Wednesday Christmas
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INtro
INtro
Murder of the INnocents Day- 12/28—honor children of Bethlehem
stands as warning...
SCR
1 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, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The coming of Jesus—offered peace and exposed insecurity
*** TO whom was Jesus a threat
Why?
What’s the parallel with us?
Herod example—tyranny is rarely about strength—usually just the opposite—weakness inside has to be made up somewhere—insulation!
Exposure needs insulation (weather principle of teh weak soul)
Herod’s History
bkg w/ father etc
HIghly insecure
2000 bodyguards
5 secret fortresses
assassinated wife, m in law, b in law, and 3 sons—plus other intrigue
Fight for throne
Pick wrong caesar
*** Biggest—Idumean (Edom- “Jacob have I loved...”
*** Spiritual genetics, political risk
CF ESP—insecurity breeds ETP—extra threat perception—even when it not there yo usee it
People who expose your weakness create real threat
Wht about when God is at work in it?
for Herod—Jesus
for us?...
Feelings of unsafety often have more to do with your insecurity tahn others’ threat
*** Most people don’t realize how much responding out of threat
FIGHT OR F:IGHT IS AL ABOUT THREAT
what thret?
loss
harm
when feel f or f? what was threatened? (loss or harm)
How to notice at work?
1- Pattern of reactivity (flinch-reflex)—anger, self-protect—defensiveness!)
2- Habit of rationalizing (wrongdoing) (yeah but he/she…, what they did was worse (were going to do), “I had no choice”)
3- HIdden Agendas and motives (you know what really after is different than what say after)
*** Manipulation
A-practice basic security
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
Force yourself outward
(intentional exposure) (give people a chance to accept you)
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do
by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude,
and the contempt of families terrified me,
so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—
33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do
by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have any words, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
Practice steps with comfortable friends
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.