Abba Father

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But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” – Galatians 4:4-6

Paul, in just a few verses, sums up what both Luke and Matthew recorded. The great fulfillment of the prophets, the angelic announcements, Mary, Joseph, and the child born to us, Christ the Lord. Elizabeth, Zachariah, and the shepherds tending their flocks. Lastly, as the scripture says, Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David.

Paul marks the birth of Jesus, “in the fullness of time.” Since creation, there is nothing in previous time that has ever happened like this new creation. God, not just intervening in time, but now time has been fulfilled. Everything that has happened, the glorious storyline from Adam to now, has served and come to this moment in time. Born miraculously and perfect under the Law. He will not only redeem His people but all those who will believe in Him for generations to come.

He will show us the Heavenly Father and His desire to adopt sons and daughters into His heavenly family. They too will be born again, when the same Holy Ghost overshadows their hearts and convicts them, and they will cry out, “Abba Father.”

They will be born again.

We now have entered into the Eternal Family of God, our names written into His book of life. We now pray, “Our Father which art in Heaven.” Our Father is God, Jesus is our elder brother, and the Holy Ghost is with us and in us. Receiving a great inheritance, all of the promises of God:

For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us. – ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

This morning we celebrate the fullness of time and Jesus the fulfillment of all that God has promised, who is the fulfillment and filler of all things. Jesus, our Emmanuel, Glory to God in the Highest and Maranatha, to He who is coming again!

-Keith Curlee

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And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The traditional depiction of angels by humans contrasts sharply with Luke’s account. These are not fairies or Disney renditions. These angels carry all of the awe and awesomeness of God and His heaven.

• Angels are messengers, especially the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. 
• The multitude of angels that attend upon God
  The heavenly hosts are God’s servants who obey his commands and carry out his will. 
• An armed company or multitude of angels and men
  The word host is derived from the Latin word hostis, which means “stranger” or “enemy”. In the Bible, it’s used to describe a troop or military force, the army of God is angelic. The angels of heaven have these three basic functions. We know by the teaching of scripture they are completely obedient to the will of God and they clearly know and obey whatever they are sent to say and do.
  
  Contrary to how they are depicted by tradition and man, they are more militaristic in nature. Their many appearances in scripture came when Israel needed to be delivered from their enemies. They are God’s army, and I believe they are arrayed in this way. It is evident when they appear to man they have to say, “Fear not.” They are nothing like us, nor do they understand us. They only know obedience to God and His will.
  
  Since Satan’s casting out of heaven along with a third of the angels who rebelled with him and the fall of man, there has been a war waged against the prince of the power of the air and God’s angelic hosts. War originated in heaven and it was cast out and will never get back there again, including its rebellious pride. The source of all wars is Satan’s vengeance and man’s own will to exalt himself above God.
  
  We see in this angelic birth announcement to the shepherds God’s intention to offer peace to men, whose will desires to make peace with God.
  
  A few comparative translations: NASB “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” NIV “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” NKJV Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
  
  The righteousness of God and His ways is to offer peace first, always before His judgments are carried out. He is compassionate, longsuffering, and would that none should perish. With His continual appeal to Pharaoh and so many demonstrations of His ways, Moses sings of Him, “The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. “The Lord is a warrior; The Lord is His name.” – Exodus 15:2-3 NASB2020 
  
  We see in this passage the God of peace:
  
• He is our strength
• He is our song
• He is our salvation 
• He is our God
• He is our Father
• He is our Warrior
• He is Lord        
  
  When we are not at peace then it is not a stretch to say that we are at war. For the Spirit is against the flesh and there is no good thing in it. May we, like the shepherds, receive the message of God’s peace and His favor in His Son given to us.
  
  Glory to God In the Highest!
  
  -Keith Curlee

The Lamb of God wrapped in swaddling clothes, an exact sign.

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And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Once again, in this glorious account of this heavenly event we are given such wonderful truth. The prophetic picture of who this child is will be revealed.

She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. Swaddling is not unusual, all babies were swaddled. Yet the real sign was what He was clothed with. It was not a blanket, not pajamas, nor a onesie. But strips of cloth that were taken from old priests’ garments and previously used on the sacrificial lambs for Passover. After birth, the male lambs would be bathed in a salt solution, dried, and swaddled to be kept clean and spotless. During that time, old priestly garments were cut up into small pieces to be used for wicks to light the Menorah in the temple and reused to wrap the sacrificial lambs at birth. Every morning, the Priest would change the wicks in the temple and replace them with a new one.

Here we see the word of the Lord in every way declaring who Jesus is. He is the light of the world and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. You might ask where she got these strips of priestly clothing. Just a thought: remember Zachariah, Elizabeth’s husband was a priest. She had stayed with Elizabeth for six months. These strips were used as wicks to light up the temple. Even the time of His birth, at night, in darkness, is the backdrop of the world’s condition.

Arise, shine for your light has come, the light of the world is Jesus. Behold God’s light and God’s sacrificial Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world:

“She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

God’s gift of salvation, all wrapped up and ready to be revealed as the greatest given, for and to anyone who will freely receive Him. Glory to God!

-Keith Curlee

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They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” – ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

We continue in the report and testimony of the documented birth of Jesus. The Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth, chose and moved primarily on Matthew and Luke. I am often reminded of how God sees the beginning of a thing and the value He places on it—the importance. Ern Baxter, a wonderful mentor, once told me this, “The beginning of a thing determines its end.” As in Genesis, “In the beginning GOD ….” We see Bethlehem in this prophecy and the truth concerning its value. It is not viewed as little or the least of the cities of Judah.

For who has shown contempt for the day of small things? – Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NASB2020‬

Man and his flesh want to start with grandeur and great importance in their own eyes. He makes of himself a reputation motivated by powerful ambition and self-gratification. Here we see God is not impressed nor does He need great fanfare when He moves in the beginning of something. He begins with one,

For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars. – ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Starting with one angel, one virgin, one barren couple, one betrothed man, and one town. All, by no means the least, but His beginnings. He needs not many or few, nor an advantage or fleshly help, nor man’s thoughts or plans. He simply looks for a heart that is completely given to Him.

When I was a summer missionary in my youth, we did backyard Bible Clubs. A song we sang with the children was, “All your heart, All your heart, Jesus wants to live in all your heart.” The smallest of all His beginnings is the heart of man, where His utmost desire to is dwell and make His abode.

May our hearts be completely given to Him. May we see what beginnings He brings about and the great things He has done and is going to do.

Glory to God in the Highest!

-Keith Curlee