From the desk of Steve Shultz:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.—Luke 2:10-11
All of us here at the ElijahList want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. He is the "Joy to the World."
Tiffany Ann Lewis:
Joy to the World
Within this timeless Christmas carol, Joy to the World, the Lord has placed a prophetic "chord" for such a time as this. There are some powerful truths revealed within the lyrics.
...Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people.—Luke 2:10
Joy to the World, the Lord is Come
Joy to the World, the Lord is come...The joy of the Lord came into focus the day Jesus Christ was born. However, this moment wasn't a miracle that was only in the distant past; the Lord will come in the same powerful way to every heart that will prepare Him room today. It is literally past, present, and it will be for the future. Let me explain.
In Biblical Hebrew, there is no tense. That might seem a little strange, but when you consider that God revealed Himself to the Hebrews as Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14), it begins to make more sense. God simply is. He has no beginning nor ending, nor do His words, nor does His powerful presence.
The root of this Name is Hayah (Strong's #1961). It has the fundamental meaning of: to exist, become, to be. Yet also contains the idea of an abiding presence, to accompany, to be with. You could translate this name as, "I will be-there however I will be-there."
This brings the understanding of Immanuel into a new light. Not only is God with us, Immanuel, but by His very nature He will become whatever we need. When we need peace, He is our Prince (Isaiah 9:6). When we are feeling unstable, He is our Rock (Psalm 18:2). When we need comfort, He is our Comforter (John 14:26). When we need advice, He is our Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). When we need a friend, He is there (John 15:15).
Let Earth Receive Her King
Let earth receive her King... We can receive our King and all His glory into our midst at any moment of any day. The Bible teaches us that we are clay, formed from the dust of the earth, and that humanity alone received the breath of life from the mouth of God.
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth..." (Song of Solomon 1:2) The Rabbis liken this passage to being the kiss of Torah, or the kiss of His Word. In Luke 8, Jesus likens the word of God to seed that is sown into the ground. It is through spending time with Him that we position ourselves to receive them.
When God speaks, His words are like seeds being deposited with the intention that they will grow and accomplish whatever it was that He sent that word out to do. Though we may grow weary waiting for the fruit to manifest, these kisses from God will breathe new life, new hope, and new strength into us time and time again. These kisses are like the fertilizer "Miracle Gro" to the Word that He implants deep within our being. What God speaks will be manifest in us...B'Shem Yeshua (in the name of Jesus)—Amen!
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room
Let every heart prepare Him room... Let's clean out our minds of things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and the words which He has sown into us. The doctor says it's cancer, His Word says by His stripes you are healed. The economy says we are in a recession, God's Word says His children will not be starving for bread. Your household is a mess, yet the Bible says that me and my household will serve the Lord.
I know the odds are impossible, but God works with the impossible. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Many have disputed whether the Hebrew word almah should be translated as virgin or as maiden. This isn't the article to discuss that, but I can say this from experience, a young woman getting pregnant is not much of a miracle, but a virgin...now that's a sign!
'Tis the season, beloved. Sights and sounds are filling the earth right now, reminding us just how possible all things are for God. Let these melodies encourage you in the power and presence of the Great I Am.
Maybe you've asked for a miracle and up till now there hasn't been one. Maybe you've even grown afraid to ask, fearing the crash of your hopes being let down again. Beloved, you're not alone; I have experienced that fear, too. However, Immanuel—God's Holy Spirit—is with us bearing witness to what the Lord has done and said (see John 14:26). I pray you are encouraged today that with God, all things—yes, all things—really are possible.
"You who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'" (Isaiah 40:9). Be not afraid, lift your voice, lift your hopes, dare to dream. Though we walk in the flesh and have no physical power over what comes against us, our weapons are mighty in God.
Joy came to the world. We can keep our eyes on Him, the One who saved the past, present, and future day and trust that He has and will make a way. Having done all we know to do we stand "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
And Heaven and Nature Sing
And Heaven and nature sing... After Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel she said, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47).
When Mary sang, she didn't know the fullness of it all but she knew enough to magnify the Lord. We don't know how it's all going to pan out either, but this side of the Cross we know enough to magnify God. I am not trying to minimize critical circumstances, only to magnify our miracle-making God.
Throughout the Bible, the Lord and His Salvation are most frequently cited as the reason for joy. What is happening in our lives may not be "good," but we can experience joy because we know that God is good and He's got it covered. The Gospel of Jesus Christ frees the entire person. It frees the body, giving us bodily healing; it heals our soul—the emotional realm, from all types of demonic oppression; and our spirit is free to inherit eternal life.
Yeah, God!
Joy – Joy – JOY. Beloved, we cannot let the devil dampen that joy or silence our shouts of grace, because these shouts have the power to move mountains. Speak joy out into the atmosphere. Joy...the Lord has/is/and will come! We have to continue to lift up our voice and speak no matter how many times we've done it before.
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat, the sounding joy...and fill the earth with the knowledge of God. Amen and Amen.
Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries
Email: tiffanyann@tiffanyannlewis.com
