Rejoice! Jesus Is Here: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Rejoice! Jesus Is Here" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: The Good News That Changes Everything

Based on the Message: "Rejoice! Jesus Is Here" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people"." - Luke 2:10

Devotional: Picture yourself as one of the shepherds on the holy night that Jesus was born. You're going about your ordinary work when suddenly the sky explodes with heavenly light, and an angel appears with earth shattering news. Notice what the angel said. This wasn't simply good news; it was good news of great joy for ALL people.

This announcement wasn't reserved for the wealthy, the religious elite, or the politically powerful. It came first to humble shepherds, reminding us that God's love reaches everyone, regardless of status or circumstance.

The birth of Jesus a supernatural historical event; it was the moment heaven touched earth to bring hope to humanity. When we truly grasp this truth, it transforms how we view Christmas. It's not merely a season of traditions or gift giving, it's a celebration of the greatest gift ever given.

God sent His only begotten Son into our broken world to offer redemption and restoration. This good news isn't dependent on our circumstances, our bank account, or our family situation. This good news is solely dependent on who Jesus was and what He accomplished on the cross.

The "great joy" that the angel proclaimed wasn't about emotion or happiness. Happiness is a feeling we have in reaction to "what happens" in our life. Temporary happiness fades when life gets difficult. Joy is a deep, abiding understanding rooted in the reality that our soul is anchored in the Lord because the Savior died for our sins.

This Christmas, let that truth sink deep into your heart. You are saved by the blood of the Lamb, and that's reason enough to rejoice.

Quote: "The greatest gift was not placed under a tree; the Greatest Gift was placed on a tree and died for you and me." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does reflecting on the good news of Jesus' arrival impact the way you will approach this Christmas season?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son Jesus. Help us to truly understand that Your good news is for us personally. Fill our hearts with the joy that comes from knowing we are deeply loved by You. Let this truth transform how we celebrate this season. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2: Joy That Runs Deeper Than Circumstances

Based on the Message: "Rejoice! Jesus Is Here" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds" - Isaiah 43:18

Devotional: There's a profound difference between being cheerful and being joyful. Cheerfulness depends on circumstances, a good day at work, a surprise gift, or pleasant weather. But joy? Joy runs much deeper. It's an understanding that remains steady even when life storms rage around us.

Think about the shepherds who learned about the birth of Christ in Luke chapter 2. They weren't living in luxury or ease. Shepherding was hard and often lonely work. Yet, they received the announcement of Jesus' birth with overwhelming joy.

The joy they experienced was based on who God is and what He had done. This is the kind of joy that Christmas offers us. It's not dependent on having the perfect family gathering, the ideal gifts, or even feeling particularly festive. This joy comes from understanding that God stepped into our messy, broken world to offer us hope, healing, and eternal life.

When trials come, and they will, this joy becomes our anchor. It reminds us that our circumstances don't define us; our relationship with Jesus does. The same God who orchestrated that first Christmas night is still working in your life today, writing a story of redemption and love.

This Christmas, you may not feel particularly cheerful, and that's okay. The good news is that you can choose joy; the deep, abiding understanding that you are loved, you are chosen, and you are never alone because of what Jesus accomplished.

Quote: " You may not be cheerful but be joyful. Cheer is an emotion; joy is an understanding. Count it all joy when you encounter trials... for mature believers, trials should trigger a joy response." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What current circumstances in your life are challenging your sense of peace, and how can you choose joy over cheerfulness in the midst of them?

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand the difference between temporary cheerfulness and lasting joy. When circumstances threaten to steal our peace, remind us that our joy is rooted in You and Your unchanging love. Give us the strength to choose joy even in difficult seasons. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 3: The Historical Reality That Anchors Our Faith

Based on the Message: "Rejoice! Jesus Is Here" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." - Micah 5:2

Devotional: In a world filled with myths and legends, it's easy to wonder if the Christmas story is just another beautiful tale. Here's what sets Jesus apart: His arrival wasn't mythical or metaphorical, it was historical. Real people, real places, real events that changed the course of human history.

Centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah specifically prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This wasn't a lucky guess or a vague prediction. It was God revealing His plan through His prophets, and then fulfilling it exactly as promised. When Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census, they weren't just following Roman law they were fulfilling ancient prophecy.

This historical reality matters because it means our faith isn't built on wishful thinking or philosophical ideas. It's anchored in actual events that real people witnessed and recorded. The shepherds didn't imagine the angels. The wise men didn't dream up the star. Mary didn't fantasize about the angel's visit. These were real encounters with the living God.

When doubts creep in (and they sometimes do for all of us) remember that Christmas celebrates something that actually happened. God really did become human. Jesus really was born in Bethlehem. The prophecies really were fulfilled.

Your faith stands on the solid ground of historical truth, not shifting sand of human imagination. This Christmas, let the historical reality of Jesus' birth strengthen your confidence in God's faithfulness and His promises for your life.

Quote: "Jesus' arrival was not mythical or metaphorical. It was historical. Although some debate the miraculous claims of Jesus, there is enough archeological and historical evidence to confirm that Jesus was born." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does knowing that Jesus' birth fulfilled specific historical prophecies strengthen your faith in God's promises for your own life?

Prayer: God, thank You that our faith is built on historical truth, not mere stories. Help us to find confidence in the fact that You keep Your promises, just as You fulfilled the prophecies about Jesus' birth. Strengthen our trust in Your faithfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 4: The Miracle of the Virgin Birth

Based on the Message: "Rejoice! Jesus Is Here" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

*NOTE: NO 6 AM PRAYER CALL TODAY. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14

Devotional: The virgin birth isn't just a beautiful detail in the Christmas story, it's absolutely essential to our salvation. When the angel told Mary she would conceive through the Holy Spirit, it was a fulfillment of prophecy. It was miraculous: a Savior who could be both fully human and fully divine.

Why did this matter so much? Since Adam's fall, every human born through natural means inherited a sin nature. But Jesus needed to be different. He needed to be the perfect, sinless sacrifice who could bridge the gap between holy God and sinful humanity. The virgin birth made this possible.

Jesus was born without inheriting Adam's sin nature while still being fully human. At the same time, Jesus was fully divine, God in human flesh. This wasn't a half god or a superhuman. This was the eternal Son of God taking on human flesh while retaining His divine nature.

Only someone who was both fully God and fully man could serve as the perfect mediator between God and humanity. Thank Jesus for humbling Yourself to the point of death, even death on the cross!

Quote: "Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus. How does the reality of His sinless nature and selfless sacrifice impact your personal understanding of salvation?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the miracle of the virgin birth that made my salvation possible. Jesus, thank You for being the perfect mediator between me and the Father, sacrificing Your life so that my sins could be forgiven. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 5: The Name That Means Everything

Based on the Message: "Rejoice! Jesus Is Here" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21

Devotional: Names in biblical times weren't chosen casually, they carried deep meaning and often revealed destiny. When the angel told Mary and Joseph to name the baby Jesus, it wasn't a random selection. The name Jesus means "Yahweh saves," and embedded in that very name was the entire purpose of His coming: salvation.

Jesus didn't come to earth to simply be a great teacher, though He was. He wasn't just a moral example, though He was perfect. He came for one primary purpose: to save His people from their sins.

This was His mission from the moment of conception. Every time someone spoke His name, they were declaring God's saving power. Every time Mary called Him to dinner, every time friends greeted Him on the street, every time crowds called out to Him, they were proclaiming that Yahweh saves. His very identity was wrapped up in His purpose.

This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we're celebrating the arrival of our Salvation. Not just the possibility of salvation, but Salvation Himself walked this earth and gave His life for our freedom.

The name Jesus reminds us that the Father didn't just send help; His only begotten Son came Himself to rescue us. When you feel lost, remember His name. When you feel hopeless, remember His name. When you feel like you've gone too far or fallen too hard, remember His name: Jesus, Yahweh saves. That includes you.

Quote: "His name means Yahweh saves. Embedded in his very name is salvation, for he will save his people from their sins." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does understanding that Jesus' very name means "Yahweh saves" change your perspective on your own need for salvation and God's desire to rescue you?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that Your very name declares God's heart to save. Help us to never forget that You came specifically to rescue us from our sins. When we feel distant from You, remind us that salvation is found in Your name alone. Thank You for being our Savior. Amen.