The Importance of Prophecies in the Bible that pertain to the Birth of Christ!

17 Dec 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Luke 2:38.         And she (Anna) coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

And on this damp and cloudy Tuesday morning with only eight days left to the riotous climax of the Christmas season, we try to keep our spirits lifted high, as we spread the peace, LOVE and goodwill to all men that our Lord and Saviour came to spread when He came to us in human form. Yes my brethren, that’s what we ought to be about in these last days; making the fruit of the Spirit flourish in our world! That’s the LOVE, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control! 

And with strife and negativity becoming more rampant in our world every day, if we can only get a toehold in the enemy’s fortifications with those things, then we’d be away and laughing. But friends, it all depends on us; on us being selfless and sacrificial enough to put our desires on hold and pursue those of Christ. And there’s no better time than this Christmas season when the enemy has let down his guard to enjoy the merriment engendered by Christ’s birth. So please, let’s get out there and use this festival season to remind others of Christ’s importance in the annals of man, and invite them to come to Him for help and encouragement, despite their circumstances. 

And to help us do that, here’s an interesting prayer I found in a set of ‘Praying with Purpose’ inspirational cards recently put out by the In Touch Ministry. These prayer cards deal with topics ranging from boldness to the persecuted church, and will help us pursue greater intimacy with our great God. So here’s this prayer dealing with ‘Growth in Christ,’ based on this inspirational verse from Romans. ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.’ (Rom. 12:2) 

Yes, my fellow believers, we desperately need to have our minds transformed and renewed so that we don’t follow the ungodliness being propagated and perpetrated by this sinful world. So please pray with me: ‘Father, I praise you for giving me new life in Christ. What a joy it is to become more like Your Son! Help me to stay focused on Your Word as I learn to follow him. When my heart begins to drift, lead me gently back. Show me how to let go of old ways, even as I rely on Your grace to transform me. Thank You for helping me grow every day.’ 

Oh friends, that’s a simple but right on the money prayer! And it’s oh so easy to be conformed to the ungodliness of this world, but we do have the power within us to resist it. We need to actively seek to be like Christ. But to do that, we first must do as James advises; ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you.’ (James 4:7-8a) 

Yes my fellow saints, it’s all about getting as close to God as possible, and then sticking to Him, sticking to Him like white on rice! That’s the only way we’ll ever resist the devil. Now, let’s wrap up the prophetic stories that were noised about at Jesus’ birth. Yesterday we saw where the devout man Simeon had been promised life until He saw the Messiah. And that promise was faithfully fulfilled when he met Jesus in the temple as His parents came to sacrifice on His behalf according to the law. 

Today we’ll look at another amazing occurrence that took place on that same day. The Bible tells it thus: ‘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 her husband seven years from her virginity; 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. And she (Anna) coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.’ (Luke 2:36-38) 

Poor Joseph  and Mary! All that prophetic and redemption stuff must have driven them crazy. But again, they knew that they had a special child and with God’s unfailing grace, took it all in their stride. No doubt all of that was just more stuff for Mary to store up in her mind and ponder on as Jesus’ earthly life was fulfilled. Then the Bible states: ‘And when they, (Mary and Joseph) had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed (became) strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.’ (Luke 2:39-40) 

And that’s the last we hear of Jesus for at least a dozen years. Until His escapade at the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem at the age of twelve, when, unbeknown to His parents, He left the homebound caravan and could not be found for three days. Eventually they found Him back in Jerusalem, ‘in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors (teachers), both hearing them, and asking questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they (his parents) saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us (done this to us)? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing (anxiously). 

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not (didn’t you know) that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 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. and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.’ (Luke 2:46-52) 

Jesus was blessed to have such understanding parents, because even now, when a twelve year old gives his parents that kind of lip, especially in public his teeth are in perilous danger of being knocked out. Thankfully though, after that, Jesus seems to have settled down, ‘was subject unto them.’ And that takes care of all the prophecy and intrigue that surrounded Christ at His birth. (smile) 

Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one sincere and grateful voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

And having said that, it now behooves us to go out and spread the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…if there wasn’t much fanfare around Christ’s birth…then all the Bible prophecies would have been for nought..

Today’s Scrip-Bit   11 December 2022 Luke 2:30.

11 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Luke 2:30.        For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.

The Christmas season is ramping up friends. Only another two weeks and we’ll be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which actually occurred in a manger, an animal barn some two thousand years ago. But that occasion was so marvellous and so important to mankind that we’ve been celebrating it every year since then. And so it should be, because the birth of Jesus Christ was the promise of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the Redeemer of man fulfilled. 

And though the ungodly world has made the Advent season more a time of gift giving and purchasing, of eating and drinking, of simply making merry, we faithful believers must continue to remember and advocate the real reason for this spectacular celebration; the incarnate birth of Jesus Christ. So, as we gather in the Lord’s sanctuary on this His day, let us remember that wonderful occasion through our song of worship, one titled ‘O Come All Ye Faithful.’  

Yes friends, ‘This popular Christmas Hymn harkens to the biblical story of the birth of Christ. It is considered a reference to the shepherds, after hearing the angels singing, coming to Bethlehem to adore their new-born Saviour. Today this hymn signifies and celebrates our coming together in worship to adore the LOVING blessing of Jesus, as He sacrificed Himself for our salvation.’ So, let’s offer up our voices in sacrificial praise, in sweet harmony, in a mid-tempo, sincere and passionate version of the song. 

Singing: ‘O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels! (Chorus: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.) God of God, light of light, Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb; True God, begotten, not created: (Chorus) O Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation O sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above. Give to our Father, Glory in the highest! (Chorus) Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be the glory giv’n; Word of the Father, Now in the flesh appearing, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.’

Oh my faithful brethren, adoring our beautiful and ever-LOVING Lord and Saviour is exactly what we need to do! His name ought to be exalted from the highest hills for the all the wonderful things His humble birth made possible. And the words of the song do convey Christ’s majesty despite His being born in a stable. ‘God of God, light of light, Lo he abhors not the virgin’s womb. True God, begotten not created.’ 

Yes, that’s all true. Christ was begotten like a man, not created, with the sperm of God planted in the virgin’s womb by the Holy Spirit, growing and manifesting just like men. And he would live a life like ordinary men. The only difference is that He was the Son of God, without sin, that’s why He could pay our sin debt on the cross of Calvary later on in life. 

But He was indeed the true Light as John says in his gospel. ‘That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ (John 1:9) John the Baptist was not the true light, but was sent to proclaim the coming of the ‘true Light,’ Jesus Christ. 

And the scholars tell us that verse means that God’s revelation is universally available, but it does not signify universal salvation, because to receive salvation one has to believe in Him, as verse 12 tells us. ‘But as many as received him, to them gave he the power (the right) to become sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12) 

Then the song talks about ‘Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing…’ More awesome truth my people. And John again informs of these most salient facts. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:1-2, 14) 

Yuh see friends, Jesus was in fact a part of the Holy Trinity, a part of the Word that created the world, then He became incarnate, a man, born of a woman, but sinless. And later on, we did behold His glory through His death and resurrection. And you’ll notice how the old priest Simeon and the old prophetess Anna gave praise and thanks when Jesus was brought to the temple on the eight day as was the custom. 

The Bible tells us: ‘Then took he him up (Simeon took up Jesus) in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 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 the people; A light to lighten (bring revelation to) the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.’ (Luke 2:28-32) Simeon had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, (vs. 26) that’s why he was willing to go home after seeing Christ. 

Oh friends, the song is indeed a call for all Christ’s people to come and rejoice at this time of His birth. And though it’s an adaptation of a Latin hymn ‘Adeste Fidelis,’ its English translation has been sung down through the years and made popular by many well-known artists. And we’ll end with this commentary. Don’t remember where I got it from, but I like it. (smile) 

It says: ‘The encouragement to “come, all ye faithful, . . . to Bethlehem” situates the singer both among the shepherds who rushed to see Christ and in the great continuation of the “faithful” that have traveled to Bethlehem in a spiritual nature for over 2,000 years. Although today, we cannot actually witness Jesus in the manger, we can come to Bethlehem in a symbolic sense. We can be there in our imaginations as we allow the Christmas story to hearten our spirits.’ 

Truly, there’s no better way to get us into the Christmas spirit, than rejoicing in the Word and singing songs of gladness for Christ’s birth! Please, let’s do just that today! Much LOVE!

…Christ…the greatest mover and shaker…this world has ever known…and will ever know… 

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