learning DAILY

James 4:13-15, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

It is quite amazing to me that today is the last year of 2019.  It seems like yesterday we were preparing for all the problems we would be facing because of entering a new century.  Do you remember Y2K? 

How are you preparing for 2020?  No, I am not talking about all the plans to buy the latest exercise equipment or starting to use the gym membership you bought last year or the diet you are going on or any other thing on your list of resolutions.  I’m thinking more about spending some quality quiet time with the Lord to see what He might have for you do in 2020.  I think we spend too much time making all kinds of really great plans and then we ask God to bless them.  Instead, we ought to be asking what the Lord wants us to be doing for Him; the Bible is pretty clear that when we ask in God’s will, He will show us and bless what we do.

What can God use you to do?  Too often we think in terms of great things and that could happen.  He may be urging you to read and study the Bible each day.  Remember the Bible is His words to us; it really does speak to us when we read to see how it applies to us.  How about the person in the store that needs a friendly smile or an encouraging greeting?  You might have a neighbor who needs a helping hand and has not asked you for it.  Perhaps you just need to be obedient with something you know you should be obedient doing.  Or, maybe you could start an encouraging blog.  There are so many wonderful ways the Lord might lead you if you seek His will.  Has anything come to your mind yet?

Decide to do something you believe the Lord is desiring you to do and see what results are produced.  Let 2020 be a year you seek to encourage others because you have decided to allow the Lord of creation to lead you.  It will be an exciting year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry

                          about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Huh? What? Me?  Am I afraid or worried?  Do I fear the days we are living in?  Nah, not really.  However, 2019 has been quite a year!  There are some crazy people (in both political parties) leading our country.  I used to be the one that would stay up on election night until the losing candidate would finally give in; I loved everything about politics.  No more. There are so many crazy ideas being tossed at us that my head spins.  Those of us that have been around a while know that “there is no such thing as a free lunch” and to be sound financially “we do not spend more than we earn”!  Have you noticed the intensity that has increased regarding the hatred of each political party for the other?

The severity seen in the weather (not talking climate change here), earthquakes, plagues and epidemics and rumors of war around the world is increasing.  The hatred for Christianity, the killing of Christians around the world is being seen in the United States as well.  Mass murder in places of worship, schools, shopping areas, and restaurants has risen and happens far too often.  What I am seeing in this country, in this world is chaos, hatred, jealousies, and ungodliness.  And, it degusts me!

But Jesus said do not worry about tomorrow (what 2020 will bring).  In other words, do not add to the things we need to do today to live our life correctly.  Matthew 6:33 tells us what we need to be doing instead.  “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  What things?  All that we need to live our lives for Him.  All the negative things we are seeing in our life time are not getting better.  Spend 2020 not in worry and fear but in seeking the One who has all things in His control, by seeking to live the life He has set for us to live – Christlike living, letting His light shine brightly through us that all might see Him.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

John 1:4-5, In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines

                   in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Charlotte and I had been married for about 4 years when we had the opportunity to visit friends in Missoula, Montana.  While there we backpacked into the mountains to camp for a night.  It was an awesome adventure!  The beauty of the mountains and drinking the cold water of little waterfalls was amazing; we set up our tents and enjoyed our time around a campfire.  One of the things that amazed me was how dark it was.  I literally had trouble seeing my hand in front of my face.  However, the fire brought light for us to see each other and a little of the surrounding area.

Mankind is described as being in darkness because of sin and error.  Sin causes us to be lost, not understanding the eternal God nor His Word.  The darkness of error and sin overpowers one’s ability to recognize the light with their natural abilities. 

But, like the campfire that lit up the area in the mountains, Jesus Christ came to be light, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.  The Jews could not recognize the Light due to the darkness of their understanding. Because of this, it was necessary for Jesus to come to correct errors in the Gentile world and to improve the truths of the Jewish church. 

What is necessary for the true light to dwell in Men?  First one must acknowledge Jesus Christ as His Savior and Lord; true, genuine life is personified in Him.  His life was the light for everyone, all who believe.  The darkness may not comprehend the Light now, but the time is coming when all knees will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Mark 8:29, He said to them, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and 

                  said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

What are we to do with Christmas?  People still need to decide for themselves how they are going to respond to the Lord’s question, “Who do you say that I am?  I do not know who reads this daily or from time to time; I assume you have answered this question already.  My concern is for those who don’t have an answer, have not heard about His love and grace, or have just rejected Him.  I am also concerned about those who have responded as Peter did.  The response needs to be followed by growth, continuing toward maturity in the Lord, perfection.  Both Paul and Peter mention in their writing that this was a problem in their day – they wanted to move their followers to the “meat of the Word” but could not because they only wanted the milk of the Word.

The acceptance of the One born to be Savior of the world is the first step, the most important decision one will make.  It is to be followed by spending time daily in God’s Word, prayer, good works, telling others the Good News through words, action and obedience. 

As the tree is taken down, lights and decorations are put away, the spirit of Christmas must continue all year long.  Believers are to continue to grow in their knowledge and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, sharing the “best news ever” (Yes, I borrowed that from a contemporary Christian song by MercyMe).  Christmas, the birth of Christ, should be lived each day through each of us.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

One of my favorite carols:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Dr. David Jeremiah states in his Study Bible, “As we contemplate all these things, we realize the miracle that occurred in Bethlehem needs to occur in our hearts as well.  There must be a nativity in every human heart – the Perfect coming to live in the imperfect – for we cannot give birth to Him, or His goodness, on our own efforts.  We need Him to enter our lives miraculously, still and quiet, as He did on that Bethlehem morning.”

Have a very Merry Christmas!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Luke 2:13-14, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly

                       host praising God saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

                      peace, goodwill toward men!”

There is one real difference in the way we celebrate Christmas today than when I was a kid.  Singing Christmas carols used to be an important part of remembering the Christmas story.  They would be sung any time the church body got together in December – church services, youth group, parties.  I remember on cold, snowy nights walking to sing at homes of shut -ins, nursing homes, or wherever we wanted.  You have to know I grew up in a community of about 5,000 people.  One time we even used a school bus to get us around to where we would sing.  After caroling, it would be back to the church to have hot chocolate and cookies.  It was pretty fun.

The first Christmas carol was spoken (I wonder why the Bible says the angels were praising God and saying ….) by the angels.  The carol announced the birth of a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.  In the angel’s message there is praise given to God, a song of peace to the earth, and the hope of goodwill toward men.  The angels announced that there was no longer antagonism between humanity and God, the barrier between them was torn down with the birth of His Son.  In Romans 8:1, John would tell us this, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Next time you sing a Christmas carol consider the message that is contained within it.  Perhaps the singing of Christmas carols during the Christmas season could be sung instead of the contemporary songs sung the rest of the year.   To me, it is still an important way to focus on the birth of my Savior.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

John 1:18, No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the

      bosom of the father, He has declared Him.

This might be a strange verse to study during Christmas.  When I taught, I would make sure students would look at the verses before and after the verse being studied to get the full meaning of the verse.  That needs to be done here.

No man had experienced God in His fulness to this time.  No man had ever seen God; He is spiritual, invisible (1 Timothy 6:16 and Hebrews 11:27).  Moses who had been in God’s presence was told he could not look upon God’s face.  The prophets had heard God speak to them but had not seen His face.

Who better to reveal the Father than the Son, the Word who was with God in the beginning and who was God?  Who better than the One through whom all things were made?  Who better than the One who was life and the light of men?  Only the babe born to Mary and Joseph, the Incarnation, could perfectly declare the Father.  The Son was in the bosom of the Father.  It was in the Son that the Father was well-pleased; the Son was the Father’s pleasure. You and I as God’s children are in God’s hands, but the Son is in the Father’s bosom and that declares the most intimate and loving relationship with the Father.

What does this all mean?  We need to understand that the Father and the Son are One.  Jesus Christ came to reveal the father, to fulfill the Father’s promise to redeem mankind from slavery to sin.  To know our Heavenly Father, we study the life of Jesus while on earth; they are One.  It means that now that which was once hidden in God can now be seen in plain and simple truth through the life and teachings of Jesus.  It means the Father’s grace to “whosoever would believe” has come through His only begotten Son.

So, we celebrate the birth of the Son.  While we put up decorations, decorate trees, and give gifts, let us recognize what this celebration is really about.   Take time with your family and friends to celebrate Jesus and be thankful for the grace He has brought to us.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Matthew 2:1-2,  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days

                                of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to

                               Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of

                               the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come

                               worship Him.”

“We three kings of Orient are ….” We got a lot of theology about what happened the night of Jesus’ birth comes from Christmas carols.  Perhaps someone thought that because of three gifts there were three wise men.  The Bible does not tell us there were just three wise men; perhaps there were four or six. 

The important part of this is that wise men from the East noticed an extraordinary star in the sky and they took this to mean an extraordinary person was born where the star was seen to hover.  Wise men in the East had long worshiped stars, using them in their idol worship.  It could be said that their misuse of the stars would now lead them to Christ. 

How long was their journey?  The answer is found in the search itself – they searched until they found the One born King of the Jews.  Yes, they were given direction by the star; yes, they needed to stop and ask for help.  But they searched until they found Him.

The slogan or bumper sticker “Wise men still seek Jesus” may give us a chuckle and, yet, is it not the message of the wise men? Is it not the message for us today?  Wise men still seek Jesus through Bible study, meditation on His Word, prayer, discussion with others.  Take to heart the message of the wisemen in your life daily.

Oh, by the way, read Matthew 2: 11.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.  And they opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The result of seeking Jesus is finding Him.  The result of finding Him is always worship.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Luke 2:9-10, And behold, an angel of the Lord stood over them, and the

         glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly

         afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for

         behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to

         all people.”

Angels are portrayed as cute, winged beings that carry harps and move around on clouds.  There is a great desire to meet and talk to angels.  But even a casual reading of the Bible

 reveals that when angels showed up, people went to the ground in fear.  So, it was with the shepherds – they were filled with fear.  

“Do not fear” was their message.  We have Good News to proclaim to you!  A Savior, Christ the Lord, is born in the city of David!  Not only was this the message for the shepherds but to all they would tell about the events they would participate in the next hours.  It was a message to a people in history that had not received a message from God for 400 years.  These people had lived under the burden of the Roman Empire; the fear of death was part of daily life if they did not submit to Roman demands.  Pax Romana or Roman peace was descriptive of the times but for the Jewish people and slaves, it was a slogan only.  The message of great joy given by the angels was a welcome word for the people of the time.  

"Fear not" is a welcome word for us today.

Luke 2:13, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God!  We know their proclamation in the following Christmas carol.

 Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn king"
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise join the triumph of the skies

With angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
With angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem"

                    

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Luke 2:8, Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,

                keeping watch over their flock at night.

               

While shepherds were watching their sheep in a field near Bethlehem angels appeared to them.   To fully understand the significance of this you must understand the position of a shepherd. During the days of David, a shepherd held a place of high value.  But from David’s day to this this New Testament time respect for shepherds had changed.  Now they were despised, unclean, unwanted; they were thought to be just higher than lepers.

Yet, they were the first group of people to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The angel was not sent to the priests or the elders, he was sent to announce the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to the simple class of shepherds.  Upon hearing the announcement, the shepherds “went with haste” to find Mary and Joseph and the Babe in the manger. They went quickly to find the One the angels were praising.  Once they had looked upon Him, the responded by telling everyone the things they had been told about this Child.

Is this not what we are to do.  Once we hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ, we should respond in faith and seek Him.  It is a response of faith!  It is also a response of faith to tell others about what Jesus Christ has done in our lives.  This Christmas season do not forget the real “reason for the season”!

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Matthew 1:24-25, Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of 

                              the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did 

                              not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn Son.

                              And he called His name Jesus.

It is quite easy to understand the confusion Joseph must have had when he found out that Mary was with child.  Joseph was a good man and gave considerable thought regarding what he should do with Mary.  Perhaps his thoughts had gone as far as human thought could go; he was not willing to make a public spectacle of Mary by stoning her (which was his right by the law).  His struggle can almost be perceived – jealousy on the one hand and his affection for Mary on the other.

His decision was to put her away quietly, in secret.  He was a just man, not willing to expose her, willing to be merciful.  As he was considering all this an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid.  The angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife - she had conceived by the Holy Spirit to fulfill prophecy of a virgin bearing a Son, Immanuel. 

Again, I wonder what the reaction to Joseph must have been at this.  But Joseph got up from his sleep and took Mary as his wife. This is obedience.

The word know is used to denote sexual intimacy.  This verse is to protect the virgin birth doctrine that is so important to who Jesus was.  The statement protects both Jesus’ humanity and His deity.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Luke 1:26-28,  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God

to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to

 a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The

virgin’s name was Mary.  And having come in, the angel said

 to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you;

blessed are you among women!”

Imagine the predicament Mary found herself in.  She is betrothed to Joseph – under a contract to be married to him.  She is not yet married but finds herself pregnant.  Mary is a virtuous woman that should be married before becoming pregnant; the marriage would justify her pregnancy in the eyes of the world.  If you were Mary, how would you explain this?  She knew the conception was of divine origin, but how could she prove it? 

Notice the greeting from the angel Gabriel.  “Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with you.” Mary needs to be highly respected for being the one to give birth to the Messiah, the One to redeem the world.  The One she gives birth to needs to be worshiped.  Mary had found favor with God because of the life she had lived pleased Him.  She was “blessed among women not necessarily because of her unprecedented role in the history of the world.

John 1:1 states, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Jesus, the Word of God, was miraculously born through Mary without the help of a man, having been conceived through the Holy Spirit so that Jesus could be called the Son of God.  There was never a time that He did not exist; He is the eternal Son of God who was conceived in the temporal womb of Mary in order to come to earth in human form.  He came in human flesh yet, remained God.  Yes, a miracle occurred through one highly favored.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Psalm 139:13-15, For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my

                            mother’s womb, I will praise You for I am fearfully and

                            wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that

                            my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from

   You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in

   the lowest parts of the earth.

David is no doubt in awe of how he was made; he is acknowledging God’s creative involvement of his conception.  We have been looking at prophecies of the birth of Jesus Christ.  David’s words are certainly true of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  Matthew 1:18 says this about Him, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”

God is active in the development of all human life.  But this baby had to be different.  No one born of a man could fulfill the prophecy made in Genesis 3 regarding the redemption of man.  To be born of man would mean being born with a sinful nature.   No, the One to redeem mankind needed to have a sinless nature.  Only a virgin with a child by the Holy Spirit would be able to do this.

The science of conception and baby development has been studied and is well documented.  The reader must know that God personally cares for that development from conception and has a plan for the baby’s life.  For the Believer, Psalm 139 serves as a foundation for self-worth; God has made each person.  You are wonderfully made!  God knew you before your conception (Psalm 139:16) and He is present with you during every phase of your development.

Let this Christmas be about the wonder and awe of the birth of the One born to a virgin. 

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Galatians 4:4-5,  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son,

                           born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were

               under the law, that we might receive the adoptions as sons.

God had a plan to redeem “whosoever would believe” - when it was time, He would send His Son.  Were there conditions that had to be met?  Why was this the time?  Let me offer some conditions that needed to exist at the of the Lord Jesus’ birth.

First, the Romans had brought peace (Pax Romana) to the empire they controlled.  Secondly, the Romans had built roads throughout the empire.  Better roads made travel easier and safer due to Pax Romana.  A third reason for the fullness of time was the Greek language which was spoken throughout the world which made communication easier.  And last, there was a spiritual hunger as people were looking for the Messiah.  What better time for God to send His Son?

Why did he come at this time?  He came to redeem those who were slaves to the law.  The Jews had laws for everything and this put the people under tremendous burden.  In Paul’s day, there were millions of people in the Roman Empire that under the bondage of slavery.  People were looking for the promised Messiah to liberate them from the Romans and slavery under Jewish law.

Since we are not natural sons of God, Jesus Christ came to liberate us from sin through the cross that we can be sons and daughters by divine adoption.

I have been asked if I am seeing comments made to a particular page of the blog.  I am not receiving them for some reason and am working to correct this.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Psalm 72:10-11, The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents; the

                                 kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.  Yes, all the kings shall

                                 fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him.

(The seventh post in a series showing prophecies about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

I love traveling in the mountains because of the majesty of the mountains.  But I had to learn something that is quite important.  What appears to be two mountains close together (one behind the other) is actually two mountains with a large distance between them. To understand prophecy the reader must realize that the same prophesy might be for a time that is near but also for a time far in the future - just like the two mountains.

Such would explain Psalm 72:10-11.  The kings of Tarshish, Sheba, and Seba brought gifts to Solomon (who was a type of Christ).  They wanted to gain his favor and hear his wisdom.  Refer to 2 Chronicles 9:22-23 for support of this.  That is the first mountain.

But, the second mountain, or future prophecy, refers to the coming of Christ when kings from the East would find the King of the Jews.  They would bow down to worship Him and give gifts to Him. 

The fulfillment of this prophecy is seen in very familiar Scripture.  Matthew 2:1-2, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who was born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Yesterday I suggested a website to visit.  But I gave the wrong website.  It should be

 irapaine .com.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Isaiah 11:1, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch

         shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,

         the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and

        might, the spirit of knowledge and of the Lord.”

        

(The sixth post in a series showing prophecies about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

The genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ was foretold by the prophet Isaiah; he gives a wonderful picture in this verse about One who would manifest the power of the Holy Spirit in His life.  The Hebrew word for Branch is netzer.  It is interesting that this Hebrew word is also the root word for Nazareth.  Nazareth could be named "the town of the branch," or "the place where the Branch of David lives.  The prophecy suggests that One is to be born from the lineage of Jesse, the father of David and live in the city of Nazareth; Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

In the first chapter of Matthew’s gospel the genealogy of Jesus Christ is given.  Verse six includes both Jesse and David in the lineage of the Lord.  Matthew 2:23 fulfills the prophecy of the “Branch”.  It states: “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

I would like to recommend a web page for you to visit.  Check out irapaine.com for great insight to Scripture.  He writes a daily column you will find interesting! I have not asked his permission to do this, but I do not think he would mind.  It is just another way to learn daily.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Numbers 24:17, “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall

                           come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the 

                           brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.”

                             

(The fifth post in a series showing prophecies about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

As a youngster, I tried to find the Big Dipper and other astrological “pictures” in the sky.  I was never very good at finding them.  Explorers would use the stars to find direction as they traveled.  When lost, finding the North Star would help them to find their way.  So, the stars were sort of a lamp post for them. It is pretty obvious that the heavenly bodies have held great fascination for observers since their creation.

This prophecy comes from an unexpected prophet – Balaam.  I looked at several commentaries to see what they would say about the Star mentioned in Numbers 24:17. Several suggestions to the meaning of this verse were given. Perhaps the Star referred to both David (when he defeated Moab) and to the Messiah (when He defeated sin and death).  Of course, the Star might be referring to the Star that the wisemen from the East followed to find King of the Jews in order to worship Him.  Both of these thoughts would fit as we consider the relationship of the Star to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 2:1-2 show the fulfillment to this prophecy.  “Now after Jesus was born in Jerusalem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wisemen from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Micah 5:2, “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the

                  thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One 

                  to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting.”

(The fourth post in a series showing prophecies about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Bethlehem already has a rich history by the time Micah speaks this prophecy.  Caravans of travelers have passed through this Canaanite settlement.  As a result, it has become a “melting pot” for different cultures and people.  It also a city rich in Jewish history.  Both Saul and David were born there (It is also known as the city of David.).  Jacob buried his wife Rachel there and it is where Ruth and Boaz lived. 

It is in Bethlehem, located within the territory assigned the tribe of Judah that the prophet Micah would prophesy that a Ruler of Israel would come to fulfill the promises of God to His people.  What does Micah mean the One “whose goings are from old, from everlasting”?  Micah is stating that the One has His origin in eternity (John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”).

Micah’s prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 2:4-6.  “Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the city Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.”

"O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight."

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall

                        conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel.”     

(The third post in a series showing prophecies about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

There is interesting background to this prophecy.  Israel and Syria had gone to Jerusalem to force King Ahaz to join their forces against the Assyrians.  The prophet told King Ahaz (remember Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings who reigned in Judah) to trust God for deliverance; Isaiah told him to ask God for a sign of His presence.  King Ahaz would not do this because of his evil heart.  But God, gave him assign anyway – a sign for the entire house of David.  He told of the birth of Immanuel, “God with us”.

Could this prophecy be the greatest of all prophecies?  The foretelling of a virgin (the Hebrew almah means a young woman who would be a virgin up to the time of marriage) conceiving and giving birth to a Son.  How could this be? 

Emmanuel, “God with us”. The historical sign, for those faithful to God during the time of Ahaz, was not need to fear their present situation because Immanuel was their confidence.  The greater aspect of this prophecy was realized by the birth of Jesus Christ to the virgin Mary about 750 years later.

Luke 1:30-33 is the fulfillment of this prophecy.  “Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David’”.

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government

                     will be upon His shoulder.   And His name will be called Wonderful,

                     Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”             

(The second post in a series showing prophecies about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

The prophet Isaiah is telling of the coming of the Messiah.  In doing so, he gives important information that is often overlooked.  The Messiah will be born into this world, a “child”, a “son.”  In 2 Samuel 7 God established His covenant with David through the prophet Nathan.  God’s covenant with David established the throne of God’s people forever through his lineage; it would be an everlasting kingdom.  Isaiah is stressing that this Child will be a fulfillment of that promise to David.

The names given the Child reveal His character.  This Son, both God and man, will have the wisdom of God and His counsel will be perfect.  He not only has wisdom but He will have all the fullness of God in bodily form.  He will come to reveal the Father and will also come to act as a compassionate Father who eternally loves, protects, and takes care of the needs of His people.  His reign shall never end.  And, He creates peace within His kingdom.  Thus, He creates peace within us as the One who brings peace with God through the deliverance from sin.

Where is this fulfilled?  Luke 1:31-32 states,” And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great, and be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.

learning DAILY

Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between

                             your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall

                             His heel.”

In the beginning God created a paradise that Adam was to “tend and to keep”.  He named all the animals and birds of the air.  God also created Eve to be a “helper and comparable to him”.  However, something terrible happened when they fell to the suggestions of the serpent and chose to disobey God’s command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Where joy, abundance, and perfect fellowship with God had existed, there was now fear, hiding from God, and passing blame for what had happened.

But God had a plan!  In Genesis 3:15, there is a promise for mankind of One who would come to pass judgment on the enemy of both God and man.  You need to notice that the prophecy was spoken to the serpent not to Adam and Eve.  Why is this important?  Because Satan knew his destiny from the very beginning. 

The word enmity is also important to understand; it comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to hate”.  Is this an indication of the struggle and continued opposition between Satan and mankind throughout time?  If it is, the only way for Satan and his schemes to be defeated is for the promised One to come into the world.  God shows us His plan of salvation from the very beginning.

In the days ahead, there are additional prophecies given for us to pinpoint who this One is, when, where, and how He would come into this world.  It will be an exciting journey.

But wait.  Is there New Testament scripture that might show the fulfillment of this prophecy? 

1 John 3:8 states, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He may destroy the works of the devil.”

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.