Podcast appearances and mentions of judah isaiah

Nativity Bible Study The first Lord I Call verse from the Vespers of Nativity: Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord, as we sing of this present mystery. The wall which divided God from man has been destroyed. The flaming sword withdraws from Eden's gate; The cherubim withdraw from the Tree of Life, and I, who had been cast out through my disobedience, now feast on the delights of paradise: For today the father's perfect image, marked with the stamp of His eternity, has taken the form of a servant. Without undergoing change He is born from an unwedded mother; He was true God, and He remains the same, but through His love for mankind, He has become what He never was: true man! Come, O faithful, let us cry to Him: O God, born of a virgin, have mercy on us! The most concentrated alternation of scripture and hymnographic commentary occurs during the Royal Hours. First Hour Psalms: Psalm 5 (a morning psalm in its usual place), Psalm 44 (Messianic Psalm about the wedding; Hebrews 1:8 confirms; also used in vesting prayers and Proskomedia), Psalm 45 (Be still and know; God is with us).  Prokimen:  Psalm 2: 7,8). The Lord said unto Me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance. Readings:  Micah 5:2–4 (Prophecy of Bethlehem), Hebrews:1:1-13 (St. Paul interprets the OT and explains the divinity of XC). St. Matthew 1:18-25 (Narrative: birth). A Hymn:  Prepare, O Bethlehem, and let the manger make ready and the cave receive; for truth hath come, and shadow hath passed. And God hath appeared to mankind from the Virgin, taking our likeness and deifying our nature. Wherefore, Adam and Eve are made new, crying, Goodwill hath appeared on earth to save our race. Third Hour Psalms: Psalm 66 (a song of the Resurrection), Psalm 86 (A prophecy on the meaning of the Nativity and the uniting of the nations in the Church), Psalm 50 (usual Psalm). Prokimen:  Isaiah 9:6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder  Readings: Baruch 3:35-4:4 (Wisdom appeared on earth and lived among mankind). Galatians 3:23-29 (we are one in Christ).  St. Luke 2:1-20 (narrative: shepherds). A Hymn: Tell us, O Joseph, how it is that thou dost bring the Virgin whom thou didst receive from the holy places to Bethlehem great with child? And he replieth, saying, I have searched the Prophets, and it was revealed to me by the angel. Therefore, I am convinced that Mary shall give birth in an inexplicable manner to God, whom Magi from the east shall come to worship and to serve with precious gifts. Wherefore, O Thou who wast incarnate for our sakes, glory to Thee. Sixth Hour Psalms: Psalm 71 (prophesy of the Messiah; includes Magi/Kings), Psalm 131 (Messianic; also points to nations), Psalm 90 (usual Psalm). Prokimen: Psalm 109:4,1. From the womb before the morning star I bore Thee. Said the Lord to my Lord: Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.   Readings.  Isaiah 7:10-16; 8:1-4, 9-10 (Virgin birth; God is with us!).  Hebrews 1:10-2:3 (Christ is greater than the angels). St. Matthew 2:1-12 (Narrative: wise men) A Hymn:  Listen, O heaven, and give ear, O earth. Let the foundations shake, and let trembling fall on all below the earth; for God hath dwelt in a creation of flesh; and He Who made creation with a precious hand is seen in the womb of a created one. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out. Ninth Hour Psalms: Psalm 109 (Messianic; see above), Psalm 110 (a hymn of joyous praise), Psalm 85 (usual Psalm) Prokimen:  Psalm 86:4-5.  And of the mother Zion, it shall be said, this and that man is born in her and the Highest Himself hath founded her. His foundations are in the holy mountains. Readings:  Isaiah 9:6-7 (for unto us a child is born!), Hebrews 2:11-18 (Christ became a man), St. Matthew 2:13-23 (go to Egypt!) A Hymn.  Verily, Herod was overtaken by astonishment when he saw the piety of the Magi. And having been overridden with wrath, he began to inquire of them about the time. He robbed the mothers of their children and ruthlessly reaped the tender bodies of the babes. And the breasts dried up, and the springs of milk failed. Great then was the calamity. Wherefore, being gathered, O believers, in true worship, let us adore the Nativity of Christ. But wait there is more! Jewish Expectations/Prophecies of the Messiah The Messiah would be the “seed of a woman” come to destroy the work of the Devil. Not long after Creation, God prophesied to the serpent Satan, “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” (Genesis 3:15). The implication was that Eve's descendant would undo the damage that Satan had caused.  Huge impact on the Jewish mind and imagination. (1 John 3:8). (Also see: Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:10.) A prophet like unto Moses. This was prophesied by Moses, himself: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' And the LORD said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him'.” (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, NKJV). Like Moses, the Messiah would be a leader, a prophet, a lawgiver, a deliverer, a teacher, a priest, an anointed one, a mediator, a human and one of God's chosen people (a Jew) performing the role of intermediary between God and man—speaking the words of God. Both Moses and Jesus performed many miracles validating their message. As infants, both their lives were threatened by evil kings, and both were supernaturally protected from harm. Both spent their early years in Egypt. Both taught new truths from God. Both cured lepers (Num 12:10-15; Matt. 8:2-3) and confronted demonic powers. Both were initially doubted in their roles by their siblings. Moses lifted up the brazen serpent to heal all his people who had faith; Jesus was lifted up on the cross to heal all who would have faith in Him. Moses appointed 70 elders to rule Israel (Num. 11:16-17); Jesus appointed 70 disciples to teach the nations (Luke 10:1, 17). And there are many other parallels between the lives of Moses and Jesus. The Messiah would be a descendant of Noah's son, Shem. Noah said, “Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant (Gen. 9:26-27). Chapter 10 goes on list descendants of Shem, noting that he was ancestor of Eber (Heber: Luke 3:35), the founder of the Hebrew race.  Noah associated Shem especially with the worship of God, recognizing the dominantly spiritual motivations of Shem and thus implying that God's promised Deliverer would ultimately come from Shem. The Semitic nations have included the Hebrews, Arabs, Assyrians, Persians, Syrians and other strongly religious-minded peoples. More specifically, he would come from a descendant of Shem named Abraham ( Genesis 22:18; 12; 17; 22). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1. More specifically, he would be a descendant of Abraham's son, Isaac, not Ishmael (Gen. 17; 21). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1. More specifically, he would be a descendant of Isaac's son, Jacob, not Esau (Gen. 28; 35:10-12; Num. 24:17). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1. More specifically, he would be a descendant of Judah, not of the other eleven brothers of Jacob. Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1. More specifically, he would be a descendant of the family of Jesse in the tribe of Judah (Isaiah 11:1-5). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38. More specifically, he would be of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 23:5; Psalm 89:3-4). Fulfilled: See Christ's genealogy in Matthew 1; Luke 1:27, 32, 69. Note: Since the Jewish genealogical records were destroyed in 70 A.D., along with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, it would not be possible for a Messiah imposter who was born later to prove his lineage back to David and thus fulfill this prophecy. He will be born in a small city called Bethlehem, specifically the one formerly known as Ephratah (Micah 5:2 – 1H). Fulfilled: Luke 2:4-20. Note: Christ's birth in Bethlehem was apparently not by the choice of Mary and Joseph; it was forced upon them by Caesar Augustus' taxation decree which required Joseph to leave his home in the city of Nazareth and return to his place of origin to pay the tax. He will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14- 6H). Fulfilled: Matthew 1; Luke 1. He will be a priest after the order of Melchisedek (Melchisedec) (Psalm 110:4). Fulfilled: Hebrews 5:6 The scepter shall not pass from the tribe of Judah until the Messiah comes. In other words, He will come before Israel loses its right to judge her own people. The patriarch Jacob prophesied this: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10) According to the Jewish historian Josephus, the Sanhedrin of Israel lost the right to truly judge its own people when it lost the right to pass death penalties in 11 A.D. (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 17, Chapter 13). Jesus Christ was certainly born before 11 A.D. He will come while the Temple of Jerusalem is standing ( Malachi 3:1; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 11:13; Haggai 2:7-9). Fulfilled: Matthew 21:12, etc. (Note: The Temple did not exist at certain periods in Jewish history, and it was finally destroyed in 70 A.D.) A worldly ruler.  Since the fall of the Davidic kingly dynasty, the expectation was that the Messiah would restore that dynasty so that he would rule as the human “son of God”. (Isaiah 9:6-7 – 9H) He will be divine; the Son of Man. (Daniel 7:13; Isaiah 7:14- C) He would be the revelation of God; God with us. (Baruch 4:4 – 3H; Isaiah 8:9)

Isaiah is a challenging book to study and even more challenging to understand. Many people avoid it because of its length, its prophetic language or its difficulty to understand without historical knowledge. These are certainly challenges, but Isaiah is too important a book NOT to read. Yes, it can be challenging, long and difficult to grasp in context, but this study will take you through that and help guide you on your way to becoming familiar with some of the most important prophecies in the Bible. This study will cover the first half of Isaiah. Because there is no cohesive narrative within Isaiah; it is a collection of prophetic words to various nations at different times; we are breaking it up in half to make it easier to digest. In this study, we will look at Isaiah chapters 1-33. From this study, you will gain the necessary historical background, insights into what has been fulfilled and what has not and all that you need to keep reading and know God's Word through the Prophet Isaiah. -----------LINKS----------Support 10WB on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/10weekbibleThe 10 Week Bible - http://www.10WeekBible.comTwitter: @DarrenHibbs - https://twitter.com/DarrenHibbsSign up for my newsletter - http://www.darrenhibbs.comGet a copy of the 10 Week Bible Study today - https://www.amazon.com/Darren-Hibbs/e/B00B4I47CE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl2&tag=darrenhcom0a-20&linkId=401f3d79974c70929517936977e32df9My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUU0XHSHuhSyN8qk-7efYgSupport the show

Bible Study with Jairus- Revelation 3, part 2 The Mission of the Church in Philadelphia is to be a replica of the New Jerusalem   Traditionally, our understanding of the letter to the Church in Philadelphia is limited to noticing a few key facts. We point out that this church was one of the few churches in Revelation that was not criticized by the Lord. We also observe that the word "Philadelphia" means brotherly love, indicating that the people of this church must have loved one another. We often use the idea of the church in Philadelphia as a metaphor for revival. These are all helpful observations. However, let's not forget that the theme of the book of Revelation is to bring forth a mature Bride of Christ who can judge angels, ushering in God's ultimate judgment on the world. Therefore, we know that God's work in Philadelphia will somehow contribute to the maturity of the Bride of Christ. The New Jerusalem, the holy city that descends from heaven, is the Bride of Christ. Revelation 21:2 says that the New Jerusalem is like a bride adorned for her husband. The Lord's promise to the overcomers in Philadelphia is that they will not only become pillars in the temple of God, but they will also have the name of God's city (the New Jerusalem) written on their foreheads (Revelation 3:12). From these verses, we see that God wants the church at Philadelphia to become a model of the New Jerusalem. God also wants his body to mature into warriors who can eventually judge angels. The work of the Lord in the church in Philadelphia brings maturity to the church and defeat to the enemy. Although the church is not yet judging angels, we can tell that the enemy is already losing ground—especially in the church in Philadelphia. For example, Revelation 3:9 says that the Lord will make the false Jews in the synagogue of Satan come to worship at the feet of believers. Demons cannot worship at our feet if they are possessing us or sitting on our heads like monkeys (to borrow imagery from the visions of people with prophetic gifts). How can an evil spirit riding on your head bow down to you? That is impossible. You must first cut ties with evil spirits, cast them out, and distance yourself from them. Only then can they bow down to you. God's work in the church at Philadelphia is to continue to break Satan's ties with believers. Only then will the “synagogue of Satan” be able to bow down before believers. This analogy about evil spirits is not limited to evil spirits alone. Many sinners, including the false Jews mentioned in this passage, have the work of evil spirits behind them. Only when we deal with the evil spirits within these false teachers will they be able to bow at our feet. We will one day reign with Christ, just like Joseph reigned over Egypt. God used famine to humble his brothers so they would repent of their sin and bow at Joseph's feet. Joseph ruled over them as second-in-command, the person closest to Pharaoh's throne. In the same way, faithful believers will be second-in-command to God. The believers in the church in Philadelphia will become the bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem, the ones closest to God's throne. This leads naturally to the next letter to Laodicea, in which we learn that the overcomers will sit on the throne with the Lord (Rev 3:21).   The One Who Has the Key of David, Who Opens and No One Will Shut. At the beginning of this verse, the Lord reveals Himself as "the holy and true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens" (3:7). What does this verse mean? We know that the Book of Revelation quotes about 500 passages from the Old Testament, many of which are woven naturally into the text and not clearly identified. This verse is quoted from Isaiah 22:22. We must look at the context of the book of Isaiah in order to understand the meaning of this verse. Isaiah 13 to 23 contains God's judgments on various nations. These countries that were judged include Babylon (Chapter 13), Assyria and Palestine (Chapter 14), Moab (Chapter 15-16), Damascus (Chapter 17-18), Egypt (Chapter 19), Egypt and Ethiopia (Chapter 20), Babylon and Arabia (Chapter 21), Jerusalem (Chapter 22), and Tyre (Chapter 23). In this context, let us talk in detail about God's judgment on Jerusalem. God's judgment on Jerusalem included the dismissal of the king's steward, Shebna, who symbolized an unfaithful steward (Isaiah 22:19). At the same time, Eliakim, a faithful man, was called to God's service. He was clothed with a girdle, and the government was committed into his hands. He would become the father of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the house of Judah (Isaiah 22:20-21). Eliakim symbolized God's faithful servant. He would receive an anointing and authority from God to do God's work. In this context, God says he will give Eliakim the key of the house of David and lay it on his shoulder. What he opens, none would shut. What he shut, none could open. Since Jesus Christ used this sentence to describe himself in Revelation, we can infer that Eliakim symbolizes Jesus Christ. Eliakim is a type of Christ. As mentioned earlier, Joseph is another type of Christ. Joseph experienced many years of suffering and trials and was even imprisoned in an Egyptian prison. But one day, God opened the door for him to become prime minister of all Egypt. This was an open door that no one could close. When it is God's time, no one can shut the doors he opens. But when it is not his time, no one can open the doors he has not yet opened. During Joseph's trials—being sold into slavery by his brothers, being falsely accused, being forgotten by the cupbearer—God refused to open the door to power. God's time had not yet come. Joseph's experience helps us understand the letter to the church in Philadelphia. God's appointed time had come. He had worked in the church of Philadelphia, and it had reached a certain level of maturity. Therefore, he was opening a door for future growth. Just like Joseph matured through trials, the church of Philadelphia had gained a level of maturity. God would now use the key of David to open for them a door that no one could close. The Key of David in Daily Life In 2001, I left China to study in the UK. Before a year had passed, I had heard the gospel and repented of my sin. In 2002, I was baptized and became a Christian in the US. In 2004, God appeared to me and I surrendered to His service. After this experience, God did not reveal to me exactly how he wanted to use me. Instead, he led me through more than 10 years of study and experiential growth, including many difficult circumstances in the spiritual wilderness. At the beginning of 2017, God ended our ten-year infertility and gave us a miracle baby. On the last day of 2017, the Lord lifted my spirit into heaven and told me that He would use me greatly. At the same time, I received many prophecies from prophets who said that I would do great work for God in the future. Yet I didn't see God opening the door for me to serve Him. Although I also served him in a few ways, they were all very small-scale. As I waited, I was being trained by God. While I was getting my Doctor of Ministry at United Theological Seminary (UTS), I knew I was still preparing for God's service. I continued to receive prophetic confirmation that God has plans for my life. A sister in Christ with the gift of prophecy told me that when she was praying, she saw in her spirit that the enemy had built a wall around me, trying to block the fruits of my service. Not long after that, I also had a dream. In the dream, there was a wall around me. As I tried to tear down the wall and stab the wall with a dagger, a snake slithered away. These prophetic messages told me that there are indeed enemies around me who have erected spiritual barriers in an attempt to hinder my service to God. A few years ago, I was praying for two of my relatives, hoping that they would come to know the Savior and experience real repentance. I fasted and prayed every day at noon for one family member for six months, hoping that he would repent and be saved. I gave another family member the book of heavenly testimony, hoping that he would also be saved. However, after the outbreak of the pandemic in 2019, and during the months surrounding the 2020 US election, the enemy used the flesh to stir up conflicts among us. Due to these conflicts, my family members moved further away from salvation and repentance. The discord Satan stirred up among us has temporarily prevented them from getting saved. I believe they will eventually be saved. But in the meantime, I wonder, “Why can't I win this spiritual battle?” One reason is that I am not yet full of light and love. I am not yet fully filled with love, reflecting the New Jerusalem. For that reason, Satan is attacking and using my life. God has promised me that one day he will open the door for me to serve Him. He will even use me as a healer of spirit, soul, and body. But before I can be used by God in this way, I must experience the healing of my own spirit, soul, and body. My spirit needs to be uplifted, and my soul and body need to be healed. I need to break away from sin, the influence of the world, the entanglement of the flesh, and the oppression of evil spirits. Only then can I truly experience the infilling and the overflowing of the Holy Spirit, manifesting the rule of righteousness that is characteristic of the New Jerusalem. Only then will I be able to cast out the evil spirits in others. Madam Jeanne Guyon once testified that she wanted to drive out a spirit that was possessing another person. But before she spoke, the spirit went out. The evil spirits knew and feared Jesus and Paul, but they were not afraid of the seven sons of the Jewish chief priest, Sceva (Acts 19:15). In the same way, the spirits are not afraid of me, and I cannot cast out the demons in my relatives. My fasting, praying, and preaching of the gospel only aroused the resistance of the evil spirits inside of them, stirring up their flesh to oppose me. Although I believe that God is still working on them, my job right now is to learn how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then will I be able to drive out spirits in others. I once had a dream in which I was taking a shower in a simple outdoor bathroom in my hometown in rural China. As I bathed in lukewarm water with my clothes on, I sang happily. There were some flies around me. Outside the curtain, a group of children was waiting for me to come out. The inspiration I got from this dream is that God wants to use me to help Chinese people (represented by the children) be freed from the ties of evil spirits. However, God must cleanse me first. Bathing with lukewarm water with my clothes on symbolizes the Holy Spirit's cleansing of my heart, words, and deeds. The flies around me represent my past sins, as well as the evil spirits of my family and nation. My joyful singing reminds me that the joy of the Lord is my strength. With God's power, I will eventually be freed from the oppression of evil spirits and become a vessel that brings God's blessing to others. God has confirmed this call to me through the prophecies of many prophets, as well as His direct words to me. But we must become a living copy of the New Jerusalem before we can make the enemy bow down before us. When will God give us the key of David? God will give it to us in His Sovereign time, and he will wait until we each become a living replica of the New Jerusalem. What is the New Jerusalem? So what is the New Jerusalem? As I said, every letter written to the churches reflects a stage of God's work in the book of Revelation. The mention of the “pillar in the temple of God” and “the name of God and the name of the city of God (that is, the New Jerusalem) written on the forehead of overcomers” reflects what is written in Revelation 21 about the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven (21:2). First of all, Revelation 21:11 describes the New Jerusalem, saying, “In the city is the glory of God; its radiance like the rarest jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.” To become a replica of the New Jerusalem, we must be filled with the glory and the light of God. John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overcame it.” Whenever we harbor darkness in our hearts, the enemy gains a foothold in our hearts. Only because Christ had no darkness in him could he say that Satan had no hold over him (John 14:30). Madam Jeanne Guyon was able to cast out demons because she was filled with the glory and light of God. Satan and his evil spirits cannot enter the realm of the New Jerusalem. We must remember that any darkness in our spiritual lives provides a dwelling place for evil spirits. Secondly, according to Revelation 21:12-14, the New Jerusalem demonstrates a unity between Jews and Gentiles. The gates of the New Jerusalem contain the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel (Jews), and the foundations of the city walls contain the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (believers). Ephesians 2:18 says, “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” The word “both” refers to Jews and Gentiles. Through Christ, Jews and Gentiles abandon their hatred toward one another. They can both approach God through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. To become a replica of the New Jerusalem, we must abide in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus Christ, before God the Father. Only when we live in this intimate fellowship with God can we manifest the light of the New Jerusalem. Third, we notice that the walls of New Jerusalem are made of jasper. The city is made of pure gold, and the foundation of the walls is adorned with all kinds of precious stones (Revelation 21:18-20). These precious substances illustrate the final result of God's dealings with the seven churches. Gold is refined by fire, and gemstones are transformed through immense pressure. In the same way, our personal spiritual lives must be refined through fire and pressure so we can be transformed into precious stones in God's sight. Fourth, we learn that the twelve gates are made of twelve pearls (Revelation 21:21). Pearls are produced from the secretion of mussels who have been injured. This demonstrates that suffering and trials can produce beautiful gems in the lives of believers. Lastly, New Jerusalem is filled with the glory of God, and nothing unclean will ever enter into it (21:23-27). From this passage, we learn that the degree to which we are filled with the glory of God is the degree to which evil spirits can be subdued in our lives.   Conclusion: We Need to Become a Replica of the New Jerusalem The letters to the seven churches reveal the seven spiritual stages of God's work in the church. These different stages of spiritual work are an outline of the seven stages of God's work in the entire book of Revelation. If we want to become a replica of the New Jerusalem, we must learn about God's work described in the six previous letters to the churches. We must deal with our sins and return to our first love for God (the work of the Lord in the church in Ephesus). We must overcome the attacks of the spirit of death (the work of the Lord in the church in Smyrna). We must overcome the teachings of Balaam and deal with all the idols in our hearts (the work of the Lord in the church in Pergamos). We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit within (the work of the Lord in the church in Thyatira). We also need to outwardly manifest the righteousness of Christ (the work of the Lord in the church in Sardis). Only then can we become a prototype of New Jerusalem (the work of the Lord in the church in Philadelphia). Finally, we will be enabled to sit on the throne with the Lord (the work of the Lord in the church in Laodicea).

                Isaiah - the Vision - Part Three:                 “The Ultimate Purpose for Israel”                                   Isaiah 27:2-13Three facts about Israel's Ultimate Purpose:1.         Israel is the Lord's Vineyard People - vs. 2-6This section stands over Isaiah 5:1-7      There are five contrast in this section:       1) Good fruit instead of bad fruit: Isaiah 5:4       2)  Lack of water to continual watering       3)  Abandonment to well guarded.  It is not some lesser being, some hireling, but the Lord himself who watches over his own: John 10:11-13Instead of conflict God gives an invitation to the opponents of the vineyard; thus, indicating that vineyard membership is open to all: John 3:16This is the fulfillment of the promise made to   Abraham: Gen 12:2-3 In the light of NT teaching, Israel here must include all the children of Abraham, Jew and Gentile alike, those who walk by faith: Rom 11: 25-272.       The Lord's Dealings with Israel - vs. 7-11            Three things are said about the Judgment:           1)   Israel's Judgment has been less harsh than their enemies.The Assyrian casualties: Isaiah 36:36There is always divine restraint: Jer. 5:18           2)   Israel's Judgment is carefully controlled.Like the searing wind roaring out of the east, here fate would come upon her and sweep her away: Jer 18:17          3)   Israel will have to atone for her guilt in the coming judgment.Israel's punishment was for the purpose of discipline and purification: Heb 12:11The pagan altars represented disobedience to the very first command. Ex. 20:3The fortified city may be Jerusalem, but more likely its representative of the many fortified cities in Judah: Isaiah 1:7They could not see the wisdom of entrusting themselves to the only one who could save them; there was a much better choice: Is 1:183. The Lord's Harvest of Israel              Two images are used to express the final Destiny of God's people.              1)  Agricultural: HarvestThe verb to thresh was also used of beating an olive tree, which then the fruit was picked up off the ground: Isaiah  24:13The picture of God gathering each of the scattered ones individually is a very tender one: Is 49:14-16           2)  Religious: Call to WorshipSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/AnthonyMartino66?fan_landing=true)

                              Isaiah - the Vision - Part Three:                             “The Destruction of the Earth”                                                   Isaiah 24:1-23 Isaiah lived every day of his life expecting the judgment of God, as we should also do: 2 Pet 3:10 Scatter the inhabitance: Isaiah 2:19God is no respecter of persons: 1 Sam 16:7Every aspect of life is under sentence along with every group and individual: Phil 3:9The laws and statutes refer to the basic standards of right behavior given to the man and woman at creation; Isaiah is using law here just as Paul uses it in Romans: Rom 1:20-21This verse points to the final diagnosis; destruction is the result of a curse brought on by sin: Isaiah 13:11-12       Four Results of the Destruction of the Earth:1.      The Stilling of the Song of the World vs. 7-12  Merriment ceases wherever joy is dependent upon alcohol and material blessings instead of trust in a God whose grace does not fail: Joel 1:5Wine with a song: Characteristic of Judah: Isaiah 5:11-12The ruined city, lit. The formless city.  The Hebrew word 'tohu' is used in Gen 1:2 referring to the beginning of the creation of the earth: Jeremiah 4:23The city of tohu lives without the ordering, life-giving hand of God, opting for a life on its own, within itself, depending on itself; consequently, it is unstable and without purpose.2.       The Rising of the Song of the Remnant vs. 13-16a It is the new song of the redeemed: Rev 5:9-10 3.         The Hopeless Flight vs. 16b-20  Isaiah now feels the condemnation of others as deeply as once he felt his own: Isaiah 6:5 4.         The Lord's Reign vs. 21-23 The punishment of the powers in the heavens above refers to Satan and the fallen angels: Eph 6:11-12Bound in a dungeon: Jude 1:6And so, the chapter ends fittingly with a Burst of light so brilliant that it shames the sun: Isaiah 60:19-20His Reign includes the Elders, the redeemed: Rev 4:10-1Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/AnthonyMartino66?fan_landing=true)

January 24, 2022 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stjohnrandomlake/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stjohnrandomlake/support

Revelation 4: The Throne, 4 living creatures & 24 Elders saying Holy, Holy, Holy!Revelation 5: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Isaiah 11:1-10) and The Lamb who was slain. 

In chapter 39 Isaiah spoke of the coming judgment against Jerusalem. The house of David will be taken into captivity into Babylon, and the treasures of Jerusalem will be carried off.--But wait---Isaiah is the prophet who has said over and over again- -I will deliver you and this city- -38-6-. -I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David.- -37-35- -Behold Zion...an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up.- -33-20---How can it be that now he speaks of the exile of Judah---Isaiah chooses not to explain it directly. Instead he turns to the future. Because indeed Zion will never be plucked up. Unlike Babylon and Edom, which will uninhabited and desolate -forever,- Zion will endure forever. That does not mean that the exile will never happen- it means that Jerusalem will come through exile into glory...

Sermon ManuscriptWe made it to Christmastime. With all that's happened in 2020, last December seems like a decade ago. This year felt like that well known quote from CS Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia… “always winter never Christmas.” But we've had hope. Even with COVID, with the racial tension, with the political anger that's divided families and friends and neighbors this year… we've had hope. Hope in Christmas. The long winter of 2020, so to speak, has finally brought us to Advent and Christmas. In which we hope.Now, I don't mean hope in the cultural sentimentality of Christmastime. What I mean is a hope that's grounded in the promise of Christmas. The hope of Christ, the messiah, the promised one, who is, as these verses remind us, born of the virgin and who is Immanuel – God with us…Since we've been studying Acts for the last couple of months, I thought it would be good for us to get a little dose of the Old Testament this Advent. And, of course, what better Old Testament focus during Advent than Isaiah. You probably recognize Isaiah 7 verse 14 this morning “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”, then next week, Isaiah 9, “For unto us a Child is born, a son is given…” That's our memory verse for the month. The week after next Isaiah 11. “there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit”Now, we often think of these verses in isolation… but we don't really appreciate what was going on around him as Isaiah is prophesying.Honestly… Isaiah's promise of the savior is not bound up in Christmas platitudes, he's not standing in the city square with everyone holding candles, His prophecy is not grasped by the people with this wonder of anticipation.No, rather quite the opposite. Isaiah's prophecy of Jesus birth, here in chapter 7… comes in the middle of sin and judgment, war and destruction… not peace and joy.Our moment in history this year is not the same as Isaiah's… but I think compared to other years, this year it's easier to push aside the cultural niceties of Christmas. That's what we need to do to grasp this Isaiah 7 promise. In these chapters, there's a raw sense of reality. But it's out of that reality that God promises a savior. In the middle of sin and instability, military threats, God gives this amazing sign. The virgin will conceive and you shall call his name Immanuel.ContextFirst though, who is Isaiah? Well, he's a prophet. A prophet is kind of like God's Press Secretary. Someone who speaks God's word as God gives it. And God placed him in Judah. There used to be one nation of God's people, Israel. But the tribes could not get along, so they split into two nations. The northern kingdom, called Israel, had forsaken God. Sometimes the northern kingdom is also called Ephraim, one of its main tribes. That's important to understand in these verses. Specifically verse 17. The southern kingdom, also called Judah, is centered on Jerusalem. The kingship in the south is sometimes called “the house of David” King David. That's also important to understand in these verses. Especially verse 12.So, Isaiah is a prophet in Judah. He's in Jerusalem. And here, Isaiah is prophesying to king Ahaz, the King of Judah. Ahaz is a direct descendant of King David.What's going on? A geo-political crisis… all throughout the middle east. Three separate nations are vying for power and are against Judah. The northern kingdom, Ephraim, The nation of Syria, and the growing power of Assyria. That may be confusing. Syria and Assyria. Two separate nations. Ephraim in the north is on the brink of war. A war that will take them down. But they don't even know it. So Ephraim aligns itself with Syria.Judah, the southern kingdom, is afraid! They are shaking in their boots! It says as much earlier in chapter 7. King Ahaz is afraid. Jerusalem is threatened. The line of his Kingship is exposed. There's instability all around them. Threats of war.When you are seemingly surrounded by enemies, where do you turn? Let's not make this theoretical. When a destructive virus is all around. And when the very truth that you believe in is attacked by this growing cultural hostility to Christianity. Matters of identity. Life. Sin. Salvation. When there's a political war around you. where do you turn? Where should the church turn?Well, let me tell you what King Ahaz did. With the threat from the north… from Ephraim and Syria. Ahaz aligned Judah with Assyria! He made an agreement with the King of Assyria. A political pact. He didn't turn to God, no, he turned to a wicked nation to protect them from other wicked nations.It gets even worse.Ahaz himself is a wicked king! You can read all about his wickedness in the book of 2 Kings chapter 16. Ahaz led Judah down the path of worshipping false gods. He took the gold of the temple, God's temple, and gave it to the king of Assyria! He also defaced the rest of the temple. And he sacrificed his own son in fire to a false god.Do you get the picture here? Sin and war all around. An evil king, aligning with an evil nation. Not the warm fuzzies of Christmastime.But despite all this, God is merciful! Through Isaiah, God tells Ahaz that the kingdoms of Ephraim and Syria will not prevail. No, they'll be defeated.And that bring us to verses 10 and 11 here… God basically says to Ahaz, “Do you want to know for sure that this will come true? Well, I'll give you a sign. Ask anything you want… Anything. As deep as Sheol itself.” Sheol is the place of the dead… “or as high as heaven.” In other words, God is merciful. He's giving Ahaz yet another chance to trust him. And look how Ahaz responds in verse 12. “I will not put the Lord god to the test.” That sounds pious, doesn't it? Well, in actually, it's hollow words. Ahaz is again rejecting God here. He has already made his pact with the King of Assyria. He's not really interested in God and not interested in God's sign.That's why in verse 13. Isaiah responds with righteous anger. “Hear then, O house of David!” Reminding Ahaz of his lineage. “Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?” He's saying… Will you try to wear God out with empty words? With a heart that is far from him?Well, Isaiah goes on… even with Ahaz's rejection of God. God continues to display his great mercy. God gives him a sign, even though he didn't want one. We see that well known prophecy in verse 14 an following. We'll come back to the sign in a minute… but first, I want you to see where this prophecy is going.Look down at Verse 17. It's a dagger to Ahaz's heart! Isaiah says to Ahaz… “The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah” Isaiah is prophesying about a judgement. A future judgment that will be as bad as when the tribes divided. And then, here it is, God names the very one who he will use to judge Judah. The end of verse 17. “the king of Assyria!” How's that for poetic justice. Ahaz's co-conspirator. The one whom Ahaz had given the gold of the temple! The very nation with whom he put his trust in will be the very instrument of God's judgment.Where should we turn when surrounded by enemies? When we fear like Ahaz and Judah feared. Fear of COVID. Fear of the consequences if we stand for the truth of God's word.Just like Ahaz, our temptation will be to run to the world. To align ourselves with movements or to trust in political agendas. And let me be specific… and I know that I'm going to step on some toes here. We believe in racial reconciliation that is Gospel centric – “Jesus is our peace… who has made us one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility.” Ephesians 2. The Bible doesn't teach a racial reconciliation that further classifies and categorizes. One that has no basis of confessing or forgiving, nor unity and peace. Furthermore, justice in the Bible is a justice that centers on declaring Christ alone, that flows from hearts ministering in the name of Jesus …not a justice that is disconnected from the ministry of Christ, whose only goal is social wellness. Yet the church today has capitulated to these secular movements. Has aligned with worldly partners like Assyria. Movements that have no belief in the God of the Bible nor any sense of a need for reconciliation to Him. Just like Assyria that turned on Judah, so when we, when the church enters into partnerships with groups and insititutions that deny the truth, make no mistake… those organizations will turn on us, on the church, seeking to destroy her witness and consume her people…. just like Assyria turned on Judah.This is not new. This is the temptation of the church over the centuries.And of course, the other temptation here is to deny the sign. To ignore God's promise. Just like Ahaz didn't even want a sign… so the church has even ignored the sign. What sign is that? “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” The most amazing sign! A miracle of miracles. Yet, now and in the past, that very promise is denied. “It's not possible. A virgin. Come, on. Let's be intellectually honest.” They say. Well, Who is your God? Is he not the God of the universe? The creator of all things? Is he so small in your eyes that he cannot intervene into the very created order that he crafted? He formed every atom and molecule and cell. It's not a matter of possibility. If God is God, he can do it. A virgin can give birth. Jesus himself said, “what is impossible with man is possible with God.” No, it's a matter of belief. Ahaz didn't believe. Didn't want a sign. Despite the chaos all around him. In his sin, he rejected God and God's prophecy. but will you believe?The promised messiahWell this is the mess that was happening when this well-known prophecy was uttered. War, evil, sin, and judgment.But do you see how amazing this promise is because of it? Despite Ahaz's unholy alignment and false worship, despite even his rejection of a sign… yet God gives him, gives Judah a sign anyway. Despite Ahaz's hypocrisy, God remembers his remnant and promises great mercy… the promise of a messiah, a savior.I guess what I'm saying is this: The promise of Jesus in these verses… is not sugar-coated with Hot apple cider, eggnog, colored lights, and feel good songs… Rather, its reality. Threats and evil… temptation and judgment. But these realities, they don't diminish the prophecy… no. they accentuate it. The sign of Immanuel, of Jesus, is given with God's judgment on Ahaz! And the sign is not just verse 14. In verse 16, we see that the sign includes that Ephriam and Syria will be destroyed... those 2 kingdoms that Ahaz fears. Look at the end of the verse… “the land of whose 2 kings you dread will be deserted.” God's mercy in the midst of conflict and sin, evil and judgment.Now, before we move on, let me briefly comment about how prophecy works in the Bible. In most cases, prophecy has an immediate fulfillment followed by a future or spiritual fulfillment. Well, in the next chapter of Isaiah, Isaiah has a son. God tells Isaiah to give him this long name… Maher-shalal-hash-baz. You know, it's long name like that children's story. “ricki ticki tembo no sarembo sorry barry ruchy pip berry pembo.” Some of you will know that. Well, Maher-shalal-hash-baz means… “making speed to the spoil; he hastens to the prey” This boy's name alludes to our text, verses 15 and 16. Before the boy was able to say “mommy” and “daddy.” Assyria destroyed both Ephraim and Syria. And so, part of this prophecy has been fulfilled.But what about verse 14? What about the sign of the virgin and of Immanuel? Some have speculated various answers to the immediate fulfillment. But none of them fulfills this amazing prophecy. No, Jesus is the first and ultimate fulfillment. This promise is the hope of Christ. And as verse 14 says, we are to “Behold” it. That denotes the greatness of the coming sign. Then it says, “the virgin will conceive” An amazing miraculous prophecy as we've considered.It goes on… “and shall call his name Immanuel.” In Matthew chapter 1, which we read earlier in our service. Matthew quotes this verse in Isaiah 7. He declares that Jesus has fulfilled this prophecy. He is the sign. They called him Jesus, which means deliverer and savior, because he was Immanuel. Matthew even translates for us what Immanuel means “God with us.”What a tremendous promise for Judah which has now been fulfilled in Jesus. That God himself will come to them. Even though Ahaz rejected God, even though Judah will be judged. God promised Immanuel, himself. And Christ has come. He's come to them and he's come to us. O Come, O Come Emmanuel.Let's spend a few minutes considering why Jesus is “Immanuel…”Jesus is Immanuel because of his eternal nature as God. “God with us” He's sent from the father… and as he, himself said, “I and the father are one.” Jesus is in every way eternally God. He possesses the same glory and power as God the Father and as God the Holy Spirit.Jesus is Immanuel because God has become man. “God with us” Colossians 2:9 says... “For in Him the whole deity of God dwells bodily.” He became flesh and dwelt among us. He was born of a virgin. “Incarnate” is the word we use. It means God became man. Born as a baby. He is fully man, body and soul.Jesus is Immanuel because he is with us. When Jesus was born, God presence was with us. He understands our weakness, knows our temptations. He's able to comfort his people in any circumstance because of his presence. Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 46 … God is “our ever present help in time of trouble.” God has always been with his people, but with Jesus, God's presence entered into to time and space… He became with us in the flesh. And because he is with us, understands us and we need not fear… as Psalm 46 goes on “though the earth give way, though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”And Jesus promises he'll always be with us. In Matthew 28 before Jesus ascended to heaven, he said, “surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” We've seen that theme in our study of Acts. Jesus' continued presence with his people through His Spirt. And let me say this, there is no other religion in the world where God himself is personal, knows his creatures because he took on their very nature, God with us. And as Immanuel, Jesus is able to save. He's the only savior because he is Immanuel. Able to offer his life for us, as one of us, but with the full nature of God.For the remnant of God's people in Judah… this prophecy is the perfect sign for them, the perfect hope for them. God's presence with them… the perfect savior. This sign is greater than any sign that Ahaz could have asked for, if he believed. Because it is the sign of Jesus, the messiah, the Christ, Immanuel. Judah was vulnerable with a godless king on the throne… and a prophecy of judgment looming over their head. Yet, even with Ahaz's sin and God's judgment, with war and destruction all around them, those who believed in God could rest in the coming Immanuel.And this sign of the virgin and Immanuel… it's a sign for us. …giving comfort to us. With all the turmoil of 2020, sickness and conflict and fear… we have Immanuel, God with us, and he is Jesus. There is no other hope or salvation apart from him…, who was born of the virgin mary, he did suffer unto death, but as Immanuel, he rose and is ever present with us.So, where do you turn for deliverance? Will you be like Ahaz, turning to the world for help, ignoring God and his sign. Will you acquiesce to the temptation and threats... seeking to be rescued by false promises, false beliefs, seeking any other way to be saved than by faith in the God who alone can save.Or will you look to God's promise through Isaiah… and stand up for truth, and believe in His promises. And look to the one who was born of a virgin, who is Immanuel. Do not put your faith in anything else, but Christ alone… and the sign that God gave to Judah… will be the sign for you, too. The sign of Immanuel – of Jesus. He is the one true deliverer from sin and evil and judgment. Believe in the promise.

Midweek - The Book of Isaiah - 002 - The Case Against Judah - Isaiah 1

This is Part 3 of the podcast series "Lost Ten Tribes Arising." In this episode we will be focusing our attention on the multiplicity of passages that clearly indicate that the "House of Israel" and Judah have been separate entities down through history (up until our day), and that they are both prophesied to be regathered, and brought into one collective, in a future sense. This will all be done by the glorious Hand and Guidance of the Creator.In this Episode: The primary Biblical prophetical books that speak about the separateness of the two parts that make up the whole nation of Israel. What do the prophets teach us about Judah and the House of Israel historically, and what do they prophecy for the future?What are also some practical lessons that come out of select passages associated with these two houses? How this topic is an uncomfortable subject for many religious people, due to its implications, and the fact it doesn't align with people's preconceived religious teachings.Biblical Passages Referenced in this Episode:Ezekiel 37: Dry bones arise, and the two sticks of Judah and Joseph (House of Israel) are brought together into one stick.Passages that indicate a historical and continued separation of the House of Israel and Judah: Isaiah 5:7; 11:12; 48:1; Jeremiah 2:4; 3:6-end; 5:11; 11:10; 11:17; 13:11; 30:3; 31:31; 32:30-32; 33:7, 14; 36:2; 50:20, 33; Ezekiel 9:9; 37:15-23; 51:5; Hosea 1:4-7,11; 5:5, 10-14; 6:4; 8:14.Passages that indicate that the 10 tribes are to return in prophetical fulfillment: Isaiah 11:12-13; 66:20; Jeremiah 12:14-16; 13:5-8; 30:3; 31:7-34; 33:7; Ezekiel 11:14-20; Ezekial 37 - all; Hosea 1:10-11.

We start our advent series in Isaiah this Sunday with the story of King Ahaz of Judah (Isaiah 7:1-17). The tragic tale ends with a staggering sign–a virgin will bear a son who will be called Immanuel. It is a sign of judgement accented with a glimmering promise of mercy. A promise realized with ringing clarity in Bethlehem centuries later.

Isaiah 36:1 This was the 14thyear of the reign of Hezekiah. Isaiah was called in the year King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1). Isaiah’s ministry then spanned the time of four kings of Judah (Isaiah 1:1) and lasted at least 47 years. Uzziah 1 year (Isaiah 6:1) King Jotham 16 years (2Kings 15:32-33) King Ahaz16 years (2Kings 16:1-2) Hezekiah 14 years (or more) (Isaiah 36:1) ------------------------------------ A minimum of 47 years The geopolitical map of the world changed dramatically during this time in history. When Isaiah began his ministry,Assyria was not the dominating world power that it had become. The northern kingdom of Israel was still a sovereign nation with Samaria as its capital city. King Ahaz brought much evil to Judah(2Kings 16:2-4; 2Chronicles 28:16-25; Isaiah 7:1ff). Rather than trusting in Yahweh, he relied on the king of Assyria for help. This was his downfall. The Assyrian Empire rose to greatness during this time, defeating many nations including northern Israel and Syria. And now this mighty nation was about to defeat Judah as well. Under King Sennacherib,all the fortified cities were seized. The only thing remaining for the nation of Judah was the city of Jerusalem and King Hezekiah. All of the other fortified cities had been defeated. Isaiah 36:1ff King Sennacherib had sent Rabshakeh to speak to the leaders and people of Jerusalem in a propaganda campaign to weaken their resolve. Isaiah 37:1-7 Hezekiah tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth -a way of showing humility, penitence, and mourning.Isaiah’s first words to Hezekiah “Do not be afraid.” Isaiah 37:10-13 More of the message was sent to Hezekiah in a letter. Isaiah 37:14-20 Hezekiah took the letter and spread it out before Yahweh in the temple. Isaiah 37:21-35 Isaiah receives an answer from Yahweh to Hezekiah’s prayer. Isaiah 37:36-37 One angel of Yahweh defeated 185,000 Assyrians in one night! Total deliverance! Praise Yahweh!

The book of Isaiah begins with a court room scene – “The Case of the Sin of Judah”. God, the first and only witness, brings his case against Judah, highlighting all the evil and sin they have committed. He uses multiple images to help explain just how sinful they have been. But, as we are convicted of our own sin, there is hope. In verse 18 God promises forgiveness for sin.

DAY 10 | BORN OF A VIRGINScripture Reading: Luke 1:31–35; Isaiah 7:14 “Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” — Luke 1:31-35 “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14 Put yourself in Joseph’s sandals for a minute. Knowing that the two of you have not had sex, your betrothed comes to you and indicates that she is not only pregnant but that the life inside her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Wouldn’t you be angry because your only logical conclusion is that she had sex with someone else? Wouldn’t you be even more angry because of the ridiculous story she has come up with and even brought God into it? Yet, Joseph maintains his cool and decides to divorce her without having her publicly stoned to death, which he was entitled to do under the law (Deut 22:20–24). He decides on this more peaceful solution until an angel reveals to him that Mary is telling the truth (Matt 1:18–25).Really? A virgin? Many scholars have attempted to dispute this, indicating that the Hebrew word used in Isa 7:14 could mean either someone who has never had sex or simply a young woman. While this is true, the Greek translation of Isa 7:14 as well as the Greek word used in Matthew and Luke’s Gospel accounts is a word that could only mean someone who has never had sex. In addition to many other factors that point to this understanding, what else would be such a miraculous sign from God (Isa 7:14)? Luke’s Gospel certainly makes it clear that Mary is this type of virgin, not simply a young woman (Luke 1:34).The original promise was made through Isaiah the prophet to the king of Judah as a sign of God’s presence in the midst of threats from the kings of Aram and Israel who had joined forces against Judah (Isaiah 7). While partially fulfilled in Isaiah’s lifetime with the birth of a child that signaled God’s presence and soon-coming victory over Judah’s enemies, Matthew’s Gospel points specifically to this prophecy being fulfilled in the birth of Jesus (Matt 1:22–23). Luke’s Gospel discusses the ramifications of the birth of Jesus in that it will be a supernatural birth (born of a virgin) and that Jesus will be not only the Son of God but also the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in 2 Samuel 7:12–16.Now imagine being Mary who was chosen to carry the Son of God in her womb! Why Mary? We do not know a specific reason other than that she was favored by God (Luke 1:28, 30). Our God is a God who loves us because of Who He is and not because of what we have done. Like Mary, although we do not see it in ourselves, God sees the potential in us for what He can do through us. Jesus was born of a virgin through the conception by the Holy Spirit of God, demonstrating that He is God in the flesh. As we reflect on Christmas, let us remember that we worship a God of miracles and a God who can take the ordinary and make the extraordinary. Reflection Questions:1. What does the miraculous entry of Jesus into the human race say about God’s love for us?2. How does Jesus being called “Immanuel” (God with us) impact your view of Christmas? How does it impact your view of the world around us?Prayer:Listen to "Silent Night"