is in it has been affected by The Fall of mankind into sin. Paul speaks of our experience of suffering, and the fallen conditions of the world and our great hope:
‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.’ (Romans 8:18-21)
Added to creation’s ‘frustration’, we must also understand that the spiritual realm has also undergone a breakdown in order. Along with Satan, hordes of angels rebelled against God and are now treacherously working together against all that bears the glory and goodness of God.
Today, I want us to remember that Christmas was the moment that God came into this broken world in order to begin its restoration. Christmas doesn’t end at the stable, but it ends with the restoration of all things, and the end of all sin and the causes of sin. The gift of Jesus is the harbinger of the gift of The New Heavens and The New Earth.
Until that day, when we are promised that, ‘the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God’, we are involved in the holy war. Whilst we are on the earth, we are to join with Jesus to bring people out of the Kingdom of Darkness and In The Kingdom of Light.
Let’s pray together as we finish
“Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into this fallen world. You are the creator and yet you died to redeem creation. Help me to be alert and prayerful against spiritual forces of evil whilst also being filled with the joy and hope that you give. Amen”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Let’s ensure that we are aware of our carol service next week and that we are carol singing in Roehampton on the 15th.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
This week, being ’SIV Week’, we want to give extra focus on the SIV element.
On Sunday we began our Christmas series entitled ‘Emmanuel - God With Us’. During this series, we’ll be reflecting on some of the Biblical great promises regarding Jesus’ coming and His work.
In our first message, from Genesis 3:15, we considered God’s gracious promise, after the rebellion and fall of mankind, that Jesus would come and, ultimately, bring sin and suffering to an end.
Please read Genesis 3:15 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything from Sunday’s message that would encourage others?
How does the context of this promise reveal the love and grace of God?
What does the promise say of Jesus’ suffering and His victory?
SIV - What does this promise tell us about our mission?
SIV - Let’s discuss and pray for those we plan to invite to our carol service, next week on the 8th.
Let’s pray together: Pray for one another out of our study together and for anything else for which anyone would like prayer.
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