Hidden in Plain Sight

Intro:

In this day and time people are looking and searching for a sign. Many people begin to look at alternative gospels. Alternative scriptures, books, novels, and eschatological ideals for new revelations. Even in our natural world we don’t believe anything until we see something. It’s like we are all from Missouri, you have to show me something. For hundreds and thousands of years this day that we celebrate was spoken of. The birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Although this season has been commercialized in that people are more concerned about purchasing new purses, watches, cars, video games, toys, and etc. The only reason why we are here is because of what God did in sending his Son Jesus. I will reiterate to all the parents, children, and grandchildren it is not about the gift under the tree it is about the gift of God in his only begotten son Jesus called Emmanuel meaning God with us. If you don’t hear anything I say today remember this Jesus is the reason for the season! So while we reflect on this year, visit with family and friends, and kick it with co-workers just don’t forget had it not been for The Lord who was on our side where would we be!?!?!?!?

Prophetic Utterances:

When we look at the birth of Jesus let us pause for a moment to hear the voices who spoke of his coming. Often times God will speak to us, but because it’s not what or how we want to hear it we discount it.

Genesis Moses recorded in the 3rd chapter God told Satan in the form of the serpent “So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” In the midst of Sin after the Devil thought he one the victory over humanity God spoke of a seed that would destroy everything that Sin put in motion on that day in the Garden of Eden

Isaiah said in the 7:14 “14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Informing us how Yeshua of Nazareth would come and the miraculous sign to advent the event!

Micah said in the 5th chapter and 2nd verse: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From [a]everlasting.”

Prophetic Announcement:

In Luke 1:30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I [g]do not know a man?” To be real honest we have a prophetic announcement with trouble written all over it. OK Gabriel messenger of God this is all good and everything, but how am I going to explain this to my fiance’, and to my village. Some people will have trouble understanding what you have just told me. Even when Mary couldn’t understand God allowed her to visit Elizabeth for her to confirm it when she said “41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? God will confirm what he said.

Now After the Angel announced her as the vessel that would carry the Messiah somebody had to talk to her hubby Hello!!?!?! So Matthew records in 1:20-23 “20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is [g]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name [h]Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” I don’t care how you fix it up this is tough news for Joseph your wife in whom you haven’t had the pleasure of being with is already pregnant. I don’t know how I would have taken this message, but the Bible says that Joseph being a just man put her away privately or hid her or covered her so that she would not be stoned to death or put to public shame. Being pregnant while engaged was a sin punishable by death in that day and time and Joseph had every right to do that, but instead he headed to the angel and showed her grace and mercy.

Prophetic Sight:

When Jesus was born the text in Matthew 2 says a star appeared, and wise men or astrologers came from the East to see what the star was pointing to. This same star was eluded to in Numbers 24 Balaam prophesied “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And [b]batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of [c]tumult. That star some historians and theologians argue showed up in Bethlehem of Judea. The wise men told king Herod that a ruler of Israel was born. This had already been prophesied and it had already been announced, but now these gentlemen could see something in the sky. Now Matthew told of Magistrates or Wise men declaring and proclaiming the royalty of Jesus. He cemented his thought when they brought them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, because these were gifts that you would give to a royal child not one born in hood. Stay with me I am about to close. Then Luke says in Luke 2:10-14 “10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!” The Shepherds where minding their own business and suddenly Angels appeared meaning they saw something! Then all of a Sudden the heavenly praise team showed up and did a hot number! So they found Jesus and these poor shepherds didn’t have any money, so they gave Jesus the gift of Praise! After they saw what the angels declared they gave God a praise for his miraculous son to bear witness! That’s how the church should be when we find Jesus we should do like the magistrates or the wise men and the shepherds, we should give him tangible gifts and a praise!

I am closing there he was in manger wrapped in toilet linen and laying in a stinking barn. The baby Jesus, the king of glory, the heavenly seed, and the only begotten of the father in a barn. Not a palace, not a Holiday Inn, not a Marriott, not a cosy hospital, not a warm house, because God was hiding him in plain sight. The king couldn’t find him, the pharisees couldn’t find him, the scribes couldn’t find him, the priest could find him. God hid Mary as Joseph put her away and she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. God hid Joseph from his pride. God hid Jesus though he came in the volume of the book no one could find him. Some things we can’t find until God shows us, and no matter how many didn’t believe He was still born and He is still Lord!