Please acknowledge that His rule and reign on earth is not yet, although He is sovereignly in control as He allows nations, kings, and leaders to rise and fall: “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” (Prov. 21:1; Dan. 2:21)

Things will drastically change when the King comes. His kingdom will rule over all the earth. Remember, the Rapture will occur first—the dead in Christ will rise, and the Church will be caught up to meet the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) in the air.

Then the seven years of tribulation: the Antichrist emerges; the false prophet leads politically, economically, and religiously; the mark of the beast; a pseudo peace plan with Israel; and God’s judgments in the form of seven seals, trumpets, and bowls. All of this will culminate in the battle of Armageddon, when Jesus Christ defeats the Antichrist’s armies and establishes His kingdom on earth.

1. JESUS CHRIST’S BIRTH WAS PROPHESIED! (Isaiah 9:6) – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

PRAISE the LORD! He is more than WONDERFUL! He is the COUNSELLOR of all COUNSELORS.
His MIGHT has no limits.
His REIGN is everlasting.
His JUDGMENTS are inescapable.
His PEACE is unparalleled.

Beyond that:

His NAME is above every name,
His GRACE is sufficient,
His LOVE is satisfying,
His ARM is not shortened,
His EAR is not heavy,
His EYE is penetrating,
His WORD is a strong tower,
His BIRTH is supernatural,
His LIFE is prophetical,
His DEATH is substitutional,
His PREDICTIONS were substantial,
His POWER is amazing,
His TOUCH is transformational,
His FORGIVENESS is sweet,
His PROVISION is timely,
His COMFORT is matchless,
His CREATION is unimaginable,
His SOVEREIGNTY is incomparable,
His GIFTS are unspeakable,
His CALLING is universal,
His WAYS are superior to all human wisdom!

His CROSS is liberating,
His BLOOD is purifying,
His HEAVEN is outstanding,
His PROMISES are unbreakable,
His MIRACLES are irreversible,
His PRESENCE is undeniable,
His GOODNESS is superlative,
His RESURRECTION is irrefutable,
His SECOND COMING is unprecedented,
His GLORY is insurmountable,
And His SALVATION is unchangeable!

Hallelujah!

2. JESUS CHRIST WILL IMPLEMENT HIS EARTHLY KINGDOM! (Isaiah 9:6–7)

Isaiah continues:

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even forever.”

Isaiah makes it clear that JESUS is in control:

“…and the government shall be upon his shoulder… Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end…”

“HE’S GOT you and me, sister, in HIS HANDS!”

One day soon, JESUS CHRIST will come again and set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth.
He will rule with a rod of iron from Jerusalem.

Isaiah writes that when the KING comes:

Conclusion: Jesus is in CONTROL; therefore, let Him take CONTROL of your life! Is He in control of your life?

Never forget: “HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS!”

1. How did Satan attempt to devour Jesus Christ at the first CHRISTMAS? (Rev. 12:1–5) – “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads… and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

2. Why will Satan try to stop Jesus Christ in His SECOND COMING? (Rev. 12:5,17) – “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”

The word “rule” is ποιμαίνω — to shepherd, to care for, to govern.

Bottom line: Jesus Christ will rule all the nations (ethnos).

Satan knows his time is short: “…for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev. 12:12)

Time is running out for the devil!

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17)

If you read this whole chapter, you will discover that the apostle Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit to write concerning some important principles of giving. For example, the principle of giving cheerfully is mentioned, as well as giving bountifully.

Do you give cheerfully? Are you sowing bountifully? Remember: our God gave His very BEST — Himself!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

There we have it. God’s purpose for coming to this earth was to pay man’s sin debt. By being crucified on a cross — suffering, bleeding, and ultimately dying — sinful man could be reconciled to holy God.

However, just to know this intellectually is not enough to go to heaven. Instead, receiving this GIFT by GRACE alone through FAITH alone in CHRIST alone is what saves.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8–9)

John wrote, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)

You see, the demons believe in JESUS but have never RECEIVED JESUS.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) 

In other words, mere acknowledgment of God does not forgive sin. One must turn from sin and trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:22).

1. Take time to SLOW DOWN your busy pace. (Matt. 6:25–34) – “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ….. O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

2. Be deliberate in building UP your RELATIONSHIPS. (Col. 3:8–14) – “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man… Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

3. Watch OUT for unresolved conflicts. (Heb. 12:14) – “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

4. Stay FOCUSED on our Lord’s will. (Phil. 3:10–14) – “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

5. CREATE an atmosphere of unconditional LOVE. (1 John 3:14) – “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

3. Turn on your lights if you want others to WITNESS JESUS by the Power of God! (1 John 1:1–3) – “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

1. JESUS CHRIST’S birth was PROPHESIED! (Isa 9:6) – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

2. JESUS CHRIST will IMPLEMENT HIS earthly KINGDOM! (Isa 9:6–7) – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.”

Conclusion: Go ahead and make up your mind that this CHRISTMAS you are going to honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Bring out the BEST!

With that in mind, check out what the apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Church as well as us today.

Truthfully, since JESUS gave His BEST, how can we do anything less than our best?

Application:

Introduction: Are you going through a hard time? Read Romans 15. It will encourage you. As you read, notice the different phrases the Holy Spirit led Paul to write.