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 Yahweh’s word, the heavens were made: all their army 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 let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s 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	As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all. 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 can believe, all things are possible to him 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	Seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue. 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 shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be 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 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, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of 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 his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. creation Jesus following
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 31:10	Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. 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 with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 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 manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor 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	Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are today. 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	Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. 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, being rich in mercy, for his 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	For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet 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 now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law. 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	I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. 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	We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. trust love God
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. Psalm 33:22	Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped 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 take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. 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	May Yahweh our God be with us as he was with our fathers. Let him not leave us or forsake 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 doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was 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	But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things 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 the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest. Spirit pentecost