Waited 400 Years Only To Get A Scandal

06/17/2019 Waited 400 Years Only To Get A Scandal

Series: The Story Of The Bible 

https://vimeo.com/340137142

What Does The Bible Say?

Matthew 1:18-24, Luke 2:1–7

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. (Matthew 1:18–24 NLT) 

God controls the “who.”

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). (Isaiah 7:14 NLT) 

God controls the “why.”

2  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. 3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. (Micah 5:2–3 NLT)

God controls the “where.”

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. (Luke 2:1–7 NLT) 

God controls the “how.”

Jesus’ birth was not the result of immoral behavior, but provided a solution to our immorality.

How Can You Obey?

When Jesus enters your life, let others see His reflection in you.

Question 1 of 5

God spoke to both Mary and Joseph through angels (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:19-24). What was the angel’s message and how did Mary and Joseph respond?

Question 2 of 5

Can you imagine how people reacted when Mary said, “An angel told me that God would make me pregnant, but Joseph and I are still virgins?” Tell about a time when God called you to follow Him in a way that others did not understand. How did you hold to your faith during that time?

Question 3 of 5

Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us.” As you walk with Jesus, how does it help you to know that He is God and that He is with you all of the time?

Question 4 of 5

Tell about a time when you thought something bad was happening to you, however, God turned it into something good.

Question 5 of 5 

Why is it important to Christians that all the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus were completely fulfilled? Why is predictive prophecy so important to Christians?