Rejoice, Christ is Born!

EXTRA!  EXTRA!  EXTRA!

Come away from the stress and anxieties of life, forget self and focus your mind and heart on being still before ADONAI.

These passages surpass all others, for they not only foretell of Yeshua’s birth but also reveal its fulfillment. Yeshua is God’s love-gift to mankind.  God’s sacrificial Lamb foretold was fulfilled with the real gift, God’s ultimate love gift.  A gift so priceless, when received, one is willing to give up self and his ways and receive God and His way - life through His Son, Yeshua Messiah.

 "When Love Was Born"

performed by Mark Schultz

Let us set the stage by looking at the events prior to the birth of Yeshua Messiah.  The Jewish period of independence ended in 63 B.C.  This time also saw the rise of the Roman Empire, which ruled the known world at the time of Yeshua Messiah’s birth.  The world was in the deepest darkness, a cold and penetrating darkness, so extreme that the chosen were doomed without someone to save them.

Adonai commissioned the prophet Yesha’yahu in Yesha’yahu chapter 6.  In chapter 7 verse 14, Adonai begins to unfold His plan for the ages 700 years before it was fulfilled!

Therefore the Lord Adonai Himself will give you people a sign: The virgin will be with Child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanu El. Yesha’yahu 7:14

                       

“The virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and they will call Him “Immanu El” (God is with us). Mattityahu 1:23

Here is how the birth of Yeshua the Messiah took place. His mother Miryam was engaged to Yosef, but before they were married, she was found to be pregnant from the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).  Mattityahu 1:18

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

performed by Selah

It’s sad to say that if events do not happen in the logical order that man perceives them then – THEY CANNOT BE! Since there are no boundaries for the One, all knowing, all omnipotent and Holy God, the Adonai of all things cannot and will not be put in a box based on what the mind of man perceives.

We have established how Yeshua was conceived and born of the virgin Miryam and how He came to planet earth to show man - God Visible! 


“For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us; dominion will rest on His shoulders, and He will be given the name Pele-Yo’etz El Gibbor Avi-‘Ad Sar-Shalom {Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace}, In order to extend the dominion and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David, to secure it and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever.  The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.”  Yesha’yahu 9:6-7 CJB

From Mal’akhi to Mattityahu, a period of 400 years, there was silence from God and the prophets.  This time brought about the rise and fall of the Grecian Empire, a period of Jewish revolt by the Maccabees, and the rise of the Roman Empire.  The genealogy of Yeshua Messiah is the bridge from the old to the new. Upon the stage of mankind, the revelation of the Lamb of God, foretold by Yesha’yahu the prophet, is personified!

Now let us look at the prophecy fulfilled concerning His place of birth.  “But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y’huda, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra’el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.” Mikhah 5:2

                       

"O, Little Town of Bethlehem"

This is the account of Yeshua Messiah’s birth in Luke 2:1-20.

“Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire.  This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria.  Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.  So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant.  While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her first child, a Son.  She wrapped Him in cloth and laid Him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.”

                        

“In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, when an angel of Adonai appeared to them, and the Sh’khinah of Adonai shone around them. They were terrified; but the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, because I am announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord.  Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.’ Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God: 

‘In the highest heaven, glory to God! And on earth, peace among people of good will!’ ”

                                    

“No sooner had the angels left them and gone back into heaven than the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go over to Beit-Lechem and see this thing that has happened, that Adonai has told us about.’ Hurrying off, they came and found Miryam and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child; and all who heard were amazed by what the shepherds said to them.  Miryam treasured all these things and kept mulling them over in her heart.  Meanwhile, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen; it had been just as they had been told.”  Luke 2:1-20

                         

"Mary, Did You Know?"

written and performed by Mark Lowery

The heavens announced His arrival.  The brightness of the star led the way. The angels followed, praising and glorifying God; announcing peace on earth to the people of good will.  The grand entrance was made, but there was no room in the hearts of men. Sorry, I have no room for you in the living-quarters, but there is a stable you can use.

The King had arrived!  He was not dressed in royal robes, but in swaddling cloths. He had no castle, only a stable. He came, as King but became the Savior. What He freely offered was life-saving love freely given to those who chose to follow Him.

"O, Holy Night"

performed by Josh Groban

Then came love - the purest of loves, from the very heart of God; a part of Himself wrapped in swaddling cloths of forgiveness, mercy and grace.  Yeshua came to love, forgive, heal and set the people free!  Freedom!  A word the people had only talked about, but very few had experienced… until a babe, innocent and perfect in every way, stepped down from His throne in heaven to become the Savior and Servant to a lost people.  He came to show each one, first hand, of a love so amazing, so divine, so sincere, but only through knowing Him can it ever be experienced.

How? You say. Realize your sinful condition; repent of your sins; ask Yeshua for forgiveness; by faith believing, ask Yeshua to be your Savior and Lord.

Believe and receive God’s Holy Spirit to live within your very soul.  He is the comforter who gives wisdom and direction for your life. Ones’ heart must be ready to meet the King, the Lord Almighty when He returns to set up His

Kingdom.

Amazing love! There is no greater love than that of Yeshua or His Father God.  No greater gift has ever, or will ever be given. He came to us, created in His image, to save those willing to humble their hearts and accept His everlasting gift.

He Came

"What Child Is This" performed by Michael W. Smith