“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Prov. 16:9 ESV)

 What the future holds 

During changes in political leadership many on both sides worry how it will affect them and their future. But, no matter who ends up in power, one thing remains true, God is still the same (Heb. 13:8), He doesn’t  change (Mal. 3:6).  And, His many promises in the Bible are still there and still work for those who apply them and mix faith with them (2 Cor. 1:20). I love what someone said, “I stopped worrying about what my future holds when I put my faith in the One who holds the future!” 

God plans to give you a future and a hope 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

 Great is God’s faithfulness

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:21-23 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Prov. 23:18 ESV)

Of first importance 

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Cor. 15:3  ESV)

The righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ 

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” (Phil. 1:9-11 NLT)

Justice, mercy and faithfulness 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matt. 23:23 ESV)

The sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” (1 Tim. 6:3-5 ESV)

Therefore…

“In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” (Acts 24:16 ESV)

Quote:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."  - Jesus

“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:8 NIV)

Regift: a gift received from someone, and then given as a gift to someone else.

Regifting to others

Everybody, at one time or another, receives a gift they don’t know what to do with. Maybe it was a toaster and you already have one. Or maybe it’s an article of clothing that doesn’t fit or it’s the wrong color or style for you. The item then goes onto a shelf in the closet for a year and wrapped up and given to someone else (hopefully, not to the same person who gave it to you). I heard a story about a family who have passed the same fruitcake back and fourth to each other for over 50 years, all in good humor, of course. I’m sure there are lots of great regifting stories that could be shared, I’ve heard a few. And, there could probably be a discussion about whether it is a good thing to regift or not. But, according to the Bible, followers of Christ are supposed to regift what they have received from God. 

What to freely regift …

•  Regift the love you have received -  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 15:34-35 ESV)

•  Regift the forgiveness you have received – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

•  Regift the faith you have received - “And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” (Phi. 1:6 ESV)

•  Regift the grace you have received – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 ESV)

• Regift the hope you have received - “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

• Regift the strength you have received -“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Rom. 15:1 ESV)

• Regift the comfort you have received - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (1 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV)

•  Regift the joy you have received – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV)

• Regift the blessings you have received -  “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5 ESV)

 Therefore…

“For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,” (2 Cor. 9:12 ESV)

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (Matt. 2:10)

During the months of November and December, the Hallmark movie channel plays one Christmas movie after another. Like other Hallmark movies they are predictable: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back, and ends with a kiss as the credits roll by — only these holiday movies are loaded with brightly decorated cities with colorful Christmas trees, garland, mistletoe, holly and jingle bells. My wife, Susan, loves them, so I have sat through many with her. I have noticed that most of them totally miss the true meaning of Christmas about the joyful good news first proclaimed to a few shepherds tending their sheep, that a Savior has been born, who is Christ the Lord. Now, for the record, I’m not against celebrating Christmas with all the holiday trappings, just as long as we remember the reason for the season. I do love the Christmas carols and I love that people generally seem more happy and charitable at Christmas time. A beautiful song written by Ray Hildebrand, and made popular by singer, Evie Tornquist Karlsson, says it very well:

“Come on ring those bells, light the Christmas tree, Jesus is the king, born for you and me. Come on ring those bells, everybody say, ‘Jesus we remember this, your birthday!’”

A reminder of the true meaning of Christmas 

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23)

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6) 

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10:11)

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

Therefore…

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Quotes:

“Good news from heaven the angels bring, Glad tidings to the earth they sing: To us this day a child is given, To crown us with the joy of heaven.” – Martin Luther

“May Jesus be your: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… Moment by moment now, and throughout Eternity.”  (Isa. 9:6) – Corrie Ten Boom

“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” (Acts 10:38a NLT)

And then, this happened…

“Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38b NLT)

 Therefore…

“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” (Acts 10:39-43 NLT)

“From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.” (Prov. 18:20 ESV)

 The power of what you say 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”  (Prov. 18:21 ESV)

 Speak with faith without doubt in your heart

“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” (Mark 11:23 ESV)

 Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rev. 10:9 ESV)

For God has said 

"I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'" (Isa. 51:16 NASB)

Therefore…

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Cor. 15:13 ESV)

 Stand firm in the Lord

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” (Phil. 4:1 ESV)

Stand firm in one spirit 

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” (Phil. 1:27 ESV)

 Stand firm in freedom

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1 ESV)

 Stand firm in faith

“Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:9 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58 NIV)

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Eph. 6:13 ESV)

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” (1 Tim. 6:20 ESV)

 Avoid foolish controversies

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,” (Titus 3:9-10 ESV)

 Let no one take you captive by philosophy 

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col. 2:8 ESV)

 God has made foolish the wisdom of the world 

“For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor. 1:19-20)

Therefore…

“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” (1 Cor. 2:6-10 ESV)

 “Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.” (Psalm 66:5)

Peripety: a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal.

You don’t hear the word peripety used often. It simply means a sudden turn of events or a dramatic twist or reversal in the story. You can find many examples of it in the Bible, because God is a master of peripety!

Examples of peripety in the Bible

• Joseph - suddenly released from prison and promoted to 2nd position in power in Egypt “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.  You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” (Gen. 41:1-45 NIV). 

• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into a fiery furnace by King of Babylon - delivered from the fire and unhurt. “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." (Dan. 3:25, ESV) “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! (Dan. 3:28 NIV)

• Daniel - thrown into the lion’s den – released the next day without a scratch, and his false accusers tossed in and devoured by the lions. “The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” (Dan. 6:23-24 NIV)

• Queen Esther, her cousin Modecai, and the Jewish people, are condemned to death through an evil plot by the King of Persia’s chief adviser, Haman. - Esther foils the plan and wins permission from the king for the Jews to kill their enemies, and they do so. Haman is then impaled on the pole he built for Mordecai, then Mordecai is promoted to 2nd command to the king and given all of Haman’s land and fortune. (Book of Esther).  

Therefore…

 God is the God of peripety, of impossible turn arounds, and nothing is too hard for Him! If you receive bad news from your doctor, if you lose your job, if experience loss, if politics appear corrupt or impossible, don’t give up hope! God is still God and nothing is beyond His control or intervention! He can turn things around! Trust Him!

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jer. 32:27)

Quote:

“The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” -Jesus