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The Christmas Experience, Pt 3

Experience God's Power 

If you would like to extend this over a week, you can easily do one of the points each day of your devotion.  Here is a printable version.
Read:

Matthew 2:1-16 - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?   We saw his star in the east  and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem, in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod.  And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet:  "Out of Egypt I called my son." 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Question:  How would you describe Christmas compared to other holidays?  ___________________
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Question: 
How would you characterize your attitude during the Christmas season?  As busy, occupied with other things, or in awe of God?  _____________________________________________________________

*  What I know to be true about you is that if we were to go out and have a conversation today you'd probably say -- the majority, not everybody, but the majority would probably say, "I want a life where Jesus Christ is the center of my life."

Question:  So why are there so many Christ followers who don't have a life where Jesus Christ is the center of their life?  _______________________________________________________________________________________
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What do you think stops them?  _________________________________________________________________
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*  Here's what I think:  Too many believers live by human power, not God's power.

Key:  All Herod's power was HUMAN power.  

Question: 
With all of that power, what does the next verse say happened to him?  _________________________
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Matthew 2:19 - After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt...

*  Herod missed it.  When Jesus came, Herod thought Jesus came to threaten him.  Jesus really came to save him.  Herod thought Jesus came to make his life uncomfortable.  Jesus really came to bring comfort.  Herod thought that Jesus was going to steal his power.  But Jesus came to give him real power.

Christmas is God's power in action!

1.  The PRESENCE of God reveals the POWER of God and brings the PEACE of God to your life.

1 Corinthians 4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Question:  When it comes to the power of God in your life, how would you evaluate it?  ________
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Psalm 68:35 - You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

When can I count on God's power?

2.  When I'm afraid, when I'm uncomfortable, and when I'm ____________________________________.

Question:  What did you fill in the blank?  ________________________________________________________

Isaiah 40:28-29 - Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  

Question:  What is the promise in that verse?  ___________________________________________________
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Question: What is the requirement for God's power?  ___________________________________________
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2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in the weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Three steps to access God's power?

1.  I must ADMIT my need.

1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  

Question:  What do you think "humble yourself" means?  _______________________________________
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Definition of humble in 1 Peter 5:6.

(I)  Particularly (Luke 3:5, "every mountain and hill shall be brought low (made level)," quoted from Isaiah 40:4.)

(II)  Figuratively as to condition, circumstances, to bring low, to humble, abase.  With the acc., to humble himself, to make himself of low condition, to be poor and need (Matthew 18:4; 2 Corinthians 11:7).  Mid. or pass. (Philippians 4:12; Sept.:  Proverbs 13:7; Isaiah 2:9, 12).  In mind, to make humble through disappointment (2 Corinthians 12:21).  In the pass. (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14).  With the idea of contrition and penitence toward God (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6; Sept.:  Isaiah 5:15; 10:33).  See Genesis 16:9, Isaiah 58:3, 5.  (From The Complete Word Study Dictionary:  New Testament, copyright 1992 by AMG International, Inc. Revised Edition, 1993)

*  You might want to look up the passages listed to understand the definition of humble better.

2.  I must PLUG into God.

John 15:5 - "I am the vine' you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Question:  List some ways that you plug in to God.  _____________________________________________
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*  Worship, Bible reading, Bible memorization, and prayer are just a few.

Question:  Which of these (or perhaps one you listed) do you need to work on?  ________________
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3.  I must STEP OUT in faith.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Question:  What is your definition of faith?  _____________________________________________________
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Question:  Does your faith have action?  If not, why not?  _______________________________________
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1 Corinthians 2:5 - ...so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Question:  Can you describe a time when you relied on God's wisdom instead of man's?  How did it turn out?  ___________________________________________________________________________________
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*  Spend some time in prayer and mediation on Romans 8:17.

Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.








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