Now (3/4)

The birth of Jesus Christ occurred in this way. When his mother… Matthew 1:18

The birth of Jesus Christ occurred in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18	This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. christmas Holy Spirit miracles
He continued, “Then put away the foreign gods from among you. Bend your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:23	“All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” idols heart purification

Then Nehemiah added: “You now may go. Eat rich food and drink what is sweet. Moreover, send some of these to those for whom nothing has been prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Furthermore, do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10	And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” food giving joy
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are peacemakers. James 3:18	And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. righteousness peace harvest
I urge you, brethren, to watch out for those who incite dissensions and obstacles in opposition to the teaching that you have learned. Take care to avoid them. Romans 16:17	And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. holiness community evil
May the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant— make you perfect in every respect so that you may do his will. And may he enable us to achieve what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21	Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. peace covenant resurrection
The one who provides seed for sowing and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10	For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. righteousness food giving
Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help and he will not immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26:53	Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? protection Jesus angels
May the God of perseverance and encouragement grant that you may live in harmony with one another, following in the example of Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5	May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. community encouragement patience
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, about whose coming you have been told, and that it is already in the world. 1 John 4:2-3	This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. Spirit Jesus acknowledging
Behold, we are now going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised to life. Matthew 20:18-19	“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” easter Jesus sacrifice
The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. Acts 4:32	All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. materialism community
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may grow rich in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13	I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. faith Spirit hope
After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men traveled from the east and arrived in Jerusalem, inquiring, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.” Matthew 2:1-2	Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” christmas worship
Jesus answered, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive in this age a hundred times more houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and lands—as well as persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30	“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.” evangelism blessing persecution
Everyone who seeks a prize submits himself to rigorous self-discipline in every respect. They do so to win a perishable crown, while we seek an imperishable one. 1 Corinthians 9:25	All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. self-control reward eternal life
While physical training has some value, the benefits of godliness are unlimited, since it holds out promise not only for this life but also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8	Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. health obedience life
After John had baptized all the people, and while Jesus was engaged in prayer after also having been baptized, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22	One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” baptism prayer Spirit
Godliness produces great gain, but only to those who are content. 1 Timothy 6:6	Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. faith joy materialism
Brethren, I exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to be in full agreement with one another and not permit any divisions to arise among you. Be perfectly united in mind and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10	I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. community family transformation
At the time that discipline is received, it always seems painful rather than pleasant, but afterward it yields a harvest of peace and uprightness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11	No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. righteousness peace children
This is the end of my teaching. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for that is the responsibility of everyone. Ecclesiastes 12:13	That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. awe law life
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. Matthew 19:30	But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. reward
You have already been cleansed by the word I have spoken to you. John 15:3	You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. purification Word of God speaking
Cure the sick who are there, and say, ‘The kingdom of God has come unto you.’ Luke 10:9	Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ healing sickness nearness

Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the prophets of that time proclaimed. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Forsake your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they refused to listen or to pay attention to me, says the Lord.

Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’