For unto us a child is born (3/4)

The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the… Psalm 33:6

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. Psalm 33:6	By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. creation speaking heaven
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1	Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. sin life overcoming

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5	Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything. God understanding
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Mark 9:23	Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” faith miracles healing
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3	His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. strength life receiving
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31	What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? God encouragement protection
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12	For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. righteousness prayer listening
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” John 8:34	Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” addiction sin slavery
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10	For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. creation Jesus following
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 31:10	A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. valuable marriage relationships
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:10	For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. faith speaking salvation
But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are! Nehemiah 9:31	Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. grace mercy nearness
And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. Deuteronomy 6:24	Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case. obedience blessing law
“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 2:13	Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. heart grace love
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5	But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ —by grace you have been saved—. mercy love Jesus
Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:7-8	Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. sin salvation death
But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. Hebrews 8:6	But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. Jesus covenant mediator
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8	Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” prophecy evangelism speaking
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16	So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. trust love God
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Psalm 33:22	Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. trust reliability hope
You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24	You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. widows orphans
May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. 1 Kings 8:57	The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors; may he not leave us or abandon us. nearness reliability family
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5	And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. hope heart Spirit
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 1 Corinthians 2:10	These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. God Spirit planning
Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Isaiah 32:15	Until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Spirit pentecost