Advent Part 9- Wrapped

Luke 2: 1-7 NLT

At that time the Roman Emperor Augustus, agreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem of Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of  Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was now obviously pregnant. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

This is the ninth and final blog of our Advent series and today we’re going to ask the question, what is the best gift I can give to God?

Wrapped, it means to bind something as a covering (1). Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes as a baby for protection. Later, He would be wrapped in other things for our redemption.

Wrapped in flesh

Jesus, Who always was and always will be, and is a Spirit because God is a Spirit, allowed Himself to be wrapped in flesh and be born as a human being. 

Philippians 2:6-7 NLT, “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges, He took the position of a slave and was born as a human being." 

Wrapped in the anointing

When Jesus was baptized by John, He was filled and wrapped with the power of the Holy Spirit.. This power was so strong that many only had to touch His clothes to be healed. 

Matthew 14:35-36 NLT, “When the people recognized Jesus the news of His arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged Him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of His robe, and all who touched Him were healed."

Wrapped in servanthood

Role modeling was not just a teaching tool for Jesus, it was a lifestyle. He was humility personified and expected His disciples to follow His example.

John 13:3-5 NLT, “Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.”

Wrapped in fulfillment of prophecy

David, the psalmist and prophet, was given a vision of the crucifixion. David penned in Psalm 22 with remarkable clarity a painful account of what happened through the eyes of Jesus Himself. In this vision, he saw men throwing dice to win an expensive piece of clothing that once wrapped around Jesus.

John 19:23-24 NLT, When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His clothes among the four of them. They also took His robe, but is was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided My garments among themselves, and threw dice for My clothing.’ So that is what they did.”

Wrapped in resurrection power

Jesus met with some of His own friends and followers after His resurrection and was not recognized by them. With this new body He would instantly appear, eat food, and be touched. The great thing is that death could never touch Him again. This is the form we will inherit when the day of our bodily resurrection takes place.

1 Corinthians 15:3-6 NIV, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 

Wrapped heart to heart

If we are children of God we are to be wrapped and bound heart to heart with Jesus. We should be so close to Him, when people see us, they are really seeing Jesus through us. 

Galatians 3:27 NLT, And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on (wrapping) new clothes.

Christmas is a beautiful and holy day meant to commemorate the birth of our Lord. This season, when you gaze at the traditional manger scene, make a mental note of how Jesus wrapped Himself in flesh so He could be born into our world. Remember how the Son of God was wrapped in swaddling clothes so He would be bound to you. During Advent, we are reminded Jesus will return once more. Until that day comes, wrap your life in His on a daily basis. It is the best present you could give Him.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Jesus. He is the ultimate gift and because of Your great love for me, I give you myself. According to Your Word, I put on Christ by wrapping and binding my life and heart to His. I dedicate myself to You and You may do with my life as You will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

©2019 Foundedonthebible.com

Reference:

!) http://www.dictionary.com/browse/wrap?s=t

Advent Part 8- Signs

Matthew 2:1-12 NLT

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

This is the eighth of nine videos of our Advent series and today we’re going to ask the question, does God communicate to us through signs, symbols and dreams?

Star: A sign of prophecy fulfilled

In ancient prophecy, it was predicted that a particular star would appear in the sky as a sign that the King of the Jews was to be born.

Numbers 24:17 NIV

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.

After centuries of waiting and watching, the star suddenly appeared. Prepared for the event, this generation of wise men knew what to do and what to bring. They assumed that the King of the Jews would be born in the royal household and showed up at the doorstep of Herod the Great. 

Prophecy

Understanding the significance of the star, Herod was upset by the wise men’s visitation. Herod summoned the teacher’s of the law to find out where the King of the Jews would be born. Correctly interpreting the scriptures, they informed Herod the babe was to be born in Bethlehem according to Micah 5:2. 

Star gives direction

As soon as the wise men left the palace, the star reappeared and led them directly above the house where the baby and its mother were lodging.

Gold

The wise men presented the child with gold. Gold was symbolic of kingship. The wise men recognized the sacred position this baby held as King of the Jews. Gold also represents virtue. The Messiah was holy in character and purpose and worthy of all honor and praise (1).

Frankincense

Also presented to the child was the gift of frankincense. Frankincense symbolized deity. The wise men recognized and worshiped the child as God. Frankincense also represents prayer. This child will intercede to God for mankind (1).

Myrrh

Lastly, the wise men presented a box of myrrh. Myrrh was a symbol of death and mortality. This king was born to die. Myrrh also represents suffering. Although He was the  King of the Jews, Jesus came to the earth as a suffering servant (1). 

Dream

God spoke gave each of these men a message about Herod in a dream. Imagine, all of the men dreaming and given the same message! Obviously, it was a definite warning for the men to return to their country by another route. 

Wise Men

I believe that the wise men themselves were a symbol. In my opinion, they symbolized true believers of the present day church who are watching and waiting for the signs of Jesus’ Second Coming according to the Scriptures. True believers will be ready with gifts of the gold of virtue and holiness, the frankincense of intercessory prayer, and the willingness to suffer for Christ sake. When Jesus returns, they will be caught up with Christ.

Herod and the Teachers of the Law

I believe that Herod and the Teachers of the Law represented the religiously corrupt. They knew the Scriptures inside out. And yet, they did not look for the signs and were not ready for His first coming. In fact, once they found out the baby was born, they did everything in their power to kill Him.

The signs were evident for all. But only true believers searched for them so they could worship the Messiah. The religiously corrupt did not welcome the signs, but could not succeed in their miserable attempts to prevent His coming. Today’s believers continue to look for the signs of the Messiah’s Second Coming, not as a newborn baby king, but as the King of Kings!

Daniel 4:3

How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.

Let’s pray:

Father,

I am a true believer. Just as the true believers looked for the signs of the newborn king, I look for the signs of the King of Kings Who will reign forever.  When that time comes, I will be ready with the gold of virtue and holiness, the frankincense of intercessory prayer, and the willingness to suffer for Christ's sake. Come Lord Jesus! Amen!

©2019 Foundedonthebible.com

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi

Advent Part 7- Can I Get A Witness?

Luke 2:8-18 NLT

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…

This is the seventh of nine blogs of our Advent series and today we will focus on the people who could testify that Jesus was born. The question we will ask is, does God make Himself accountable to others?

The impossible happened!

In the stillness of the night, Joseph helped Mary bring Jesus into the world. I feel it safe to assume that the angels, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit were present. A virgin gave birth to a baby boy! God didn’t keep it a secret, either! Whenever our God does something, He always makes sure there are plenty of witnesses. What does the Bible record?

Looking for eyewitnesses

If we had a birds eye view above the stable, we would see flocks of sheep guarded by shepherds under the moonlight. God chose the humble shepherds as witnesses to this miraculous event. Unlike the religious leaders of the Law, they would tell the truth and spread the news.

Be on the lookout!

All of a sudden, a brilliant light flashed before the men’s eyes and an impressive heavenly creature hovered over the field. As they trembled at the sight, the angel told them not to be afraid. He had good news to give to them. Not far from where they were standing, a child has just been born. He was the Messiah. He was born today in Bethlehem. They would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger where animals are fed.

Heavenly support

As backup, an entire host of angels appeared out of nowhere who verified the messenger angel’s words. Even the messenger angel had witnesses who could testify of this account.

Validation

Astonished that angels would appear to them with such an amazing message, the shepherds hurriedly located the parents and the baby. Verse 20 tells us that the shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had heard and seen. All the facts were validated and it happened exactly as the angel had told them.

Newsflash

Family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors were all told about the miraculous encounter. Everyone recognized how God’s favor rested on Mary and Joseph. All of Bethlehem was astonished when they heard that the baby she gave birth to was the Messiah! God was among them and for them!

How does this relate to us? God’s character never changes. He holds Himself accountable to do what He promised. The facts of the matter will be established and there will always be honest witnesses to verify the facts.

Let’s pray:

Father,

Your word is truth because You are truth. Thank You for establishing the testimony of Jesus’ birth by many witnesses, in heaven and on earth. Thank You for Your example of accountability. In everything I say and do, I take responsibility. I am accountable to You and to my fellow man. In Jesus name, Amen.

©2019 Foundedonthebible.com



Advent Part 6- Sounds of Life

Luke 1:40-44 NLT

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.”

This is the sixth blog of our Advent series and we will focus on Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Today we will ask the question, how powerful are the words we speak?

The power of God’s spoken words set into motion a profound and extraordinary set of circumstances:

• Two women had an angel announce their upcoming pregnancies

• Both women would bear a son

• Both conceptions were miraculous, one from a dead womb and one without the seed of man

• Both mothers were filled with the Holy Spirit

• Both babies were filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb

The Greeting

When Elizabeth heard the sound of Mary’s voice, baby John responded to her greeting by leaping in his mother’s womb. The word for “sound” is translated, “to come into existence: (1).  According to cultural tradition, Mary would have greeted Elizabeth with these words, “Blessed is the one who comes” referring to the anticipated birth of John (2). Elizabeth’s proper response to Mary should have been “Blessed is the one present”(2). Instead, Elizabeth acknowledged the presence of two people. Luke 1:43 records “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” 

The conversation between Zechariah and Gabriel

Compare this conversation to another conversation that happened a little over 6 months prior between Zechariah and the angel Gabriel. Gabriel appeared to Zechariah inside the Temple and relayed God’s message. Elizabeth will bear him a son. Incredulous, Zechariah asked, “How could this happen since I am an old man?”

Because of God’s great mercy, Gabriel only rebuked and not disqualified Zechariah from this great honor (Hebrews 3). In order to override Zechariah’s unbelief and ensure no words contrary to God’s will were spoken, Gabriel temporarily muted him.

Luke 1:20 NLT

“But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

The reason for Mary’s visit

Since Zechariah was temporarily mute, the Holy Spirit impressed Mary to assist Elizabeth in her hour of need. I always thought that Mary “vacationed” away from her hometown to conceal her pregnancy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mary’s purpose was to confirm God’s word over John. Her salutation concurred with Gabriel’s announcement at the Temple cementing God’s will for this child. Any obstacle or hindrance that would try to stand in the way of baby John’s birth would have been eradicated. This child was to be born and prepare the way for the Messiah. 

The result

Unlike her husband, Elizabeth believed and accepted the Word of the Lord about her baby and Mary’s baby. Elizabeth affirmed Mary’s words.

Luke 1:45 NLT, “You are blessed because you believed the Lord would do what He said.”

How important are the words we speak and believe

As children of God, we must believe and speak the words of God with absolute faith and confidence. If we refuse to cooperate with God, He will commission someone else to ensure that His will be fulfilled at the proper time. Let’s be like Mary and Elizabeth and agree with God’s words and speak sounds of life over every situation. Let’s allow the sound of our voice to bring God’s will into existence. 

Jeremiah 1:9&12 NIRV

Then the Lord reached out his hand. He touched my mouth and spoke to me. He said, “I have put my words in your mouth.” ...The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly. I am watching to see that my words come true.”

Let pray:

Father,

Your words are so powerful they create the impossible. I choose to believe Your holy word with all my heart. I allow my voice to be used as Your instrument and to speak sounds of life over every situation. To You be all the glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

©2019 Foundedonthebible.com

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1096&t=KJV

2) https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/hebrew-greetings-and-congratulations