7 Soils That Have Seen Success

7 SOILS THAT HAVE SEEN SUCCESS

BETHLEHEM THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER HISTORY

JERUSALEM THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER DEATH

GATHSEMENE THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER SIN

GABADDHA SATAN'S VICTORY OVER THE WORLD -JOHN 19:13

GOLGOTHA THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER SATAN

GRAVEYARD THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER HADES (HELL)

MOUNT OF OLIVES THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER TIME

I. BETHLEHEM- THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER HISTORY

Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] 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.”

The Little Town of Bethlehem Has a Surprising History

“Bethlehem” means ‘house of bread’

how God had prepared Bethlehem for 1700 years for the birth of His Son, Jesus.

We think of Bethlehem ONLY as the birthplace of Jesus.

BUT … Bethlehem is mentioned 53 times in Scripture.

There are actually 2 BETHLEHEM’s mentioned in the Bible: North and South . North mentioned once in scripture

Bethlehem-Judea wasn’t a large town … YET it was the CENTER of many historical events:

I. RACHEL IS BURIED THERE – Genesis 35:16-19

• This is the FIRST REFERENCE to Bethlehem. Rachel is the wife of Jacob, called Israel, She is the bride of Israel. Rachel is a picture of the JEWS.

DEATH is associated with Bethlehem.

II. RUTH IS REDEEMED THERE – (Ruth 4:10-11)

• Boaz redeemed his bride in Bethlehem. Jesus, born in a manger in Bethlehem, came to redeem His bride … the Church. 1 Peter 1:18-19 – ribbon.

The Great-Grandson of Ruth & Boaz, King David, set up his kingdom … over which his descendent Jesus will one day rule.

REDEMPTION is associated with Bethlehem.

III. DAVID WAS ANOINTED KING THERE – 1 Samuel 16:1,13

• King David was the Great (39 times) Grandfather of Jesus. King David was also born in Bethlehem. This is why Mary & Joseph had to come to Bethlehem to be registered for the tax.

• Jesus came into the world as a King. The Wise Men said: “Where is He that is born, the KING of the Jews?” A few days before His crucifixion, the crowds chanted (Luke 19:38) – “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord:”

Although rejected by the people as their King, He was chosen by God. The people wanted a King to:

The ANOINTING OF A KING is associated with Bethlehem

IV. THE MESSIAH IS PROPHESIED AS COMING FROM THERE – Micah 5:2

• Here we have the prophecy of the birth-place of the Messiah. 2 PICTURES are painted here:

• God chose Bethlehem out of all the towns on the earth. Then … through 1700 years of history … He set the stage for the main event … the birth of His Son, Jesus.

The MESSIAH is associated with Bethlehem.

o Through Rachel … BIRTH & DEATH are associated with Bethlehem.

o Through Ruth … REDEMPTION is associated with Bethlehem.

o Through David … the ANOINTING OF A KING is associated with Bethlehem.

o Through Micah … the MESSIAH is associated with Bethlehem.

God had it all planned out … through 1700 years of history … so we could celebrate the birth of His Son …

II. JERUSALEM- THE VICTORY OF THE SON OF GOD OVER DEATH

John 12:12-19

Jerusalem

• On June 7th, 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited for the first time since its partition in 1948. On June 14, 1967, the rubble was cleared from the Western Wall Square.

• Once again, the holiest place for all Jews was open, and all were invited to visit. It was estimated that 200,000 Israelis visited the Western Wall, though they had to pass through six police barriers to reach the site.

• Israel faces not only the bias of the entire Arab world, and many in the European Union, it faces unwarranted bias from our own U. S. State Department’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

• Jerusalem has been conquered more than 40 times including by the Persians, the Romans, the Ottoman Turks, and the British Empire.

• More than 100 battles have been fought for control of Jerusalem over the course of its history.

• Jerusalem is a walled city: its walls are about 2.5 miles long, 40 feet tall, and 8 feet thick.

• There are 34 watchtowers along Jerusalem’s walls, and there are 7 gates for traffic.

• Municipal law requires all structures to be covered in Jerusalem stone, preserving the historical look of the city.

• Some of the olive trees in Jerusalem are more than 800 years old.

• Neil Armstrong said when he visited Jerusalem, “I am more excited stepping on these stones than I was stepping on the moon.”