This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

-----

                     I Came And I will Come Again

I came once before and I am coming again. The first time I came in humility,
so that I might draw all men unto Myself. But when I come again, I will come
in My glory and My majesty. The first time I came in obscurity, hidden in
a manger and worshipped by only a few. But when I return, every eye shall
see Me and every knee shall bow before Me and every tongue shall confess My
lordship. The first time I came as a baby, but I shall return as a mighty
warrior and conquering king. The first time I came as a sacrifice of love,
that all men might be saved, but I shall return as the righteous judge of
all humanity.

Do not think of Me as a helpless baby in a manger, for that is not who I am
today. Yes, I allowed Myself to assume that form when I was born, but even
My physical body grew and matured while I was on this earth. I laid aside My
power and My glory and My majesty to humble Myself, and I took upon Myself
the form of a man. But after I conquered sin and death on Calvary, My
Heavenly Father restored to Me all that I had willing laid aside. I am not
small. I am not weak and helpless. I do not need any man to protect Me or
to care for My needs, for I am the Lord God almighty. I am Lord of all things
and all things have been put under My feet.

I am your Lord and master, and I expect you to obey Me and to give Me the
honor that is My due. I am your provider, the One who is able to take care
of you. I am your healer, the One who bore your sickness and infirmity, and
by My stripes you are healed. I am your redeemer, the One who washes away
your sin and makes it possible for you to be adopted into our Father's
family. I am the One who provided so great an inheritance for you. I am the
one who defeated Satan and broke the power of sin and death over you. I am
the One who set you free. I am the One who has called you and commissioned
you and allowed you to participate with Me in accomplishing My plans and
purposes.  I am the One who has given you My name and I have called you
"friend." I have placed My Spirit and My authority within you, and I have
given you power over all the power of the devil. I can do that because all
authority is Mine, I won it on Calvary. And that is why I came to this
earth, to do that for you.

I am not that child in the manger any longer, I am not a helpless babe.
Yes, I went to the cross to be crucified for your sins, but I did not stay
there. I allowed them to kill My physical body and to put Me in a grave, but
death could not hold Me, for I conquered it. I have physically risen from
the dead, My human body has physically ascended back into Heaven to be with
My Father. All of the glory I that laid aside to become human has been
restored to Me, and I am the Lord God almighty.

You celebrate My first coming every year and you say that you look forward
to My second coming. But have you prepared for it? Have you set aside the
carnal areas of your thinking and behavior to embrace My holiness? Have you
committed yourself fully and totally to obey Me no matter what I ask of you?
Have you given Me a higher priority on your time than you give to the things
of the world? Have you been My witness to the lost, as I commissioned you
to do? Are you advancing My kingdom and bringing glory to My name?

Child, when I come again, I come as the righteous judge. Every man, woman,
and child shall appear before Me. At that time, there will no longer be mercy
for those who have not received Me and made Me their Lord. There will come
a day when it is too late for them to receive the gift of salvation that I
gave so freely on Calvary. Today is still the season of mercy and salvation.
So do not get so get so caught up in the things of this world that you forget
that I am coming again, and remember that I have called you to be My witness.

Yes, celebrate My first coming and remind yourself of what I have done for
you; that pleases Me. For I came that you might have life, and that you
might have it abundantly. I love you and that is why I was willing to come,
knowing I would be the sacrifice for your sins. It is good for you to remind
yourself of why I came and of what I have done for you. But do not forget
that I am coming again, so be diligent to prepare yourself for that day. Do
not think of Me as a baby in a manger, but as your Lord and master. Lay aside
your own agenda and embrace Mine, obey Me because you love Me, and honor Me
in all you do.