Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:14 – Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men – this is what happens when Jesus enters in to the scene.
When we celebrate the Incarnation, we celebrate the fact that Jesus entered into our world, but not only for that. Jesus entered in to our world and made the way for us to enter in to His. When He was about to leave, He told the disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3). He came in with peace, and He left us with peace (John 14:27).
Jesus had deity and humanity, the Son of God and the Son of Man (Psalm 2:7 / Hebrews 1:4-14 / Philippians 2:5-11 / John 1:14 / Matthew 10:1 / John 3:34 / Acts 10:38). Kinsman redeemer – His divinity possesses power, righteousness, and life, which by His humanity are conveyed to us.
Because He lives, those who will dare believe, live also.
Jesus partook of humanity that we might partake of divinity. All of the Apostle Paul’s writings proclaim this fact (Romans 5:5, 8:9, 15-16, 23 / 1 Corinthians 2:10, 3:16, 6:19 / 2 Corinthians 1:22, 3:18, 5:5, 13:14 / Galatians 2:20, 5:22-23 / Ephesians 1:14, 4:3-6, 4:30 / Philippians 1:19-21, 2:1, 3:3 / Colossians 1:9-11, 27 / 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, 4:8, 5:19 / 2 Thessalonians 2:13 / 2 Timothy 1:14 / Titus 3:5), not to mention Peter and John’s as well. Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to empower us. The New Testament is replete with this fact.
Jesus entered in to the human race that we might enter in to the Holy Place. Jesus carried His cross and went into the presence of God, so that we might also carry our cross, follow Him, and enter in (Hebrews 9:12, 24, 10:19-22). We can enter in to fellowship intimately with God.
Just as it was back then, Jesus enters in by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not only your destination, but your destiny; the end of the road and the road itself (John 14:6, 17:3).
Jesus is always entering in on behalf of the Father, and on behalf of His children. When sin entered into the world, God already had a plan for His Son to enter in (Genesis 3:15). Abraham knew the plan (John 8:56 / Galatians 3:8), Moses knew the plan (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), Isaiah knew the plan (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-4, 53:1-12, 61:1-3), and all the prophets spoke of the plan (Acts 3:24).
Mary was a virgin but had a baby (Luke 2) – with the favor of God, nothing is impossible (Romans 8:32). Mary was from the line of David yet she was obscured; it took Jesus to fulfill her destiny. How did this happen? The world will keep your identity down, but Jesus!
When Jesus enters in, things change. When we think about Jesus we think about the Virgin Birth, but this isn’t the only time God brought about an unusual birth. Sarah was barren and too old and yet she had a baby (Genesis 11:30, 16:1, 21:1-3) – God is faithful to His promises.
Abimelech obeyed God, turned from evil, and the wombs of his people were opened (Genesis 20:1-18) – repentance brings healing.
Rachel had a closed womb, but God remembered her and she had a baby (Genesis 29:31, 30:1-2, 22-23) – He takes away disgrace and gives much grace. He causes you to be fruitful.
Hannah had a closed womb but had a baby (1 Samuel 1:1-11, 19-2:10) – She promised and praised; she received a child and God received the glory.
Elisabeth was barren and too old but she also had a baby (Luke 1:7, 13, 24-25) – He hears our prayers and He brings joy and gladness.
Jesus not only entered in by the Incarnation, and not only in the lives of the saints of old, He also enters in to our struggles today. He showed His sympathy by coming to the world, and He shows His empathy by His role as our High Priest.
Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone.
Empathy is feeling the sorrow of someone.
Sympathy – Hebrews 2:14-18 – He has compassion for you – He has a pro-attitude toward you – He entered in to the pain of the world – He felt the pain and discouragement (Isaiah 49:1-6) – He was motivated to trust God and continue in action – we are called to action, to enter in for others (Romans 12:15 / 1 Corinthians 12:26).
Empathy – Hebrews 4:14-16 – He can feel your pain now – He knows what we are going through – Empathy refers to the ability to perceive and experientially feel another person's emotions – He identifies – Our pain enters into Him – we should enter in to Him and for others because He has and does enter in for us (Hebrews 7:25 / 10:19-22 / 13:3).
Jesus entered in to the world situation that He might also enter in to your situation. Your dream, and your “baby being birthed” in this next year is about Jesus becoming “incarnate” in your life. It’s about Him living big on the inside of you (Galatians 4:19).
James 5:7-8 is primarily about the Second Coming of Christ, but it also applies to His coming to fulfill His word in our lives now, as does 2 Peter 3:9, and Hebrews 10:35-36.
When Israel was delivered out of bondage in Egypt, they had a battle to fight at Jericho, and Jesus entered in on God’s side (Joshua 5:13-15). After you have been delivered out of bondage, but still have battles to fight, Jesus will enter in, so be on God’s side (Isaiah 59:19).
He enters in like He did for Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Elisabeth, and Mary, and He will enter in for you too. The Gospel isn’t just for those who are lost, but for those who are on the way and those who have lost their way. The Gospel, Jesus entering in, is about salvation; but it is also about sanctification, our growth in grace in this life. When we enter in to the resting of the Gospel then the resting of the Gospel enters in to us (Hebrews 3:6-4:11).
Luke 2:14 – Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men – this is what happens when Jesus enters in to the scene.
When we celebrate the Incarnation, we celebrate the fact that Jesus entered into our world, but not only for that. Jesus entered in to our world and made the way for us to enter in to His. When He was about to leave, He told the disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3). He came in with peace, and He left us with peace (John 14:27).
Jesus had deity and humanity, the Son of God and the Son of Man (Psalm 2:7 / Hebrews 1:4-14 / Philippians 2:5-11 / John 1:14 / Matthew 10:1 / John 3:34 / Acts 10:38). Kinsman redeemer – His divinity possesses power, righteousness, and life, which by His humanity are conveyed to us.
Because He lives, those who will dare believe, live also.
Jesus partook of humanity that we might partake of divinity. All of the Apostle Paul’s writings proclaim this fact (Romans 5:5, 8:9, 15-16, 23 / 1 Corinthians 2:10, 3:16, 6:19 / 2 Corinthians 1:22, 3:18, 5:5, 13:14 / Galatians 2:20, 5:22-23 / Ephesians 1:14, 4:3-6, 4:30 / Philippians 1:19-21, 2:1, 3:3 / Colossians 1:9-11, 27 / 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6, 4:8, 5:19 / 2 Thessalonians 2:13 / 2 Timothy 1:14 / Titus 3:5), not to mention Peter and John’s as well. Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to empower us. The New Testament is replete with this fact.
Jesus entered in to the human race that we might enter in to the Holy Place. Jesus carried His cross and went into the presence of God, so that we might also carry our cross, follow Him, and enter in (Hebrews 9:12, 24, 10:19-22). We can enter in to fellowship intimately with God.
Just as it was back then, Jesus enters in by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not only your destination, but your destiny; the end of the road and the road itself (John 14:6, 17:3).
Jesus is always entering in on behalf of the Father, and on behalf of His children. When sin entered into the world, God already had a plan for His Son to enter in (Genesis 3:15). Abraham knew the plan (John 8:56 / Galatians 3:8), Moses knew the plan (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), Isaiah knew the plan (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-4, 53:1-12, 61:1-3), and all the prophets spoke of the plan (Acts 3:24).
Mary was a virgin but had a baby (Luke 2) – with the favor of God, nothing is impossible (Romans 8:32). Mary was from the line of David yet she was obscured; it took Jesus to fulfill her destiny. How did this happen? The world will keep your identity down, but Jesus!
When Jesus enters in, things change. When we think about Jesus we think about the Virgin Birth, but this isn’t the only time God brought about an unusual birth. Sarah was barren and too old and yet she had a baby (Genesis 11:30, 16:1, 21:1-3) – God is faithful to His promises.
Abimelech obeyed God, turned from evil, and the wombs of his people were opened (Genesis 20:1-18) – repentance brings healing.
Rachel had a closed womb, but God remembered her and she had a baby (Genesis 29:31, 30:1-2, 22-23) – He takes away disgrace and gives much grace. He causes you to be fruitful.
Hannah had a closed womb but had a baby (1 Samuel 1:1-11, 19-2:10) – She promised and praised; she received a child and God received the glory.
Elisabeth was barren and too old but she also had a baby (Luke 1:7, 13, 24-25) – He hears our prayers and He brings joy and gladness.
Jesus not only entered in by the Incarnation, and not only in the lives of the saints of old, He also enters in to our struggles today. He showed His sympathy by coming to the world, and He shows His empathy by His role as our High Priest.
Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone.
Empathy is feeling the sorrow of someone.
Sympathy – Hebrews 2:14-18 – He has compassion for you – He has a pro-attitude toward you – He entered in to the pain of the world – He felt the pain and discouragement (Isaiah 49:1-6) – He was motivated to trust God and continue in action – we are called to action, to enter in for others (Romans 12:15 / 1 Corinthians 12:26).
Empathy – Hebrews 4:14-16 – He can feel your pain now – He knows what we are going through – Empathy refers to the ability to perceive and experientially feel another person's emotions – He identifies – Our pain enters into Him – we should enter in to Him and for others because He has and does enter in for us (Hebrews 7:25 / 10:19-22 / 13:3).
Jesus entered in to the world situation that He might also enter in to your situation. Your dream, and your “baby being birthed” in this next year is about Jesus becoming “incarnate” in your life. It’s about Him living big on the inside of you (Galatians 4:19).
James 5:7-8 is primarily about the Second Coming of Christ, but it also applies to His coming to fulfill His word in our lives now, as does 2 Peter 3:9, and Hebrews 10:35-36.
When Israel was delivered out of bondage in Egypt, they had a battle to fight at Jericho, and Jesus entered in on God’s side (Joshua 5:13-15). After you have been delivered out of bondage, but still have battles to fight, Jesus will enter in, so be on God’s side (Isaiah 59:19).
He enters in like He did for Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Elisabeth, and Mary, and He will enter in for you too. The Gospel isn’t just for those who are lost, but for those who are on the way and those who have lost their way. The Gospel, Jesus entering in, is about salvation; but it is also about sanctification, our growth in grace in this life. When we enter in to the resting of the Gospel then the resting of the Gospel enters in to us (Hebrews 3:6-4:11).
We can enter in through baptism, communion, foot washing, prayer, studying the Word, fellowship with saints, worship, thanksgiving, praise, persecution (Romans 8:17 / 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 / Philippians 1:29 / 2 Timothy 1:12), and the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Don’t be hindered and don’t hinder others from entering in (Luke 11:52).
Jesus entered in.
Will you enter in?
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