AMAZING CHARACTERISTICS SURROUNDING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
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OUTLINE
1.JOY
2.SORROW
3.DREAMS
4.ANGELS
5.PROPHECIES
6.SIGNS
7.KINGDOM
THE MESSAGE
AMAZING CHARACTERISTICS SURROUNDING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
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1.JOY
The birth of Christ brought great joy . Even before his birth , the angel appeared to Zechariah with the good news that his prayer has been answered and a child would be born to him even though they were very old. The angels appeared to the shepherds and told them that the birth of Christ was good news of great joy. Even today the Lord wants to bring great joy in our lives . He wants to answer our prayers and grant the desires of our heart. The Lord wants to answer the prayers that we have been offering for a long time just as he did for Zechariah. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Luke 1 :11-14
"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, "
Luke 1 :58
"Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. "
Luke 2 :10
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. "
Luke 2 :20
"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. "
Psalm 37:4
" Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. "
Nehemiah 8:10
" Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
2.SORROW
The birth of Christ also brought sorrow to many people . King Herod in a desperate attempt to kill Christ , ordered the killing of all male children under the age of two years. Thus during the time of great joy, There was also great mourning . Even in our lives we may face periods of both joy and sorrow which can sometimes occur at the same time . We must learn to face every situation with the strength of Christ . We must learn to share the joys and sorrows of others.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 2:3
"When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. "
Matthew 2 :16-18
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
"A voice is heard in Ramah,weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Isaiah 53:3
" He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. "
Romans 12:15
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
Philippians 4 :11-13
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. "
3.DREAMS
The birth of Christ involved many incidents where God communicated to his people through dreams. Joseph received many timely messages from God through dreams both before and after the birth of Christ . These dreams gave him understanding and guidance to take the right decisions in his life. The wise men also received warning through a dream. Even in our lives , the Lord has promised to grant dreams and visions to us who are his people in these last days.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 1:20
"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 2:12-13
"And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
Matthew 2: 19-22
"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt
and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead."
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,"
Acts 2:17
" ’In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. "
4.ANGELS
The birth of Christ was accompanied by the ministry of angels. The Lord sent his angels to Zechariah , Mary , Joseph , shepherds to reveal the message of the birth of Christ and his purpose for their lives and to guide them in the right path . Even in our lives the Lord has promised to send his angels to protect us and to deliver us from trouble.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Luke 1 :11
"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. "
Luke 1 : 26-27
"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. "
Matthew 1:20
"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. "
Luke 2 :8-9
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified."
Luke 2:13
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "
Matthew 2:13
"When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.... "
Matthew 2:19
"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt "
Psalm 34:7
" The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,and he delivers them. "
Psalm 91:11-12
" For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. "
5.PROPHECIES
The birth of Christ was characterised by the fulfillment of prophecies .all the major features of his birth were already foretold by the prophets. Even though the prophets such as Jeremiah , Isaiah, Micah who had foretold the birth of Christ had long passed away from the earth , the Lord was faithful to fulfill all that he had revealed through his prophets. The birth of Christ was marked by many divine revelations . However we learn that each prophet received only a small portion of the revelation of Christ . No single prophet was given the entire revelation concerning Christ. Only the Lord knew everything and he revealed a portion of truth to his prophets . Even today we prophesy only in part.
We also observe that the Lord did not reveal all the sufferings involved to Mary and Zechariah in the beginning . The angel did not reveal to Zechariah that John the Baptist would be beheaded at a young age by Herod . Nor did the angel reveal to Mary that her son would be crucified and die a painful death . The Lord is very gentle in his revelations and would not reveal all the pain and suffering involved at the outset lest we get discouraged. But he will give us the grace we need when we face trials and tribulations in our life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 1:22-23
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
Matthew 2:4-6
"When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
" ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’"
Matthew 2:15
"where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Matthew 2:17-18
"Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Matthew 2:23
"and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
"His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Luke 1:67
Luke 2 :26
"It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. "
Luke 2 :33-35
"The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Luke 2:38
"Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 1:15-17
"for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
I Corinthians 13 :8-10
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. "
Acts 2:18
"Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. "
6.SIGNS
The birth of Christ was accompanied by many signs . The wise men were led by a star . The shepherds were given a sign with which they could identify Jesus . Zechariah became dumb until the birth of John the Baptist because of his unbelief. Even in our lives the Lord gives us many signs to guide us and to reassure us of his goodness and faithfulness . When our enemies are unable to triumph over us , it is a sign that the Lord is on our side and is favouring us. We must to recognize the signs that the Lord gives us and be strong in our faith.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 2:1-2
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2:9-10
"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. "
Luke 2 :12
"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." "
Luke 1:20
"And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
Psalm 41:11
" I know that you are pleased with me,for my enemy does not triumph over me. "
Psalm 86:17
" Give me a sign of your goodness,that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me."
7.KINGDOM
The birth of Christ was ushering in the kingdom of God on the earth . The angel promised Mary that Jesus would reign over the house of Jacob for ever. The Lord Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords .The first message that Christ preached was the message of the kingdom of God. We belong to his kingdom and the Lord wants us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and then the Lord himself would meet all our needs .
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Luke 1 :30-33
"But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Matthew 2:2
"and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2 :6
" ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’"
Isaiah 9:6-7
" For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. "
Matthew 4:17
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "
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