How to be prepared for what is coming next year!

           <ESPAÑOL>

December 26th

How to be prepared for what is coming next year!

Amazing!

By Riqui Ricón*

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel (Luke 2:29-32, KJV).

This is the prayer that Simeon made when, moved by the Holy Spirit, he saw Jesus in the temple on the day his parents took him to present him before the Lord, as it is written in the law. What is this salvation that Simeon saw with his own eyes? How great was this salvation that he could declare, without hesitation, that he was ready to die and was departing in peace?

To answer these questions, let’s look at what Jesus said in his first sermon in

Nazareth:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61:1-3, KJV).

Jesus was sent by God to bring you good news, encouraging you if you are discouraged, lifting you up if you have fallen; He has come to heal your heart; to make you totally free—free from the fear of death, from sickness, from poverty, from bitterness, loneliness, sadness, and depression.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2, KJV).

Jesus came to comfort you and to ordain, with His Word, that you be given beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness; because of this, you are now called righteous and are the Lord's property.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10, KJV).

Simeon rejoiced because of what his eyes saw. However, how could God fulfill His promise to people who—despite the continuous, amazing manifestations of His Love and faithfulness toward them—had proven for more than a thousand years to be stubborn, proud, and hard-hearted?

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert… This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise… I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins (Isaiah 43:18-19, 21, 25, KJV).

God is not interested in your sins, nor in your continuous failures. He is interested in you! Isn't the Love God feels for you amazing?

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations (Isaiah 61:11, KJV).

Just as the earth produces its growth, God determined to make you a totally New creature through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV).

This is the most amazing and wonderful news of the Plan of Redemption that God devised for you: through faith in Jesus Christ, by having believed and

received the Love that God feels for you (who preferred to give up His own Son rather than lose you), you are no longer the same person you were before.

The most beautiful miracle is this: that by the Word of God, because God has said it, you are now a Born Again Child of God.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1, NIV).

Believe it, my beloved! By the Word of God, you are no longer the same sinful person you were before!

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:23, KJV).

It is written! God has said it and it is the Truth. It does not depend on what you have done or can do, but on what Jesus did for you and what God has established in His Word about you: that you are saved; that you are healed; that in all things you will come out more than a conqueror, for you can do all things through Christ Jesus; that when facing problems you will have peace and be happy, for you are a Child of God.

Amazing!

Let’s pray out loud:

Beloved heavenly Father, it truly is amazing that, despite how I used to be, You love me so much that You have justified, forgiven, sanctified, and redeemed me to give me Eternal Life and make me part of Your family. Lord Jesus, only with my eternal love and gratitude will I ever be able to repay what You did for me. I am determined to believe and receive this great Love to live in Your Fullness, from which all Your Children receive. I will not give place to fear or doubt, and I will make Your Word, the Bible, the supreme standard of my existence. I am who You, Almighty God, say I am—no more and no less. I am healed! I am free! I am prosperous! I am a Child of God! I am happy! Thank You, Father! I bless Your Name and declare that the best of my life has already begun. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Important Note:

How do I become a Child of God? How do I establish a relationship with the Almighty?

Just say the following prayer aloud, putting all your attention and heart into what you are saying to God:

 

Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. That You came into this world, born of the virgin Mary, to pay for all my sins, and I have been a sinner. Therefore, today I say that I accept. I accept Your sacrifice on the cross! I accept Your precious Blood shed to the last drop out of love for me! I open my heart to You and invite You in because I want, Lord Jesus, that from today and forever You be my only and sufficient Savior, my God, my King, and my Lord.

Thank You, Almighty God, because with this simple prayer and profession of faith I have passed from death to Life, I have been transferred from darkness to Your marvelous Light. Today I have been Born Again! God, now I am Your Child! Now You are my Father! I will never be alone again! I will never live defeated again. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Three Recommendations:

What just happened by you recognizing Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, according to God's Word, is that you have been Born Again. No longer as an ordinary human being, subject to the law of sin and death, but now as a legitimate and authentic Child of God, Born Again, exactly like Jesus Christ, who is now your Older Brother. Therefore, I give you these three, very important, recommendations:

1.    Pray. Praying is talking with God. So, find a quiet place where you can begin talking to Him about everything. Do it out loud, and you will notice how God always responds to your heart.

 

2.    Read and meditate on the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, so get a Bible and start reading and meditating on it. How do you begin? It’s very simple. Depending on the day, look up the reading program “The

Bible in One Year” and do the corresponding readings. You can get this program at: Through The Bible In One Year (palabradehonor.org). You

will notice that the program is set up so you can print it as a booklet.

 

3.    In prayer with God, your Father, look for and join a Christian church or congregation where the Word of God is taught based on the Good News, which are the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Ricardo C. Peredo Jaime © 2020

Reading and Meditation on the Word of God

Do these daily readings, and by the end of one year you will have read the entire Bible.

December 26     Luke 2.21-52 / Ezekiel 38-39 / Isaiah 61 Luke

21  And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23  (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33  And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39  And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

41  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43  And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44  But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45  And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48  And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

50  And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51  And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 

 

Ezekiel

 

38 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2  Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

4  And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

5  Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

6  Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

7  Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

8  After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

9  Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

10  Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

11  And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12  To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

13  Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

14  Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

15  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:

16  And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

17  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

18  And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.

19  For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

20  So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

21  And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

22  And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23  Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

39 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

2  And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

3  And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

4  Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.

5  Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

6  And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

7  So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

8  Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.

9  And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

10  So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.

11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.

12  And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

13  Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.

14  And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

15  And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.

16  And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

17  And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather

yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.

18  Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.

19  And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.

20  Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.

21  And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.

22  So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.

23  And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.

24  According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.

25  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

26  After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

27  When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;

28  Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.

29  Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Isaiah

 

61 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

4  And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5  And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6  But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

7  For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8  For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the

robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11  For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.