Prophecy Fulfilled
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Our weekend
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
All this was done to
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Many prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of Christ.
Before Abraham was I AM. John 8
Many prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of Christ.
The above are just a few. None for any other world religion leader...
God exists outside of time. We operate on a linear path of time. We can remember the past and try to plan for the future, but we cannot know what tomorrow will bring.
OT prophecies were a way to ‘pull back the curtain’.
There was a time when He didn't have to speak through a proxy. But original sin ‘closed a curtain’ between God and man. (Jesus defeating sin would re-open it.)
In Moses’ time the children of Israel begged not to have to hear from the Lord directly.
and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”
But there was a lot God wanted to say to His people. (There still is!) So He revealed Himself, His words and His will through the prophets. He did so through Noah and through Moses but they weren't really considered prophets. That didn't seem to start until Samuel, who was raised in the care of Eli the priest. It ended with Malachi who was contemporary with Haggai and Zechariah. Well technically JtB.
The thing God kept pulling back the curtain on was Jesus. The Messiah. The kingdom of God. The reign of Jesus. So Isaiah talks about the suffering Jesus must go through. Zechariah talks about His triumphal entry. And Daniel of His second coming and future reign.
Since Jesus has accomplished the work He came to do and has sent the Holy Spirit, God has the freedom to speak to His children once again. The HS would come to testify to all truth. To convince mankind of sin and the need to repent. To give and help us understand spiritual gifts. And He intercedes for us when we do not know what to pray.
God exists outside of time and has a plan since before the beginning of time. Which means...
God sees my today and my tomorrow.
He is aware of the things which come my way. Not only is He aware of it but is willing to use it for our good!
The broken-ness of sin, death, disease for our good? According to all of everything can be.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
Paul told the Corinthian church: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, the heart of man has not imagined what God has planned for those who love Him.
When I think I am all alone, forgotten, abandoned He says He is still planning for my future in Him. reminds us He saw all of our days, recorded them even, before a single one of them began.
He sees my today and my tomorrow.
Which means...
The Eternal One deserves my trust.
The bigger I see God the better I can trust Him. If my circumstances are bigger its harder to trust Him.
Let go and let God. Sounds way over-simplified.
Sometimes there is a danger for the modern, western Christian: We know ourselves way better than we know God. This kind of knowledge fits into the old adage ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing’. We know how broken and sinful we are and we don't know God nearly as well as we should so we develop this attitude that we don't deserve His love and grace. But if we knew Him more and focused on us less, we would HAVE to admit that He loves us because He made us in His own image. And is continuing to make us into His image.
The more I know Him the more I can trust Him. And the Eternal One deserves my trust.
He stepped into human form. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death for MY sin. He rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the Father. He is preparing a place for us. The next thing He will do is come back and get us! Unconditional Love!
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Jesus told those listening to Him:
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
He loves for us to ask. He promises to hear. What do you need to ask for? What have you been unwilling to or scared to or doubting too much to ask for? He knew Thomas didnt believe that He was really back from the grave. He told Thomas ‘come here and put your hand...’.
The Eternal One deserves my trust. He deserves yours too. Will you trust Him?
4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.