By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
Using The Twilight Zone’s “The Masks” as metaphor, the essay warns against judging by appearances. Outward beauty, kindness, or smiles can conceal evil. Christians must discern teachers by fruit and doctrine, not charm.
Continue reading “Wolves Wear Smiles”By Elizabeth Prata
In 1744 Charles Wesley wrote “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”. It is a beautiful hymn, and one that is played frequently at Christmastime. Jesus promised to come, and He DID come.
His coming was expected. But it was also unexpected.
1. TIME. His coming took a long time, and in the meantime the world was subjected to a global flood which killed all humans except 8; long epochs of the endless cycles of war, peace, famine, drought, plenty; and the creation groaned and still groans. He took a long time to come since the Garden’s promise. The length of time was unexpected But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, (Galatians 4:4)
2. WAY. The manner of His coming was indicated in the Bible but still, when the reality presented itself, the uniqueness of the event was unexpected. A virgin shall conceive? Infinite God pouring Himself into a babe, becoming flesh? Hard to understand, and, unexpected.
3. SERVE. He is King. Kings rule in glorious robes, they don’t get born in a barn among the filthy animals. They don’t arrive impoverished and alone. They don’t get born with no fanfare, trumpets, and heralds announcing it all. And of all people the actual heralds (the angels) appeared to in order to announce the Messiah’s birth- Shepherds?! The lowest of the low. He came to serve, not be served. (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 13:1-17). All this was unexpected!
4. DEPART. A King rules & reigns as long as he can. He does not abdicate. He stays healthy so he can keep ruling. He produces heirs so he will have his legacy. He doesn’t enter into his kingdom and leave a few short years later. He doesn’t delay coming into his physical kingdom until centuries later. But Jesus did. Even the disciples didn’t quite understand, they asked more than once, “Lord So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). It was unexpected that the kingdom would be spiritual for centuries then physical, later. It was unexpected that Jesus would ascend.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says,
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I am glad for that. I would not respect a god I could figure out, or know more than. He is majestic and inscrutable. However, for all that being true, He deigned to reveal Himself and His plans to us through His prophets and then His written word. We serve a wonderful God!
By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
The essay argues that while God used dreams during Christ’s advent and occasionally in Scripture, revelatory dreams ceased with the completed biblical canon. Claims of divine dreams, including Muslim visions, contradict Scripture’s sufficiency and misapply Joel and Acts, affirming Scripture alone as God’s final revelation.
Continue reading “Muslim Dreams, Modern Prophets, and Biblical Truth”Kay Cude poetry. Used with permission. Right-Click to enlarge in new tab, or read text below
Beautiful poetry, just beautiful.
Our Sustenance, Our Rest
REST WELL
“I cried aloud to the Lord, and He answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.” Psalm 3:4-5.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’ For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.” Psalm 91:1-6
“And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:5
EVEN NOW
Comes now the eve with silver robes and wraps day’s amber glow, with shadows low, subdues the beams to quit our daily woes. How grateful we to take our leave within those slumber hours; and slip away into respite — how rich the time of drowse!
O gentle night, your eyelids close upon our fretful thoughts; through purposed acts of God’s good grace our sleep His care has wrought. O God our Father, God our Lord, You sate our anxious hearts; prepare each morn, prepare us well — each day Your will impart.
Tomorrow’s dawn may break suspect, there’s evil neath the sun; though quick feet run towards its foul shrill, such steps will be shortrun. As eve to night, and night to dawn, so nears God’s Day of Wrath; His pow’r will judge all evil borne, and evil can’t surpass.
EVEN THEN
Rest well redeemed, though evil is and death from you takes life; op’n now your eyes, look to His plan — His purpose will suffice. As ends this eve let rest ensue, soon evil will surcease; tis’ Christ who keeps our lives by His, and by His grace increase.
By Him you’ll be removed from here, but at His timing’s choice; when He ordains we suffer here, tis cause that we rejoice! A greater purpose for our pain dwells there within His will; take comfort that His Sovereignty in us deep faith instills.
kay cude, May 2016 AD©.
Text by author Kay Cude purposed solely for non-profit sharing. Image without text available at http://static.hdw.eweb4.com/media/thumbs/1/111/1108188.jpg
By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
Modern Christian conferences have increasingly become large-scale spectacles marked by celebrity culture, political influence, and sensory excess, often eclipsing biblical discernment and local church life. The author urges believers to resist “bigger is better,” guard their spiritual intake, and pursue humble, Scripture-centered worship over show-driven faith.
Continue reading “The Gospel Stands Alone: Against Spectacle and Political Faith”By Elizabeth Prata
We are at the end of our look at the life of Jesus through scripture. The first section of His life was seen through verses focused on prophecy, arrival, and early life.
The next section of verses looked at Him as the Son, second person of the Trinity.
Continue reading “Advent- Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 30, He sat down”By Elizabeth Prata
We are coming toward the end of our look at the life of Jesus through scripture. The first section of His life was seen through verses focused on prophecy, arrival, and early life.
The next section of verses looked at Him as the Son, second person of the Trinity. In that section, we proceeded into looking at Jesus as the Son’s preeminence, His works, and His ministry. Under ministry & works, I chose verses showing His attributes and aspects of being servant, teacher, shepherd, intercessor, and compassionate healer; and His attributes of omniscience, having all authority and power, and sinlessness.
Continue reading “Advent: Thirty Days of Jesus- Day 29, Ascension”By Elizabeth Prata
We are coming toward the end of our look at the life of Jesus through scripture. The first section of His life was seen through verses focused on prophecy, arrival, and early life.
The next section of verses looked at Him as the Son, second person of the Trinity.
Continue reading “Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 28, Resurrection of central importance”By Elizabeth Prata
SYNOPSIS
This advent season, we reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus, highlighting the significant roles of angels. From announcing His birth to guiding the Wise Men, angels were actively involved throughout His life. Their presence serves as a reminder of God’s ongoing engagement in human affairs.
Continue reading “Angels in the nativity, and elsewhere!”By Elizabeth Prata
This section of verses that show Jesus’ life are focused on His attributes. In His earthly ministry we’ve seen Him as servant, teacher, shepherd, intercessor, and healer. We then looked at His attributes of omniscience, His authority, and now His sinlessness.
He came from glory where righteousness reigns. He descended to an earth that’s cursed where every single human is depraved, thoroughly drenched with a sin nature. He lived among us, sinlessly and perfectly fulfilling the Father’s commands for righteous living. He did this at every moment in every way. Not one blot, not one thought, not one act of anything less than perfection.
For this, He was reviled, mocked, hated, and killed.
He did it for us.
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Further Reading:
The Cripplegate/Nate Busenitz: In what way was Jesus ‘made sin’ on the cross? Excerpt:
In what sense did Jesus become “sin on our behalf”? Does that phrase mean that Jesus literally became a sinner on the cross? …
Based on the above passages, we can safely determine what 2 Corinthians 5:21 does not mean. It cannot mean that Jesus became unrighteous, or that He became a sinner, or that He took on a sin nature, or that He literally embodied sin. … So, then what does it mean? This brings us to our third point. … 3. The best way to understand Paul’s statement (that Jesus became sin on our behalf) is in terms of imputation. Our sin was imputed to Christ, such that He became a substitutionary sacrifice or sin offering for all who would believe in Him.
GotQuestions: Why does Christ’s righteousness need to be imputed to us?
On the cross, Jesus took our sin upon Himself and purchased our salvation. We have “been justified by his blood” (Romans 5:9), and part of that justification is an imputation of His own righteousness. Paul puts it this way: “For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus is righteous by virtue of His very nature—He is the Son of God. By God’s grace, “through faith in Jesus Christ,” that righteousness is given “to all who believe” (Romans 3:22). That’s imputation: the giving of Christ’s righteousness to sinners.
Ligonier: Jesus’ Sinless Life
Jesus lived a representative life. Jesus lived a sinless life, and it was, therefore, a life of representative sinlessness. Our Lord’s obedience stands in the place of His people’s sin. His law-keeping is counted as the law-keeping of those who have faith in Him.
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Thirty Days of Jesus Series-
Introduction/Background
Prophecies:
Day 1: The Virgin shall conceive
Day 2: A shoot from Jesse
Day 3: God sent His Son in the fullness of time
Day 4: Marry her, she will bear a Son
Birth & Early Life-
Day 5: The Babe has arrived!
Day 6: The Glory of Jesus
Day 7: Magi seek the Child
Day 8: The Magi Offer gifts & worship
Day 9: The Child Grew
Day 10- the Boy Jesus at the Temple
Day 11: He was Obedient
The Second Person of the Trinity-
Day 12: The Son!
Day 13: God is pleased with His Son
Day 14: Propitiation
Day 15: The Gift of Eternal Life
Day 16: Kingdom of Darkness to Light
Day 17: Jesus’ Preeminence
Day 18: The Highest King
Day 19: He emptied Himself
Day 20: Jesus as The Teacher
Day 21: The Good Shepherd
Day 22: The Intercessor
Day 23: The Compassionate Healer
Attributes
Day 24: Jesus’ Omniscience
Day 25: Jesus’ Authority
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