The Promised Birth

Introduction: We have just finished our celebration of Thanksgiving and now we are in full Christmas mode. Many people have put up Christmas trees and lights as well as bought all kinds of presents to go under the tree. People are taking special trips to see the lights around the area. All of this is to help celebrate the Holiday we call Christmas.

I would like for us to look at the preparations that were made for the coming of Christ that began centuries before He came. There are many different prophecies concerning Christ in the OT relating to His coming, His death, and His 2nd Coming. Let’s look at a few that look primarily at His birth.

I. The Promised Announcement

Numbers 24:17 (NASB95)

17 “I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near;

A star shall come forth from Jacob,

A scepter shall rise from Israel,

And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,

And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

A. Balaam was prophesying for Balak who wanted him to prophesy against Israel and yet Balaam had to prophesy for Israel.

B. Philo, 1st Century Jewish Theologian, called Balaam a Magos.

C. Numbers was written before 1400 B.C.

II. The Promised Location

Micah 5:2 NASB95

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

A. Bethlehem

B. Written between 722 and 701 B.C.

III. The Promised Lineage

Genesis 49:10 NASB95

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

A. Tribe of Judah

B. Written 1400 years before Jesus’ birth

Jeremiah 23:5 NASB95

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.

C. House of David

D. Written around 600 B.C.

IV. The Promised Mother

Isaiah 7:14 NASB95

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

A. Virgin: Unmarried, teen

B. Written around 700 B.C.

V. The Promised Name

Isaiah 9:6 NASB95

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

VI. The Promised Worship

Psalm 72:9–10 NASB95

Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust. Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

A. The Shepherds

B. The Wise Men

C. Written 1015 B.C.

Conclusion: A number of years ago, Peter W. Stoner and Robert C. Newman wrote a book entitled Science Speaks. The book was based on the science of probability and vouched for by the American Scientific Affiliation. It set out the odds of any one man in all of history fulfilling even only eight of the 60 major prophecies (and 270 ramifications) fulfilled by the life of Christ.

The probability that Jesus of Nazareth could have fulfilled even eight such prophecies would be only 1 in 1017. That's 1 in 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.

Stoner claims that that many silver dollars would be enough to cover the face of the entire state of Texas two feet deep. Now I've been to Texas. I've driven for days to get across Texas. Texas is a very big state. Who in his right mind would suppose that a blindfolded man, heading out of Dallas by foot in any direction, would be able, on his very first attempt, to pick up one specifically marked silver dollar out of 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000?

The Old Testament points to Jesus, the birth of Christ, the Need for Christ, The Death of Christ, and the Reign of Christ.

There are a couple of things that we can take from such promises.

God’s Promises are fulfilled.

God is actively involved throughout the history of mankind.

God’s Plan will be accomplished.

God involves men in bringing about His plan.

Are you seeking Him?

This Christmas season, will you take the time to seek the Lord? Let people know who He is to you and will you worship Him as He deserves?