Podcasts about bethlehem micah

On the Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6), we followed the Wise Men as they brought gifts (Matthew 2:11) predicted by the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:6) to Jesus, “He who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). The Wise Men even found Christ using the Old Testament: at first, through the fulfilled prophecy of Numbers 24:15–19 concerning a star and a king's scepter in Israel; ultimately, through the fulfillment of Micah 5's words about the Good Shepherd of Judah being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2–5). And not only does the whole Bible reveal Jesus as King, it also shows that He is God's Prophet, one like — yet greater than! — Moses. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the February 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Prophet Like Moses” on Deuteronomy 18:15–19. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

On the Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6), we followed the Wise Men as they brought gifts (Matthew 2:11) predicted by the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:6) to Jesus, “He who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). The Wise Men even found Christ using the Old Testament: at first, through the fulfilled prophecy of Numbers 24:15–19 concerning a star and a king's scepter in Israel; ultimately, through the fulfillment of Micah 5's words about the Good Shepherd of Judah being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2–5). And not only does the whole Bible reveal Jesus as King, it also shows that He is God's Prophet, one like — yet greater than! — Moses. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the February 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “The Prophet Like Moses” on Deuteronomy 18:15–19. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Mr Steve Matson, Director of Family Ministries

Sunday Worship: December 22, 2024 Preacher: Pastor Nathan Ruble

Permalink

December 22nd 2024 – Humility of Bethlehem – Micah 5:1-5 by Exchange Church Shepparton

December 22, 2024 Daily Devotion: "The Shepherd's Strength" Micah 5:4 New Living Translation 4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord's strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. In Micah 5:4, we read, “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.” This verse points to the prophetic promise of a shepherd, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Micah prophesied during a time of great turmoil, around 700 BC, addressing the people of Judah and foretelling the coming of a ruler from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) who would bring hope and restoration. This shepherd would lead with the strength and majesty, contrasting the failed leadership of Israel's kings. In our lives today, we can take comfort knowing that Christ, our Good Shepherd (John 10:11), provides guidance, protection, and security. In times of uncertainty, we can rest assured in His sovereignty and care. Our response should be to trust in Him fully and follow His lead, embracing His teachings and sharing His love with others.

Hi friends! In today’s episode, Ash Couchman and Tilly Hosannee reflect on Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” They explore the incredible significance of God choosing a humble, overlooked town to fulfill one of the most profound prophecies of all time. Tilly shares how this verse reminds her of God’s ability to bring greatness out of small and unexpected places. Together, they unpack what this means for our own lives and the beauty of God’s plans. Get Connected:Follow us on Instagram: Everyday Joy PodcastJoin the Facebook Group: Everyday Joy Podcast CommunityGot something to share? Email us at everydayjoy@positivemedia.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a human perspective it might have made more sense for Jesus to be born in Rome or Jerusalem, yet for some reason God chose Bethlehem. This week we will explore the town of Jesus' birth, leaning on the prophet Micah and a classic post-civil war hymn. Our God is the One who takes small places (like Fort Sask perhaps?!) and raises them up for His glory. 

There's not enough evidence to FORCE someone to believe who doesn't want to. But for the open-minded person, prophesy offers a compelling case to believe God Himself is behind the Scripture.Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.Scripture Used in Today's MessageIsaiah 46:9-10Prophecies of the Messiah referred to in this message Born in Bethlehem                 Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1    Preceded by a messenger     Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:1-2    Enter Jerusalem on a donkey   Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:35-37    Be betrayed by a friend            Psalm 41:9, Matthew 10:4    Sold for 30 pieces of silver       Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 26:15    Money thrown into the Temple   Zechariah 11:13,  Matthew 27:5    Silent before accusers               Isaiah 53:7,  Matthew 27:12-19    Crucified with thieves.        Isaiah 53:12, Psalm 22:16, Matt 27:38 Have you read my book, "Takin' it to Their Turf"?If not, you may request a copy on my website, www.TomthePreacher.comWe send a copy to anyone who donates to our ministry, but if you can't do so, simply request a copy by sending us an email. Who do you know that needs to hear today's message? Go ahead and forward this to them, along with a prayer that God will use it in their life.To find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TiKTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher To support Tom Short Campus Ministries, click herehttps://www.tomthepreacher.com/support************ Do you want to have all your sins forgiven and know God personally? *********Check out my video "The Bridge Diagram" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Kjwrlind8&t=1sCheck out my website, www.TomthePreacher.com, to learn more about my ministry and sign up for my daily email. And make sure to request a copy of my book, Takin' it to Their Turf, when you visit my website.Check out my videos on this channel to learn how to answer tough questions challenging our faith.

"The Arrival of God's Plans"Luke 2:1-7Advent Series - Preparing for the Lord part 1 of 5Pastor Nate ClarkeDecember 1, 2024You and your family are invited to celebrate Christmas with us at our Candlelight Services on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 3:00 and 4:30 PM.Learn about this year's Kingdom Builder's project: https://www.oasischurch.online/kingdom-buildersHow should Christians think about voting and politics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak82aD16r04NEW KIDS SPACE NOW OPEN!We have expanded with 3x more space for the babies, kids, and youth in your family.https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/reel/C8FqHIipr3u/OUR NEW VISION STATEMENT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0WFhtL7h3ISERMON NOTES:- The Arrival of God's plans- “God is powerful and authoritative to the extent of being able to override all other powers and authorities.” John Piper- Born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:23- Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:10- Christ born in power; Isaiah 9:6 | Luke 4:18- Christ called to escape to Egypt: Hosea 11:1 | Matthew 2:13- Star would point to Christ: Numbers 24:17 | Matthew 2:1-2- Presentation of gifts: Psalm 72:10-11 | Matthew 2:11- Worshiped by Shepherds: Psalm 72:9 | Luke 2:12- From the line of David: Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 23:5 | Matthew 1:1-17- God can and will accomplish His plans and purposes in the world and in our lives.- God will accomplish His plans over nature- Psalm 135:6-7- Matthew 8:27- Luke 1:30-37- God will accomplish His plans over rulers- 2 Chronicles 20:6- Psalm 33:10-11- Proverbs 21:1 ESV- God will accomplish His plans over ourselves - Proverbs 16:1- Proverbs 16:9- Proverbs 19:21- Genesis 50:20Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/

Introduction: Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Changes Coming Under Messiah's Leadership (Micah 5:1-15): Messiah's people will be Secure . (Micah 5:3-6) Messiah's people will be Prominent . (Micah 5:7-9) Messiah's people will be Dedicated . (Micah 5:10-15) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Micah 5:1-15What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is the significance that the “ruler in Israel” would be from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)?Micah 5:7-8 tells us that in Messiah's kingdom, Israel will be like dew and like a lion. What do these pictures mean and how can they both be true at the same time?In Micah 5:12-14, God promises to remove idols from Israel during the Messiah's kingdom. Why does God do this, and not just command Israel to not worship them? BreakoutPray for one another.

Welcome to Episode 189 of our Apologetics Series. Today, we delve into the profound evidence for Jesus' divine nature, a topic that has been scrutinized more than any other in human history. The life and teachings of Jesus have sparked a variety of reactions—some label Him a deceiver, while others have journeyed from skepticism to firm belief in His deity. Still, many sit on the fence, acknowledging His moral teachings but denying His divine sonship. So, what evidence supports the claim that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus Fulfilled Old Testament Messianic Prophecies Jesus, the apostles, and New Testament prophets frequently referenced Old Testament prophecies to affirm His messianic identity (cf. Luke 24:25-27, 44; Acts 8:30-39). Jesus fulfilled over 300 specific prophecies, including: Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; cf. Genesis 3:15) Descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah (Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 49:10; Numbers 24:17) Regal monarch (Psalm 89:3-4; Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 110:1) and suffering servant (Isaiah 53) Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9) for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13) Entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) Clothes distributed by casting lots (Psalm 22:18) Pierced by attackers (Zechariah 12:10) Bones not broken (Psalm 34:20) Body would not decay (Psalm 16:10) These are a few examples among many that identify Jesus as the Messiah. He uniquely fulfilled these prophecies, events that would be impossible to orchestrate artificially. The New Testament Reliability The New Testament's historical accuracy supports Jesus' messianic claims. Archaeology and historical records consistently affirm its accounts, making it the most reliable ancient text. The fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, even those involving ordinary events like Jesus' betrayal for 30 pieces of silver or riding a donkey into Jerusalem, confirms the divine orchestration of His life. Jesus Worked Miracles Jesus' miracles served as divine confirmation of His identity and message (Exodus 4:1-9; 1 Kings 18:36-39; Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). He performed numerous miracles, such as healing the sick, calming storms, and raising the dead, proving His divine authority (John 20:30-31). Variety of Miracles Jesus healed lepers, restored sight to the blind, and even raised the dead (Matthew 15:30; Luke 7:14-15; John 11:1-44). His miracles demonstrated His power over nature, sickness, and death—feats no one else has replicated. Jesus' Sinless Life Despite severe scrutiny, Jesus lived a sinless life. His challenge, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46), remains unanswered, affirming His moral perfection (Hebrews 4:15). Conclusion The evidence for Jesus' deity is compelling: He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, performed countless miracles, predicted His death and resurrection, accepted worship, lived sinlessly, and claimed divine authority to forgive sins. This overwhelming evidence leads us to proclaim, like Thomas, “My Lord and My God” (John 20:28). Join us as we explore these profound truths, affirming the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

December 24, 2023 Pastor Chris Wachter Merry Christmas, from Hiawatha Church! http://www.hiawathachurch.com

Sunday, December 24, 2023"Love from Bethlehem" - Tyler TankersleySermon based on Micah 5:2-5a(reading by Lewis Ledford)

Why God Informed Shepherds Luke 2:8-20 JESUS SAID “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. John 10: 11 (NIRv) John 10: 14-16 John 1:29 John 10: 27-30 Sheep Responsibilities: Listen and Follow the shepherd John 10: 27-30 Shepherd's (Jesus) Assurance: Guaranteed Eternal Life Luke 1:34-35 NLT ✓ The Holy Spirit came upon her; the power of the Most High overshadowed her ✓ The Holy Spirit, God the Father (the Most High), the Son of God present at Mary's conception and during pregnancy ✓ Jesus was conceived and born holy; He came for the greatest rescue mission –salvation of sinners ✓ He lived holy –no sin in him (2 Cor 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 4:15) ✓ Jesus, the perfect Son of God is the sole, all sufficient sacrifice for sin Luke 2:1-5 ✓ God decreed 700 years earlier that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) • Every other person (Ceaser Augustus, Quirinius, Joseph) and event (census) were instruments in the hand of God ✓ God's words will always be fulfilled; it is best to obey God's words and not to fight it • What/Who are the heavenly “things” that informed the shepherds about Jesus' birth? ✓ An angel ✓ The Lord's glory ✓ Multitude of the heavenly army of angels(host) ✓ Brought good news about the Saviour, Christ the Lord birth; gave instruction on where and how to find him. John 1:5 Jewish people had the Glory of God -On and Off-, and finally, Off • On -Moses Tabernacle Dedication (Exodus 40:34-35; Lev 9:22-24); Solomon Temple Dedication (2 Chronicle 7:1-3), Off with repeated sin ✓ God's glory returned and tabernacled on earth when Jesus was born in Bethlehem 14Andthe Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ➢ Lessons from the heavenly visit to the shepherds ✓ The Goodness of God ✓ Despised, outcasts, and rejected shepherds were first to receive the news of Jesus' birth ✓ The Nearness of God ✓ The presence of God was closer than the shepherds knew ✓ The Love of God • God gave the perfect gift that the world needed-a Person who will rescue us from sin ✓ The Faithfulness of God Some Prominent Shepherds in the Old Testament ✓ Abel, a shepherd who laid down his life ✓ Abraham,a shepherd who left home to obey God ✓ Issac, a shepherd who laid down his life in obedience to his father ✓ Jacob,a shepherd who got himself a bride while away from home ✓ Moses,a prince, became a shepherd and delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt ✓ Moses slaughtered some lambs; Israel had an exodus from Egypt ✓ Jesus gave his own blood; believers have an exodus from the power of Satan, and the kingdom of darkness. into the kingdom ofGod ✓ David, a shepherd who brought victory to Israel ✓ Saul has slain his 1000, Davids his 10000s ✓ Jesus Christ, the shepherd is gathering his flock -One Shepherd, One Flock ✓ The Good Shepherd died for the sheep John 10: 14-16 ✓ The Great Shepherd lives for the sheep, gathering and building his flock Hebrews 13:20-21 ✓ The Chief Shepherd is coming to take his sheep home 1 Peter 5:1-5 John 10: 27-30

Today Pastor Jimmy opens his Christmas sermon series with a deeper look into the Prophetic, Historical, and Symbolic meanings found in the birth of Christ in this little village. Through them, we will better see the beauty of God's intentionality in having His son and our savior enter our world at this very spot. This message can be watched on the Authentic Life Fellowship Facebook YouTube channel. if you will “Like” us you will receive a notice each time we Go LIVE on Sunday mornings at 9 & 10 AM CDT. A copy of Pastor Jimmy's teaching notes is available upon request, Email him at authenticlifefellowship@gmail.com

NEAC - Newtown: Erskineville Anglican Church

Thank you for listening! ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE! Here are some ways to learn more and stay connected! New to faith? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Pastor Derek Neider⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Derek on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the daily devotional⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore recent messages!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast was created by Pastor Derek Neider as a ministry of Awaken Las Vegas (formerly Calvary Chapel Las Vegas) find⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We are located at 7175 W. Oquendo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89113.  Our gathering times are 9am & 11am Sundays and 6:30pm Thursdays.

The sermon explores the meaning of the Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and its message of God choosing the insignificant and making it significant. It references biblical stories and characters to illustrate this idea. The sermon emphasizes the importance of embracing weaknesses and vulnerabilities, for it is through those moments that God's power can shine. It concludes by inviting listeners to invite Jesus into their lives for healing and redemption, regardless of their past mistakes.

The Wise Men come looking for the new King of the Jews. They didn't know where He was born, so they went to the place that seemed appropriate, the palace. When they got there, they found out from the religious scholars that the prophet Micah, centuries ago told us that Bethlehem is where the messiah was to be born. O Little Town of Bethlehem. It would be easy to miss if you weren't paying attention. So, let's do just that, friends. Let's read the Bible; let's pay attention. Let's see where the Messiah is. And let's be faithful to follow Him, always.  Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.If you'd like to receive this daily reflection on your phone, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up. Read our passage here - https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=568120437You can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Oh Mighty Town of Bethlehem - Micah 4:9-5.5 - Cody Busby

RISE AND FALL Luke 2:34 This one is assigned for the fall and rise of many – Simeon the prophet… After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph had to bring Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated.  This time for dedication and purification was forty days after the birth of a child according to Jewish Law.  A man named Simeon was also in the Temple at the time and The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen Jesus, God's anointed King. Holy Spirit had prompted him to go to the Temple that day to answer Simeon's lifelong prayer of faithfully waiting and expecting the Messiah to come soon. And so when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon realised that his prayer had been answered, and he greeted them. He took the child in his arms and began praising God. ‘Lord' he said, I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Saviour you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel! now I can die in peace. (Luke 2:29) Joseph and Mary just stood there, marvelling at what was being said about Jesus. Meanwhile, a group of highly esteemed Wise Men called Magi set out from Babylon in the East. Babylon was the first civilization in the East to study and interpret the movement of the stars and planets as far back as 700 BC. Planets in those times were also referred to as stars and sometimes as wandering stars. There were many such Magi, astrologers and astronomers who served the kings of Babylon. These men also knew the writings of the Jewish scrolls and would have had knowledge of the prophesies concerning the Messiah and the predicted whereabouts of his birth. This was because of the influence of the Jewish religion during the seventy years internment of Israel in Babylon, where there was a cross assimilation of both cultures, and the impact of such an inspirational prophetic hero as Daniel.  These Wise Men would have also studied any unusual or momentous activity of a night star in the heavens, as this was often interpreted by astrologers to be the sign of the birth of a great ruler. By observing the charts of the heavens and calculating the timing of a convergence of two great planets shining as a bright star they would have tracked that ‘great light' that shone at the birth of Jesus.  They followed this great light to the region of the special birth and arrived at Jerusalem and asked people about the birth of the new king of Israel and his whereabouts, but their presence in the city and the questions they were asking the local people came to the ears of the local ruler, Herod. Herod was a local tribal king who acted as an intermediary to Caesar, and he worked with the proconsuls and the military leadership in the region around Jerusalem. He had become agitated and threatened by the news of this supposed special child whose birth had been predicted, and he had heard that Israel had a record in their Scriptures of such an event heralding the birth of a Messiah or a new king to rule over them. It was rumoured that this special child would begin a new kingdom in the earth. He did not quite know what this meant, but he didn't want that sort of competition because he had his own dynasty to create. He urgently called for the Jewish priests and leaders and pressed them concerning the predicted time and place of this special birth. Certain scribes and teachers knew from the words of the prophet Micah in the Scriptures about the region of the child's birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and that a great star would appear at that time. Armed with this knowledge Herod secretly summonsed the Wise Men to his palace and told them the whereabouts of the region where they might find news of the child. He asked them to come back and inform him of the child's exact location, telling them that he too wanted to worship this new king, but all he wanted to know was where to send his garrison of soldiers so that the child could be killed. After their meeting with Herod the Wise Men followed the star which remained bright in the sky and they were guided to the house where Joseph and Mary and the child Jesus were still staying. When the men were invited to see the child, they went down on their knees and worshipped him and presented him with special and peculiar gifts which have a spiritual message for us today about the life that Jesus lived for us and gave for us in his time on the earth. There was the gift of gold, which speaks to us of the nature of God on display in the life of Jesus that would also be at work in those who believe in his life living within them. There was frankincense which speaks to us of sweet prayer ascending from our hearts.  There was myrrh which speaks to us of the suffering of Jesus, and how we share in that suffering in our lives, knowing that without that there is no spiritual growth. That same night Gabriel gave a message to the Wise Men in a dream warning them not to report back to Herod, so the men departed and returned to their homeland another way. After their departure the Angel also appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, and to stay there until he brought further word. He warned him that Herod was seeking the young child to destroy him, so Joseph took Mary and the young child and departed for Egypt that night.  Herod died soon after this, and Gabriel spoke to Joseph in another dream that it was now safe to leave Egypt, fulfilling another prophecy which was spoken through the prophet Hosea; ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son' (Hosea 11:1).  Joseph then learned that the son of Herod, who now ruled in his father's place, was as treacherous and murderous as his father, and he was afraid to go back to the area, but Gabriel appeared to Joseph again in a dream and told him to go to a quiet lakeside village in Galilee where they would be safe, so they came and settled in a city called Nazareth. And yet another prophesy was fulfilled, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene' (Matthew 2:23). They settled there as a family for many years, where Jesus grew from a child into an adult.  The Bible tells us of the growth of the life of Jesus into wisdom and maturity and grace. Luke 2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. These three qualities and characteristics of the life of Jesus marked the way of life that shaped his pathway forward in life. They are imparted to us as virtues to be honoured and believed in and taken up, by our faith in his life, that dwells within us. Wisdom is not just knowledge, but it is the way that harmonises knowledge and good intention to serve the highest good for the most people.  Stature is the nobility of character that is formed by consistent acts of wisdom. Favour is the acceptance and approval that comes forth to meet the one of wisdom and stature and give them passage or right of way. It is the gift of grace. There was a further prophecy that Simeon spoke over Jesus at the time of his circumcision in the temple, that we spoke about at the beginning. ‘This one is assigned for the fall and rise of many in Israel and as a sign that will be opposed and denied by multitudes in all the earth, so that the thoughts of their hearts might be revealed.  This prophecy declares Jesus as being the one whose life is a sign and a symbol of the way of life and truth for each one of us to follow. This way of life will reveal the thoughts and intentions of each of our hearts as being those that either receive and follow that way of life or they that oppose and reject it.  For the one whose heart receives and follows in the ways of wisdom and stature and favour (grace) – their life will rise into unity with God.  For the one whose heart opposes and denies those ways - their life falls into alienation from the life of God. (Ephesians 4:17) Our past is usually a mixture of rises and falls - but God wants us to be people that rise up into his likeness instead of falling into a downward spiral of wrong behaviour or bad habits – the non-virtue that damages our soul. There is a way of faith that can get us from the downward spiral of non-virtue into the upward rise of virtue. As far as our brain is concerned there is actually a neurological process that allows the formation of a bad habit – a non-virtue, to grow a life of its own. Repeating the wrong behaviour habitually forms a neural pathway that forms a tiny cellular arrangement of cells that seats itself at a junction deep down in the brain. Over time that place becomes a ‘go to' place where that experience and sensation automatically fires up dopamine motivation and reward processes which starts a harmful behaviour spiral down to hitting rock bottom, with the consequences of causing harm to ourselves and/or others.  Ephesians 4:22 put off your old self, which belongs to your former bad behaviour (anastrophe- drawing you down) and is corrupt through deceitful desires (delusional longings), and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true virtue and holiness. But when we make the promises to ourselves to cease that harmful behaviour and its consequences, we find that the pathways are formed, and the habit space has become a spiritual stronghold waiting at the junction. It waits to hijack anything that wants to take our new anti-bad habit idea to the frontal lobes of our brain where our brain is created to make wise decisions. But that bad habit space is there to stay, and that is where we need faith. The Holy Spirit helps us to be aware of that behaviour and to bring it to the Lord for his grace to overcome it. The work of our faith is to create a more fulfilling virtue space, created in the likeness of Jesus, and it is at this point where we draw from the life of Jesus within us by our faith. We put off the old and get renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new which is created in true holiness in the image of God.  We can get used to running down the bunny trails of bad habits but God says 'no' I'm going to let you have a highway of holiness and I'm going to be with you as you create that - and as you come to me new pathways will be formed. Through what Jesus accomplished in his short journey in the earth, the bond of oneness (peace) which he experienced with his Heavenly Father – He was building a highway which would become available to all of us, to grow and mature together as sons and daughters in his family, in wisdom and stature and favour (grace) with God and man.  Through the birth of this child divine life had been embedded into human life – His life sacrificed - then risen to life again - then sent into humanity through the Holy Spirit. This had never happened before, this new form of life - God and man together - a new creation. And because of this new creation a new flow of life between man and God can occur, whereby God transforms us and gives us grace for our hearts to be subdued into desiring his will above our own.  The Scriptures speak forcefully of this transforming power. Philippians 1:6 Be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good will. Philippians 3:21 He will transform our lesser body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. By coming before The lord in quietness and confidence with a faith filled heart and being present with him, his grace acts upon us by the Holy Spirit to transform us into his likeness - body, soul and spirit. In the body by those new pathways being formed in the neurophysiology in our brain, in the soul because our surrendered will is subdued by his will, and in the spirit because we are one spirit with him – We rise above the values of this world into those of his Kingdom above. Amen.  

Speaker: Jeff SulmanSeries: Advent Permalink

Little Town Of Bethlehem - Micah 1.1-2 - Pastor Mike Elliott

Jesus the Christ Various passages December 11, 2022      Introduction:At the time of Jesus birth, every Jew's hope was wrapped up in the one they called the Messiah, the one who was coming to be a forever king who would reign forever over a forever kingdom.The New Testament translates that Hebrew word into Greek with the word “Christ”  Read John 1:40-41  So simply the Messiah or Christ is synonymous for the King of Israel.  Read Matthew 2:1-4 Show them that “King of the Jews” in v2 is equivalent to “Christ” in v4.  They were waiting and hoping for this Messiah/ Christ/ King because they were under the rule of Rome and they longed for the day when the Christ would come to set them free from Rome and set up God's kingdom here on earth. When we think of the rest of the story of Christmas, we need to understand that Jesus was not just born to die, but he came to present himself as the King over both Israel and the whole world. Their expectations and hopes were shaped by what they knew about him from the Old Testament – summarizeHe would be God himself (Isaiah 5:7; 9:6-7; 24:23; Micah 4:7; Zechariah 14:9,16-17) who would dwell in their midst as a victorious warrior (Zephaniah 3:15-17; Zechariah 2:7-10) judging the nations (Psalm 110:5-6; Isaiah 42:1; 63:1-6; Zechariah 14:1-3,12-15;) and saving Israel so that they dwell in safety forever (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 14:11). One from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12-19; Psalm 132:11), who would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and preceded by a messenger who would prepare the way before him (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3;1).   He would enter into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) to be their  king forever ( 2 Samuel 7:16; Daniel 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7),  over God's kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:16; Daniel 2: 44; 7:14 ), ruling over all the world (Psalm 2:4-12; Psalm 110:1-3; Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 7:14;  Zechariah 9:9-10; 14:9-10) from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-3; 24:23) after he enters through the east gate of the temple to set up his throne there (Ezekiel 43:1-7).   He would be anointed by the Spirit of God to be the King (Isaiah 11:1-5), a priest (1 Samuel 2:35; psalm 110:4) and a prophet like Moses in whose mouth God himself would put his words (Deuteronomy 18:15:18).  A prophet who would preach good news to the broken and imprisoned (Isaiah 61:1-2).  He would be the good and faithful shepherd who will care for them (Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11-16) and supernaturally heal their infirmities (Isaiah 35:4-6). Therefore, this is what would have been in the mind of a Jew at the coming of Christ based on what they knew from the Old Testament.   Now we need to know that …   Jesus born to be KingBefore he was born Jesus was King– John tells us in John 12:41 that when Isaiah saw that great vision of the glory of God sitting on the throne in Isaiah 6, that is was Jesus whom he saw.    At his birth, the angels announced that Jesus was a king, the Magi affirmed it and King Herod even tried to kill baby Jesus because he knew he was the King of the Jews! The whole book of Matthew was written to prove Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the King of Israel they were all waiting for.       During Jesus' life he claimed to be the Messiah/ Christ/ King In Luke 4 - when Jesus began his ministry, he read in the synagogue a passage of Scripture about the Messiah from Isaiah 61.  Then he said this, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  They understood clearly that Jesus was proclaiming himself to be the Messiah and the people were so angry they threw him out of the city and tried to kill him In John 4 – the Samaritan woman said to Jesus “I know that the Messiah is coming and when he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her “I, who speak to you, am he.” In Matthew 16 when Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus told him that this was a supernatural revelation that the Father opened up to Peter! At the triumphal entryMatthew said that it was to fulfill the prophecy of Israel's king coming to them  The crowds recognized and affirmed him as King as they cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David” and “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” In Matthew 26 - we saw that the high priest asked Jesus directly, “Are you the Christ, the Son of God?” Paraphrased for us that is, “Are you the coming king, are you God himself?”  When Jesus said he was; the high priest accused him of blasphemy and condemned him to death. In John 18 Pilate asked Jesus directly, “Are you the King of the Jews?” After a little discussion about this, listen to how the conversation closed.  Read John 18:37  So here is the rest of the story of Christmas, Jesus was born to be a king and keeping things in context – that is the truth he came to bear witness of, the truth that he is a king! Finally, when the charges were put above the cross for the reason for his death it said – “the King of the Jews” The Pharisees wanted it to say, “He said he was” the King of the Jews  But Pilate insisted it stay as the King of the Jews  Jesus not only came to present himself as King and we are not only waiting for him to come back to be the king in the millennial kingdom but Jesus always was, is and will be King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords!   So what does that mean for you and me this Christmas Application Simply a king is the one who has the right to rule, he has the right to direct, order, command.  He has the highest rank and superior status over everyone and everything in his kingdom. He is preeminent and has first place over everyone and everything in his kingdom.  It is what we sometimes refer to the lordship of Christ.  While our response to him, as Savior is to trust him, our response to him, as Lord is to obey him.    Luke 6:46  When we think of a king, we think of King Charles!  He is really distant from the details of people's lives and his decisions make an impact but in a very general way.  So when we think of Jesus as King we often think of him reigning from a distance over the world or for some even in the future when he returns. But Jesus is an up-close kind of king, who is reigning right now over with the intimate details of his people's lives!  Turn to Colossians 1.  Read v16-18 All things created through and for him! First place in everything!ESV – preeminent  Web - before all others in importance, having paramount rank MSG – towering far above everything, everyone! Amplified explains this as he will stand supreme and be preeminent in everything! That sounds like a king to me, an up-close king over everyone and every detail of their lives! Implications for you and me this Christmas is that Jesus was not only born to be King over Israel and the whole world in the future but also born to be our King, our Lord who has first place over everything in our lives right now.    So does Jesus have first place in everything in your life?   Is he ruling and directing your life from the throne of your life, or are you sitting on that throne of your life, ruling and directing your own way? Let me do a quick check up like your primary care pastor!  Heart Affections – is Jesus truly the top love and delight of your heart or is some local sports team, political party, or reaching some achievement or position, or certain pleasures I have become addicted to, or certain things you want to get? Motives so as to do everything in life to the glory of God,  Choices you make consistent with the choices Jesus would make if he were in your shoes – by the way he may not be in your shoes but he is in your heart,  HeadThought life so as to focus upon that which is true and pure,  TongueWords you speak to others so as to build them up, encourage them and point them to Jesus,  AssetsPossessions – am I stewarding everything I have as one who is managing what God really owns or do I treat it as my own, doing whatever I want with it? Money – am I honoring God with the first fruits of my money by giving that to him and am I using all my money under his direction for his glory,  Relationships – Am I connecting deeply with other believers to support one another in our walk with Jesus or am I being influenced primarily by those who do not know God so as to forget that bad company corrupts good morals, etc.  Jesus/Christmas - does Jesus have first place this year in your Christmas plans, your family gatherings, your decorations, your gift giving, your music, your conversations with your kids and friends about Christmas?  Let me ask you this – What is that still small voice of the Spirit speaking to your heart this morning? Even more importantly now – what specific thing or things are you going to do in response to what he is speaking to you about? Take a moment to consider those two questions  

PM Service 11 December 2022, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

PM Service 11 December 2022, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

Rathiulung Elias, 'Peace from Bethlehem', Micah 5:1-9

Actually, there are more prophesies of Christ second coming to the earth than there are of His first coming as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. In studying these prophecies especially in the Old Testament, we need to remember that the church age was hidden to the prophets. You can only find the church in types and pictures in the OT. So, there are no references to the coming of the Lord for the church at the rapture in the OT. Whenever the prophets saw Messiah's coming, it was either His first coming as baby in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), or His Second Coming as the King of kings and Lord of lords to set up His kingdom. And they often saw them as one event. People are often surprised to learn that references to the Second Coming outnumber references to the first coming by a factor of eight to one. Scholars have identified 1,845 different biblical references to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, no less than seventeen books mention Christ's return. The New Testaments authors speak of it in 23 of the 27 books. Seven out of ten chapters in the New Testament refer to His return. In other words, one out of every thirty verses in the New Testament teaches us that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth. Zechariah prophesied of both events. Jesus first coming: Riding into Jerusalem just before His crucifixion. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) His Second Coming: “Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.” (Zechariah 14:1) “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:4) “And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be-- "The LORD is one," And His name one. (Zechariah 14:9) Jesus told His disciples about His Second Coming and described it this way in Matthew 24:23-31: “Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” We will give a few more references tomorrow. But in closing, one of my favorite is John 14:2-3: “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” The most wonderful thing about His coming, is His promise that we will be with Him! Today could be that day! God Bless!

You may have heard that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.Did you know that no other great religious leader fulfilled prophecy? That's right; only God declares the end from the beginning, and thus, only Jesus fulfilled prophecies given to us by God.These fulfilled prophecies are powerful evidence that Jesus is the Messiah.Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.Scripture Used in Today's MessageEight Messianic Prophecies1. He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)   2. He would be preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3)   3. He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9)   4. He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13)   5. The betrayal money would be thrown into the house of the Lord and then used to buy a potter's field (Zechariah 11:12-13)   6. He would be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7)   7. His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16-18)   8. He would be crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12)************* Take a Tour Israel with Tom ************Join me next February (2023) as I lead a tour of Israel!We'll study the life of Jesus at the very places He taught, performed His mighty miracles, was crucified, and resurrected! We'll also have plenty of worship, fellowship, and fun!For more info, check out my web page www.TomthePreacher.com************ ALASKAN CRUISE *********Would like to join Tom & Roz Short on a God-focused, fun-filled cruise taking in the stunning beauty of Alaska? Join us this May! For details, click the link belowhttps://www.tomthepreacher.com/alaska************ Do you want to have all your sins forgiven and know God personally? *********Check out my video "The Bridge Diagram" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Kjwrlind8&t=1sCheck out my website, www.TomthePreacher.com, to learn more about my ministry and sign up for my daily email. And make sure to request a copy of my book, Takin' it to Their Turf, when you visit my website.Check out my videos on this channel to learn how to answer tough questions challenging our faith.

The prophets spoke. The people didn't listen.----For centuries, the people had ignored the prophets. But the prophets were consistently right. And Micah was definitely right about this - a KING was coming, to be born in BETHLEHEM.

A new MP3 sermon from First Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Micah's Prophecy) Subtitle: The Bible Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt Broadcaster: First Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 12/31/2021 Bible: Micah 5; Micah 5:1 Length: 24 min.

Christmas is a time to celebrate God sending the Messiah, His Son Jesus, into our world to save us.Prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2Odds of that coming true from Micah to the present - https://empower.global/the-mathematical-probability-that-jesus-is-the-christ/

God Comes to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2-5, Matthew 1:18-25)

The Fourth Sunday in Advent turns our attention toward the nativity of our Lord. With Mary, we await the coming of the Christ, her Son, conceived in her womb by the Spirit of God. As the Lord dealt graciously with her and did great things for her (Luke 1:48–49), so also He manifests Himself and His glory to us in mercy and gentleness. He comes to rule His people in peace, to “shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD.” He comes forth not from the great capital city of Rome or Jerusalem, but from lowly little Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, 4). He comes to sacrifice Himself, in fulfillment of His Father's will, for the salvation and sanctification of His people (Heb. 10:10).He who once visited Elizabeth while hidden in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:39–45) now comes to visit us today, hidden in the lowliness of simple water, bread, and wine.-----------------------------Visit our website: https://www.trinitysheboygan.org/​​​​Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A Learn more here: https://www.onelicense.net/Support the show

Join Ella to officially kick off the Christmas story! It starts much sooner than we realize… and has a lot more theology to it than expected!    Isaiah 9:6- “For a Child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”   OT PROPHECIES FULFILLED AT CHRIST'S BIRTH: A star and scepter came out of Israel (Numbers 24:17  &  Matthew 2:1-2) Messiah was born of a virgin and called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14  &  Matthew 1:18-25) He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2  &  Matthew 2:1-6  &  Luke 2:1-7) Messiah descended from Jesse aka David's father (Isaiah 11:1-3  &  Matthew 1:1-17, 3:6) The Lord raised up a great prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19  &  John 7:40)   END TIMES INFORMATION: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-me-but-you/id1546915517?i=1000509918974 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/saylorville-church/id898917046?i=1000504893987 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/saylorville-church/id898917046?i=1000502529119 https://www.gotquestions.org/end-times.html   Any questions? Prayer requests? Hit us up on social media: @notmebutyouproductions   Don't miss an episode… subscribe!    Our most previous episode: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-me-but-you/id1546915517 PODBEAN: https://notmebutyouproductions.podbean.com   Our Favorite Study Bibles: https://www.christianbook.com/niv-jeremiah-study-bible-hardcover/9781617957413/pd/957413   https://www.christianbook.com/niv-bible-comfort-print-leather-multicolor/9780310454465/pd/454463   https://www.christianbook.com/esv-study-bible-hardcover/9781433502415/pd/502415

In our passage today, Micah tells of a future Messiah who will come from the most unlikely of places. For more information about our ministry visit us at commuterministries.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @commuterministries Music by scottholmesmusic.com

On our episode 17, we talked about how the Bible is historically accurate and how it is scientifically accurate. If you haven't listened to it yet, I highly recommend it! It answers so many questions that the world is trying to throw at us today.In Episode 18 ,we are going to talk about the prophesies that are in the Bible. A prophesy is basically a prediction of the future that is claimed to be divinely inspired. Did you know that there are close to 2,000 prophesies in the Bible? See, the thing about prophesies is this…if you're going to write it down in a book, you better make sure it's a true prophesy, because if not, that book would be considered false and no one would trust anything in it. With the Bible having close to 2,000 prophesies, with just even one of those prophesies not coming to pass, it would lose its entire integrity.And the thing about the prophesies in the Bible is that these aren't prophesies that were going to happen right away, but they were prophesied some thousands of years before they took place. Did you know that there are over 300 prophesies about Jesus alone that span over 1,100 years. The last one that was prophesied about him was 400 years before Jesus was born. Peter Stoner was a probability expert who decided to take just 8 of the prophesies found in the Bible about Jesus and calculated what the percentage would be if even just 8 of those prophesies were true. Here's what he found:8 Prophesies Peter Stoner Looked At and Their Probabilities:1. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) Probability of that happening: 7,150 in 2,000,000,000 chance2. There would be a messenger that would prepare the way for Jesus (Malachi 3:1) Probability: 1 in 1,000 chanceJesus would enter Jerusalem as a king riding a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) Probability: 1 in 100 chanceJesus would be betrayed by a friend and suffer wounds in His hands (Zechariah 13:6) Probability: 1 in 1,000 chanceJesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12-13) Probability: 1 in 1,000 chanceThe money that was paid for Jesus' capture would be used to purchase a potter's field. (Zechariah 11-12) Probability: 1 in 100,000 chanceJesus would remain silent while He was afflicted. (Isaiah 53:7) Probability: 1 in 1,000 chanceJesus would die having his hands and feet pierced. Probability: 1 in 10,000 chanceNow, putting all of these probabilities together…what is the chance that all 8 of these could have happened to just one person? Probability: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 chance.To help you wrap your mind around this, I want to give you a picture of what that looks like. So if 1 person was to fulfill just 8 of the almost 300 prophesies, it would be like filling up the state of Texas (we all know how tiny Texas is…haha…it's massive!), so we are taking the entire state of Texas and filling it 2 ft high with quarters. Out of all those quarters, we decided to paint one red. Now, we're going to put you in a helicopter, blind fold you and then have you show us where that one red quarter is…sounds pretty impossible right? That's what that last probability, the 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 looks like!Now, that's just Jesus fulfilling 8 of those prophesies, which He did, but what if Jesus fulfilled all 300 of those prophesies? That's crazy to think about right? And these prophesies weren't just general, vague prophesies, they were very specific. I mean King David even prophesied about Jesus being crucified on a cross before crucifixion even existed.Then, the last way we're going to talk about how you can know you can trust the Bible is that it has the power to transform lives.Follow us on IG to get your daily encouragements: @Uncommon_teen_ministry

Steve Swartz, "Songs of Emmanuel, Part 4: O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Micah 5:1-6) from the Songs of Emmanuel series.More sermons available online at www.gbcob.org.

Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem isn’t just a treasured Christmas Carol, but a profound mystery from hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The fact that our savior, God made flesh, was born in the lowliest of places, is one of the most intriguing and important aspects of Jesus’ first advent. During this Christmas season, […] The post Messianic Prophecies | The Little Town of Bethlehem – Micah 5:2 first appeared on DarrenHibbs.com.