Hello, friends,
welcome to A Sharper Focus,
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the Wednesday
Night Bible Study here
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coming from the
3ABN Worship Center
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in Thompsonville, Illinois.
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We like to welcome all of you
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who are tuning in
with a hearty amen.
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Can we say amen? Amen.
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And we are ready with
our Bibles, and our pens,
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and our lessons,
and we have prayed,
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but we're going to pray
with you in just a few moments
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before we get into the lesson.
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As you know, we are
continuing on the topic,
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the truth about Jesus and,
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you know, a lot of
times people think,
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"Well, what more can
we learn about Jesus?"
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Well, the more
we learn about Him,
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the more we
recognize our need of Him.
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So in just a
moment I'll tell you
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where you get a
copy of the lesson
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and we will sing our
theme song in just a moment.
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But before we go any further,
let's go ahead, and bow,
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and ask the Lord
to continue with us.
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Loving Father in heaven,
we thank You for the blessing
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and the opportunity tonight
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to open Your Word
as we open our hearts.
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Father, in the world
where Jesus is being rejected
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in so many ways
and misunderstood,
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we pray that
tonight we can solidify
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our committed
hearts to following You
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as we learn more
about our Savior.
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So come and be in our presence,
we pray in Jesus' name, amen.
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Now the lesson
number is lesson 36.
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Does everybody
have lesson 36? Yes.
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Lesson 36, and go to
this following website,
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ASF.3ABN.org
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and download lesson number
36, "The Truth About Jesus."
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It should have 27 questions.
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And tonight, we're going to
begin on question number 14.
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And we'll continue.
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This is an amazing
lesson and what it does
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and it doesn't
just talk about Jesus,
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but one of the ways I
could introduce this lesson,
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matter of fact,
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what I'll do is
I'll do the song first
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and then I'll use my opener
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so I don't have to go
back and forth to that.
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Tonight our song
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that we sing is
Victory in Jesus.
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Let's sing that
theme song together.
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Are you ready? Here we go.
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I heard an old, old story
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How the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning
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Of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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And won the victory
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet day
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I'll sing up there
The song of victory
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Key change.
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O victory in Jesus
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood
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He loved me ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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Amen.
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The topic is entitled,
let's say this together,
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"The Truth About Jesus."
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Now our overall theme
is how to know the truth
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about the truth,
and we've been covering
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quite a bit of
topics from the Sabbath
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to what happens
when you die, to health,
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to God's financial
plan, number of other topics,
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revelation,
righteousness by faith,
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but this is the
key topic of them all
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because to know the
truth about the truth,
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to know the truth,
small t about the truth,
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Jesus is really what all
these topics are all about.
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And so when you talk
about the truth about Jesus,
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the entire focus of our study
from the beginning till now
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has always been about Jesus.
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Can you say amen to that?
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But all the topics like
what happens when you die,
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the Sabbath, the state of dead,
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you know, health, financial,
the change of the Sabbath,
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all these go back
to the central theme
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of what Jesus said and
how man has changed it.
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But we're talking about,
tonight, more statistics.
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Now, the reason why
this topic is important
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is when you think
about what are the chances
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of all these prophecies
about Jesus coming to pass?
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Now for that to be a
100% fulfillment would mean
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that He would have to in
a great degree manipulate
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all these prophecies.
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But to show that He could
not manipulate these prophecies,
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we studied earlier
that when Jesus came,
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did He come as God
or did He come as man?
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Man.
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He came clothed in human flesh.
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He came as a babe.
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Not knowledgeable of anything
that existed prior to that.
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He came to learn
the will of the Father.
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He came, as the Bible
says, in the fullness of time.
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So He couldn't
manipulate as a baby,
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He couldn't manipulate anything
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because He was then in
human flesh, very divine,
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but very much human.
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And so when you
look at the prophecies
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that some date back
from the very beginning to...
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In Genesis,
thousands of years ago,
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some 700 years ago,
there's not a single person
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that we know in
history before they were born,
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that all these
things were said about them
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that came to pass
with starling accuracy
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and not one mishap.
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So only Jesus is the one.
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So when you think about
that, the Bible inspired by God
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led by the Holy Spirit,
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the content of
it, as John 5:39 says,
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it teaches us about Jesus.
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All these
things happened the way
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that God ordained them to occur
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but He did not
manipulate anything.
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And He gave
each of the prophets,
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each of the apostles, Old
Testament, major prophets,
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minor prophets, He gave
them all the information
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that they needed so
that when it came to pass,
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one of the things that
you'll notice in the Bible
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or the gospels particularly,
you have this phrase
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so that it can be fulfilled
or fulfilled as Jeremiah
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and other prophets
that have fulfilled,
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as Isaiah said,
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you find that all
through the Bible.
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So the fulfillment in fact
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is taking place
in the New Testament
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and the
prognostication of prophecy
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is taking place
in the Old Testament.
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You know the
saying, are you ready?
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"The New Testament is
the Old Testament revealed
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and the Old Testament
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is the New Testament concealed."
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So the Old
Testament conceals the new
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and the new reveals the old.
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So tonight we're going to
begin with question number 14
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and we're going to go through
these prophecies in particular.
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There are many, many prophecies,
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we're just going to
cover some of the major ones
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showing that in fact Jesus
is who the Bible said He is.
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Now if you downloaded
the lesson, you might notice
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Isaiah 7:4 but it's
actually Isaiah 7:14,
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which is correct on our
slides in just a moment.
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But let's begin
with question number 14,
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and here it is.
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The Bible predicted the
method of the birth of Jesus?
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Let's go to Isaiah 7:14.
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Now how many of
you could predict
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your method of birth?
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None of us can.
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We can't choose our mother,
we can't choose our father,
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we can't choose the
hospital that we're born in
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but amazingly enough,
we'll see in a moment,
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not just His method of
birth, where He was born,
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to whom He would be born,
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the circumstances
under which He was born,
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all these things
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were historical
events unfolding,
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non-manipulated by heaven.
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But all because God knows,
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well I'll show you
the texts in a moment,
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but let's just go ahead
and answer question number 14.
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Look at Isaiah 7:14,
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here's what the
Bible talks about
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the prediction of the
method of the birth of Jesus.
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And it says, let's
read the first one together,
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"Therefore the Lord
Himself will give you a," what?
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A sign. "A sign,
behold, the," what?
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"The virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son,
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and shall call His name," what?
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Immanuel. "Immanuel."
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Immanuel meaning
interpreted what?
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God with us.
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So notice this.
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One of the things
that has pointed out
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in biblical history,
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some of the
historians point this out,
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Josephus, an
historian, point this out
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as he talked about,
even in the Septuagint,
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this is referred to.
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The Septuagint is a book
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that often
referred to as the LXX,
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LXX is the Septuagint.
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It refers to the fact
that one of the reasons
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why male children was so valued
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throughout Old Testament times
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is because each of the
mothers having a male child,
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they thought that their
child would be the deliverer,
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the Messiah,
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and this was forecast
long before it occurred.
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And so the attempt made
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at the time of
the birth of Jesus,
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the attempt to kill children.
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What category was the attempt
to made on, male or female?
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Male.
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Male children,
what age and under?
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Two years. Two
years old and under.
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So even the evil leaders knew...
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Wow, if we could
find them anywhere,
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we will find them
among the male children.
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The deliverer is the male child
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and he at this time will
be two years old and under,
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which indicates from the
time that his birth was forecast
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to the time the wise men
went and didn't come back,
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a time period had to extend.
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That was exact about two years
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because they came
looking for the born child,
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the born Christ
and didn't find Him.
00:11:20.74\00:11:23.21
And so the wise men were told
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by the leaders of
Rome, "Go find Him
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and when you
find out where He is,
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come back and let me
know so that I can do," what?
00:11:28.62\00:11:31.75
"So that I can worship Him."
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And they didn't come back in...
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He waited for a long time
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because when the
decree was given,
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"Kill all the male children
two years old and under."
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But the Bible talked about this.
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And so also showing
the kind of birth He had,
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His birth, and this is amazing,
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His birth was not the result
of a man planting the seed.
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His birth was the result of who?
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The Holy Spirit.
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So from His birth,
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the Holy Spirit was
in charge of the process.
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You remember there in the...
00:12:05.82\00:12:07.16
I think it's in the Book
of Luke 2, go there with me.
00:12:07.19\00:12:10.13
We'll go ahead and
let's do the prophecy,
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let's do the fulfillment,
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the second
portion to this question.
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Isaiah 7:14 was the prophecy.
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Look at Matthew 1:22-23.
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And then we'll go to
Luke in a moment here.
00:12:22.44\00:12:24.44
But here's the
second portion of it.
00:12:24.47\00:12:26.41
So the Bible says,
"All this was done "
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Matthew 1:22-23
appears on the screen,
00:12:30.68\00:12:33.78
"All this was done
that it might be fulfilled
00:12:33.82\00:12:38.05
which was spoken by the
Lord through the," what?
00:12:38.09\00:12:41.46
"Through the
prophet, saying, 'Behold,
00:12:41.49\00:12:45.93
the virgin shall be
with child, and bear a Son,
00:12:45.96\00:12:51.20
and they shall
call His name," 'what?
00:12:51.23\00:12:53.40
"Immanuel,' which is translated
together, 'God with us."'
00:12:53.44\00:12:57.04
So notice, it even said
00:12:57.07\00:12:58.74
which was spoken
of by the prophet.
00:12:58.77\00:13:01.74
So Matthew is recognizing
the words of the prophet.
00:13:01.78\00:13:06.35
He said, the prophet said this,
00:13:06.38\00:13:08.35
and it's coming to pass
exactly as the prophet said.
00:13:08.38\00:13:12.02
And when you go to
Luke where doctor...
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You know, what's
amazing about the Book of Luke?
00:13:15.02\00:13:17.69
Dr. Luke gives details
00:13:17.73\00:13:21.80
that a doctor would give.
00:13:21.83\00:13:24.03
He gives details
that a doctor would give.
00:13:24.07\00:13:26.40
He approaches the birth of Jesus
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in the sense that
a physician would.
00:13:28.50\00:13:33.48
Let's go ahead
00:13:33.51\00:13:34.84
and look at Luke chapter 2,
00:13:34.88\00:13:39.68
chapter 1 actually, chapter 1.
00:13:39.71\00:13:42.48
Okay.
00:13:42.52\00:13:43.85
All right.
00:13:47.49\00:13:50.63
And let's see, we
talked about Elizabeth
00:13:50.66\00:13:54.73
and the six month,
00:13:54.76\00:13:56.43
okay, let's go to verse 26.
00:13:56.46\00:14:00.44
Okay.
00:14:00.47\00:14:02.70
Now in the six month, Luke 1:26,
00:14:02.74\00:14:05.57
"Now in the sixth month,
00:14:05.61\00:14:06.94
the Angel Gabriel
was sent by," who?
00:14:06.98\00:14:09.84
"By God to a city of
Galilee named Nazareth,
00:14:09.88\00:14:13.21
to a virgin betrothed to
a man whose name was Joseph,
00:14:13.25\00:14:16.62
of the House of David.
00:14:16.65\00:14:18.35
The Virgin's name was Mary."
00:14:18.39\00:14:20.72
Now I want to make
a point right here.
00:14:20.76\00:14:22.39
Mary was the one chosen by God
00:14:22.42\00:14:24.69
but Jesus is the
one to be worshiped.
00:14:24.73\00:14:29.26
Did you get that?
00:14:29.30\00:14:30.63
Mary was not chosen
as an object of worship,
00:14:30.67\00:14:33.74
she was chosen
simply as the vessel
00:14:33.77\00:14:35.80
through whom the
one to be worshiped
00:14:35.84\00:14:37.94
was to be born into the world.
00:14:37.97\00:14:40.14
He chose her as a virgin
00:14:40.18\00:14:42.24
and today they have
the phrase Virgin Mary,
00:14:42.28\00:14:44.95
which in fact is true
according to the context.
00:14:44.98\00:14:48.32
But Mary was not
the one to be venerated.
00:14:48.35\00:14:51.65
She was simply the vessel
00:14:51.69\00:14:53.02
through which Jesus
came into the world.
00:14:53.05\00:14:55.22
So those who
are worshiping Mary,
00:14:55.26\00:14:56.76
they missed the whole point.
00:14:56.79\00:14:58.66
You don't
worship any human being
00:14:58.69\00:15:00.63
and that was the
same case with John,
00:15:00.66\00:15:02.16
and I'll show you this
in Revelation when the...
00:15:02.20\00:15:06.70
Well, I don't want
to go ahead of myself,
00:15:06.74\00:15:08.10
but let's just
finish this first.
00:15:08.14\00:15:09.74
So when you say
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
00:15:09.77\00:15:13.27
that's not the...
00:15:13.31\00:15:14.64
She is not the
mother of God, okay?
00:15:14.68\00:15:18.08
Let's just make this very clear.
00:15:18.11\00:15:20.22
Jesus is born through her.
00:15:20.25\00:15:21.78
If she's the mother of
God, then she precedes God.
00:15:21.82\00:15:25.19
But the amazing
thing about this story is
00:15:25.22\00:15:27.29
how can you be before Jesus
00:15:27.32\00:15:31.63
and after Jesus?
00:15:31.66\00:15:33.60
Because Jesus created in
the beginning all humanity,
00:15:33.63\00:15:38.37
and the vessel through which
He was delivered into the world
00:15:38.40\00:15:40.74
was the very
humanity He created.
00:15:40.77\00:15:42.67
How can you be before and after?
00:15:42.70\00:15:44.54
But it goes on in verse 28,
00:15:44.57\00:15:46.81
and the angel says,
"And having come in,
00:15:46.84\00:15:48.31
the angel said to her,
'Rejoice highly favored one,"
00:15:48.34\00:15:51.18
highly favored, not holy
one, "the Lord is with you.
00:15:51.21\00:15:55.25
Blessed are you among women."
00:15:55.28\00:15:57.45
In other words,
when God chooses you,
00:15:57.49\00:15:59.15
it is a blessing.
00:15:59.19\00:16:00.52
That's simply what it means.
00:16:00.56\00:16:01.89
It doesn't mean that now
00:16:01.92\00:16:03.26
you are elevated
above everyone else.
00:16:03.29\00:16:06.39
No, God chose
you, you are blessed.
00:16:06.43\00:16:09.00
"But when she saw him,
she was troubled at his saying
00:16:09.03\00:16:12.43
and considered what
manner of greeting this was."
00:16:12.47\00:16:16.54
And then verse 30,
"Then the angel said to her,
00:16:16.57\00:16:19.54
'Do not be afraid, Mary,
00:16:19.57\00:16:21.41
for you have
found favor with God.
00:16:21.44\00:16:24.95
And behold, you will
conceive in your womb,
00:16:24.98\00:16:27.02
and bring forth a Son,
and shall call his name Jesus.
00:16:27.05\00:16:31.85
He will be great and will be
called the Son of the highest
00:16:31.89\00:16:36.89
and the Lord God will give Him
00:16:36.93\00:16:38.46
the throne of His father, David,
00:16:38.49\00:16:40.63
and He will reign over
the house of Jacob forever
00:16:40.66\00:16:43.26
and of His kingdom,
there will be no end."'
00:16:43.30\00:16:45.07
And to show you that
00:16:45.10\00:16:46.43
this was done by
the Spirit of God,
00:16:46.47\00:16:48.60
it says in verse 34,
"Mary said to the angel,
00:16:48.64\00:16:50.71
'How can this be
since I do not know a man?'"
00:16:50.74\00:16:55.61
God doesn't need
the aid of humanity
00:16:55.64\00:16:57.55
to accomplish a divine purpose.
00:16:57.58\00:16:59.81
That's simply what was
being pointed out here.
00:16:59.85\00:17:01.78
And then notice in verse 35,
00:17:01.82\00:17:03.15
and we'll go on to the
next question after verse 35,
00:17:03.18\00:17:05.82
"And the angel
answered and said to her,
00:17:05.85\00:17:07.62
'The Holy Spirit
will come upon you,
00:17:07.66\00:17:10.79
and the power of the
highest will overshadow you.
00:17:10.83\00:17:14.23
Therefore also that
holy one who is to be born
00:17:14.26\00:17:17.90
will be called
the Son of," what?
00:17:17.93\00:17:19.73
"Son of God.'"
00:17:19.77\00:17:21.10
So this was a united effort
by heaven, the Holy Spirit
00:17:21.14\00:17:25.37
and God will come upon you,
and that which was born in her,
00:17:25.41\00:17:28.54
in fact, was not only predicted,
00:17:28.58\00:17:30.51
and Isaiah
predicted this 700 years
00:17:30.55\00:17:33.31
before it occurred.
00:17:33.35\00:17:34.78
Let's go to the very next one.
00:17:34.82\00:17:36.75
So the prediction of the method
of the birth of Christ was...
00:17:36.79\00:17:40.59
What's the key connecting points
00:17:40.62\00:17:42.76
in these two verses?
00:17:42.79\00:17:44.13
Somebody tell me.
00:17:44.16\00:17:45.49
What's the...?
00:17:45.53\00:17:46.86
Huh? Conceived by a virgin.
00:17:46.90\00:17:48.23
Conceived by a virgin is
one and what's another one?
00:17:48.26\00:17:51.03
Some key connecting
points in these verses.
00:17:51.07\00:17:53.90
His name Immanuel, that's right,
00:17:53.94\00:17:55.54
showing clearly
that Isaiah and Matthew
00:17:55.57\00:17:57.94
are talking about
the same individual,
00:17:57.97\00:17:59.61
God with us in both instances.
00:17:59.64\00:18:01.94
Now let's look at
question number 15.
00:18:01.98\00:18:05.25
Here it is.
00:18:05.28\00:18:07.22
The Bible also
predicted that a Star
00:18:07.25\00:18:09.38
what arise out of Judah?
00:18:09.42\00:18:12.85
A star would arise out of Judah,
00:18:12.89\00:18:16.32
and we find the
prediction now in Numbers 24:17.
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.79
Now the reason why
this topic is also important
00:18:19.83\00:18:22.06
is because there are
lots of religions in the world
00:18:22.10\00:18:25.30
that cannot trace
the elemental steps
00:18:25.33\00:18:27.77
of their development.
00:18:27.80\00:18:29.87
The Bible, although it's a book
00:18:29.90\00:18:33.31
that contains the
history of humanity
00:18:33.34\00:18:35.94
from the very creation
of the world to the present
00:18:35.98\00:18:38.01
the Bible is
not that old a book.
00:18:38.05\00:18:40.22
It was written over
the period of 1500 years.
00:18:40.25\00:18:43.08
So it's not that old a book.
00:18:43.12\00:18:44.45
So when you look at the
Bible, you can trace the cities,
00:18:44.49\00:18:46.65
the names of the prophets,
the dates, the locations.
00:18:46.69\00:18:49.62
All of these things
are still traceable today
00:18:49.66\00:18:51.86
in modern archeology.
00:18:51.89\00:18:54.30
So when it talks
about this in Numbers 24:17,
00:18:54.33\00:18:58.20
look at the
prophecy, here it is,
00:18:58.23\00:19:02.20
"I see Him,
00:19:02.24\00:19:04.14
but not now," meaning
He hasn't appeared yet,
00:19:04.17\00:19:07.11
"I behold Him," but what else?
00:19:07.14\00:19:09.84
"But not near,
00:19:09.88\00:19:11.21
a Star shall come out of Jacob,
00:19:11.25\00:19:15.02
a Scepter shall
rise out of, " where?
00:19:15.05\00:19:17.92
"Israel, and
batter the brow of Moab,
00:19:17.95\00:19:21.62
and destroy all
the sons of tumult."
00:19:21.66\00:19:25.53
So he's saying
in a beautiful way,
00:19:25.56\00:19:27.73
he says, "I see Him but not now,
00:19:27.76\00:19:30.03
I behold Him but not near."
00:19:30.07\00:19:31.93
So as Moses writes, he says,
00:19:31.97\00:19:37.71
"This is a distant prophecy.
00:19:37.74\00:19:39.77
It is to be fulfilled.
00:19:39.81\00:19:41.14
I see Him but not now, I
behold Him but not near."
00:19:41.18\00:19:44.11
So write that
down in Numbers 24:17.
00:19:44.15\00:19:47.65
What you'd like to put
there, "The Bible predicted that
00:19:47.68\00:19:50.29
a star would
arise out of Judah."
00:19:50.32\00:19:52.12
One of the things
I would put there is
00:19:52.15\00:19:54.52
Moses was looking forward
00:19:54.56\00:19:56.76
because he said, "I
see Him but not now,
00:19:56.79\00:19:58.46
I behold Him but not near."
00:19:58.49\00:20:00.90
And the other thing
that you can be sure
00:20:00.93\00:20:02.26
about prophecy is this,
00:20:02.30\00:20:03.63
when a prophecy is
given, it will come to pass.
00:20:03.67\00:20:08.30
So he says,
00:20:08.34\00:20:09.77
"I see it
happening, but not now.
00:20:09.80\00:20:12.27
I behold Him but not near."
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.18
Meaning it's still yet ahead
of the time of the prediction.
00:20:14.21\00:20:17.61
And Moses, as you know,
00:20:17.65\00:20:18.98
did not live to
see this prediction.
00:20:19.01\00:20:20.98
However, Matthew did.
00:20:21.02\00:20:23.89
Look at Matthew
2:1-2, for the fulfillment.
00:20:23.92\00:20:29.22
Here it is.
00:20:29.26\00:20:32.89
"Now after Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of," where?
00:20:32.93\00:20:37.70
"Of Judea in the days
of Herod the king, behold,"
00:20:37.73\00:20:41.10
what kind of men?
00:20:41.14\00:20:42.67
"Wise men from the east
came to Jerusalem saying,"
00:20:42.70\00:20:47.94
what did they say?
00:20:47.98\00:20:49.31
"Where is He who has
been born King of the Jews?
00:20:49.34\00:20:53.28
For we have seen His," what?
00:20:53.31\00:20:56.02
"His star in the east and
have come to worship Him."'
00:20:56.05\00:21:00.79
Now isn't it providential
00:21:00.82\00:21:02.92
that the star of the first
birth of Jesus appeared where?
00:21:02.96\00:21:07.16
In what location?
00:21:07.20\00:21:08.80
In the east, and where
would the appearance of Jesus,
00:21:08.83\00:21:11.77
His second coming be?
00:21:11.80\00:21:13.37
In the east.
00:21:13.40\00:21:14.74
So the east is a
direction of godly activity,
00:21:14.77\00:21:18.04
the king of the east...
00:21:18.07\00:21:19.41
So when the Bible says
that the way of the kings
00:21:19.44\00:21:21.04
of the east might be prepared,
00:21:21.08\00:21:23.31
it's referring to the
divine appearance of Jesus,
00:21:23.35\00:21:26.61
it's referring to
00:21:26.65\00:21:27.98
when the River
Euphrates dries up,
00:21:28.02\00:21:29.72
that the way of the kings
of the east might be prepared.
00:21:29.75\00:21:32.49
It's referring when Babylon
has lost all of its power,
00:21:32.52\00:21:36.89
that makes the entrance
for the coming of our Lord,
00:21:36.93\00:21:40.06
the kings of east.
00:21:40.10\00:21:41.43
And by the way,
these were wise men,
00:21:41.46\00:21:42.96
they were also called Magi.
00:21:43.00\00:21:45.20
Another word you
can get from that
00:21:45.23\00:21:46.60
is the ancient
application of magicians
00:21:46.63\00:21:49.20
but they were not
sleight of hand magicians,
00:21:49.24\00:21:51.51
these were very educated men,
00:21:51.54\00:21:54.14
men educated in
prophecy and understanding,
00:21:54.18\00:21:56.61
and they studied the prophecies
00:21:56.64\00:21:58.45
even though they weren't
out of the lineage of God.
00:21:58.48\00:22:02.98
These were not men
that were even Jewish.
00:22:03.02\00:22:05.92
These men were
00:22:05.95\00:22:07.29
from the same region as Solomon.
00:22:07.32\00:22:08.89
Solomon was the
wisest man from the east.
00:22:08.92\00:22:12.76
And so these wise men
studied the prophecies.
00:22:12.79\00:22:15.16
So when they saw the star...
00:22:15.20\00:22:18.17
Let me ask you the
question, do you think
00:22:18.20\00:22:19.67
that that star was an
astronomical appearance
00:22:19.70\00:22:23.54
or divine appearance?
00:22:23.57\00:22:24.91
Divine.
00:22:24.94\00:22:26.27
Divine appearance
00:22:26.31\00:22:27.64
because it showed up at the time
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.61
predicted by the
prophet in Numbers.
00:22:29.64\00:22:32.21
And where it was seen
was exactly as the Bible,
00:22:32.25\00:22:36.02
"A star shall come out
of Jacob, out of Judah".
00:22:36.05\00:22:39.19
And so it showed
itself at the timing
00:22:39.22\00:22:42.09
that the Bible predicted.
00:22:42.12\00:22:44.13
And by the way, they
didn't just study one prophet,
00:22:44.16\00:22:47.13
they studied the prophets
and they began to line it up.
00:22:47.16\00:22:50.00
So when they came
to Jerusalem asking
00:22:50.03\00:22:51.93
where is He born
King of the Jews,
00:22:51.97\00:22:53.84
they came to the people,
00:22:53.87\00:22:55.50
the people that God had
called to embrace His message.
00:22:55.54\00:22:58.87
And they said to the
people that should have known,
00:22:58.91\00:23:02.08
"Where is your king?"
00:23:02.11\00:23:03.85
And they referred
to the chief priests
00:23:03.88\00:23:06.05
and they said,
00:23:06.08\00:23:09.12
"We heard the reason
00:23:09.15\00:23:12.32
why the star led them
to Jerusalem first was,"
00:23:12.35\00:23:14.99
and this is a
very sad commentary,
00:23:15.02\00:23:17.59
"was to show that the
people that should have known
00:23:17.63\00:23:20.36
were not aware of
the birth of the Lord."
00:23:20.40\00:23:23.77
And so you have
Isaiah also saying,
00:23:23.80\00:23:25.77
"The donkey knows its
master, the ox knows its maker
00:23:25.80\00:23:31.37
but my people do not know."
00:23:31.41\00:23:33.94
Isn't that amazing?
00:23:33.98\00:23:35.31
Dumb animals, really,
00:23:35.34\00:23:38.11
the people didn't
know but the animals knew.
00:23:38.15\00:23:40.48
The animals were present
at the birth of their maker
00:23:40.52\00:23:43.25
but the people were absent.
00:23:43.28\00:23:44.75
So let's look at this.
00:23:44.79\00:23:46.32
So did we get
verse 1 and 2? Yes.
00:23:46.35\00:23:49.46
So the key elements
in both of these verses
00:23:49.49\00:23:52.86
would be the star from the east.
00:23:52.89\00:23:56.60
Now let me just
make a point about this.
00:23:56.63\00:23:58.97
This is one of the
reasons why the star appoints,
00:23:59.00\00:24:02.90
the star belongs to Jesus.
00:24:02.94\00:24:05.11
Let's say that
together, the star is who?
00:24:05.14\00:24:07.34
Jesus.
00:24:07.38\00:24:08.71
So when earthly men say,
00:24:08.74\00:24:11.18
"You're a star, a
movie star, a music star,"
00:24:11.21\00:24:15.12
these are earthly attempts
00:24:15.15\00:24:16.89
to usurp a title that
belongs only to Jesus.
00:24:16.92\00:24:21.62
We're not stars.
00:24:21.66\00:24:22.99
On the Hollywood walk
of fame, you see stars.
00:24:23.02\00:24:26.93
That's not a
star, Jesus is a star.
00:24:26.96\00:24:29.26
Can you say amen to that?
00:24:29.30\00:24:31.13
Let's go to the
next one, number 16.
00:24:31.17\00:24:32.90
We're outlining
all these prophecies
00:24:32.93\00:24:34.80
as it relates to
the birth of Jesus.
00:24:34.84\00:24:37.81
The Bible also pointed out
something very interesting,
00:24:37.84\00:24:41.08
His earthly family line.
00:24:41.11\00:24:43.51
Let's go to number 16.
00:24:43.55\00:24:44.88
"The earthly family line
of Jesus was also revealed."
00:24:44.91\00:24:49.25
And we go to Genesis
00:24:49.28\00:24:50.62
49:8-10.
00:24:50.65\00:24:55.72
Genesis 49:8-10.
00:24:55.76\00:25:00.16
Let's look at this together.
00:25:00.20\00:25:01.53
Yes.
00:25:04.63\00:25:05.97
And by the way, in Genesis 49,
one of the interesting studies
00:25:06.00\00:25:09.27
there is it
points out the 12 tribes.
00:25:09.30\00:25:12.64
How many tribes? Twelve.
00:25:12.67\00:25:14.41
Okay, how many gates
to the New Jerusalem?
00:25:14.44\00:25:16.28
Twelve. Twelve.
00:25:16.31\00:25:17.65
Each, you'll
discover each of these tribes
00:25:17.68\00:25:20.08
in Genesis 49, a
particular weakness
00:25:20.12\00:25:22.85
is mentioned in
each of their lives.
00:25:22.88\00:25:24.92
And only those that
overcame their weaknesses
00:25:24.95\00:25:28.52
were still
mentioned in Revelation.
00:25:28.56\00:25:30.56
The one that
wasn't mentioned is Dan.
00:25:30.59\00:25:33.83
Sorry, Dan.
00:25:33.86\00:25:35.20
Not Dan Peake
but the tribe of Dan.
00:25:35.23\00:25:39.83
And this is not true
about our Dan at all.
00:25:39.87\00:25:42.07
But Dan was...
00:25:42.10\00:25:44.41
The Bible talked
about Dan in Genesis 49:7,
00:25:44.44\00:25:48.81
"Dan shall judge his
people as one of the tribes.
00:25:48.84\00:25:51.55
Dan shall be a
serpent by the way,
00:25:51.58\00:25:53.05
a viper in the path,
that bite the horses heels
00:25:53.08\00:25:55.42
so that the rider
shall fall backward."
00:25:55.45\00:25:57.95
And Genesis 49,
verse, not 7, but verse 17.
00:25:57.99\00:26:02.42
So Dan was the one in
the Bible that focused
00:26:02.46\00:26:04.93
on everybody else's
weakness except his own,
00:26:04.96\00:26:07.03
and he was
therefore not mentioned.
00:26:07.06\00:26:08.76
But if you go verse 8 to 10...
00:26:08.80\00:26:10.13
Let's look at this together.
00:26:10.17\00:26:12.03
Verse 8 to 10, here
it is on the screen.
00:26:12.07\00:26:14.64
"Judah, you are he whom
your brothers shall," what?
00:26:14.67\00:26:19.74
"Praise, your hand shall be
on the neck of your enemies,
00:26:19.77\00:26:24.91
your father's
children shall bow before you.
00:26:24.95\00:26:29.95
Judah is a lion's
whelp, from the prey,
00:26:29.98\00:26:34.39
my son, you have gone up.
00:26:34.42\00:26:36.99
He bows down, he
lies down as a lion,
00:26:37.03\00:26:41.23
and as a lion,
who shall rouse him?"
00:26:41.26\00:26:44.83
And then verse 10,
00:26:44.87\00:26:47.47
"The scepter shall
not depart from," where?
00:26:47.50\00:26:50.74
"Judah, nor a lawgiver
00:26:50.77\00:26:53.07
from between his
feet, until," who?
00:26:53.11\00:26:56.28
"Shiloh comes,
00:26:56.31\00:26:58.41
and to Him shall be the
obedience of the people."
00:26:58.45\00:27:02.45
So Judah, and by the way,
00:27:02.48\00:27:05.29
when you look
at the family line,
00:27:05.32\00:27:07.36
Jesus is called the
lion of the tribe of Judah.
00:27:07.39\00:27:10.66
That family line, you find that
00:27:10.69\00:27:12.26
there were 10 tribes torn apart.
00:27:12.29\00:27:14.66
They went off
into abject confusion
00:27:14.70\00:27:19.80
but Judah remained faithful,
00:27:19.83\00:27:21.97
and it was through Judah
00:27:22.00\00:27:23.34
that Jesus became the deliverer,
00:27:23.37\00:27:24.74
it was through
Judah that Jesus came.
00:27:24.77\00:27:26.81
And when you look at Matthew 1,
00:27:26.84\00:27:29.48
we'll look at
that in just a moment.
00:27:29.51\00:27:30.88
But let's look
at the fulfillment.
00:27:30.91\00:27:32.48
Let's look at the fulfillment,
00:27:32.51\00:27:34.58
and we find this in Luke
00:27:34.62\00:27:35.95
1:30-32,
00:27:35.98\00:27:42.09
the scepter.
00:27:42.12\00:27:43.49
You know, by the way,
00:27:43.53\00:27:45.09
when the Bible
talks about a scepter,
00:27:45.13\00:27:48.16
it's not the same as
the staff of a shepherd.
00:27:48.20\00:27:52.90
A scepter is more
of an object of a king,
00:27:52.93\00:27:57.61
an object of a ruler,
00:27:57.64\00:27:59.11
and you look at
many of these kings,
00:27:59.14\00:28:00.98
their scepter is a
very object that they...
00:28:01.01\00:28:03.21
Like if they said,
"Yanick, come forth",
00:28:03.24\00:28:05.05
and they'll extend their scepter
00:28:05.08\00:28:06.82
and you'll touch their scepter.
00:28:06.85\00:28:08.18
You find that in
the story of Esther,
00:28:08.22\00:28:09.92
the king extended his scepter.
00:28:09.95\00:28:11.75
That's an
object of a royal king,
00:28:11.79\00:28:13.82
of a royal leader,
00:28:13.86\00:28:15.19
of one who is in fact
the one upon whose shoulders
00:28:15.22\00:28:17.89
the laws of the people exist.
00:28:17.93\00:28:20.00
That's why Jesus is the
one who has the scepter.
00:28:20.03\00:28:23.43
Let's look at Luke
1:30-32 for the fulfillment.
00:28:23.47\00:28:26.87
Here it is.
00:28:26.90\00:28:28.60
"Then the angel said to
her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary,
00:28:28.64\00:28:33.81
for you have
found favor with God.
00:28:33.84\00:28:35.64
And behold, you will
conceive in your womb
00:28:35.68\00:28:38.41
and bring forth
a Son"' all right,
00:28:38.45\00:28:42.92
"and shall call His
name," together, "Jesus.
00:28:42.95\00:28:46.96
He will be great, and
will be called," what?
00:28:46.99\00:28:51.49
"The Son of the Highest,
and the Lord God will give Him
00:28:51.53\00:28:54.43
the throne of His father," what?
00:28:54.46\00:28:56.46
"David?"' Now
what city is David?
00:28:56.50\00:29:00.97
Judah.
00:29:01.00\00:29:02.60
So you find
clearly the connection,
00:29:02.64\00:29:05.47
the family lineage.
00:29:05.51\00:29:06.84
And by the way, let me
show you something very quickly.
00:29:06.88\00:29:08.48
Go with me to
Matthew 1. Matthew 1.
00:29:08.51\00:29:11.58
Let's look at this.
00:29:11.61\00:29:14.65
This is very interesting.
00:29:14.68\00:29:18.99
I believe that the reason
00:29:19.02\00:29:20.36
why this is located in Matthew 1
00:29:20.39\00:29:21.89
is because Matthew
picks up as the first book
00:29:21.92\00:29:25.33
in the New Testament.
00:29:25.36\00:29:28.96
Matthew 1:17.
00:29:29.00\00:29:31.03
Matthew 1:17. Okay.
00:29:31.07\00:29:35.20
I want you to notice
how the Bible and what's...
00:29:35.24\00:29:38.14
One of the books in the
Bible that I wasn't really crazy
00:29:38.17\00:29:40.34
about reading was
Chronicles, 1 Chronicles.
00:29:40.38\00:29:42.88
Anybody read 1
Chronicles before?
00:29:42.91\00:29:45.01
What's 1 Chronicles?
00:29:45.05\00:29:47.08
Names, genealogies,
00:29:47.12\00:29:50.32
you could really get to
the point where you say,
00:29:50.35\00:29:53.62
"What is the
importance of all these names?"
00:29:53.66\00:29:56.52
But now you know
why. Let's look at this.
00:29:56.56\00:29:58.23
And we read through
1 Chronicles together
00:29:58.26\00:29:59.86
and then early
portions of 2 Chronicles like,
00:29:59.89\00:30:02.36
"Oh, do we have to
put two books together
00:30:02.40\00:30:04.00
with all these names?"
00:30:04.03\00:30:05.50
But there's a reason for that.
00:30:05.53\00:30:06.87
Look at this.
00:30:06.90\00:30:08.24
Look at Matthew 1:17.
00:30:08.27\00:30:10.01
"Now all the generations
00:30:10.04\00:30:11.71
from Abraham to
David are," what?
00:30:11.74\00:30:13.17
Fourteen.
00:30:13.21\00:30:14.54
"Fourteen generations,
from David until the captivity
00:30:14.58\00:30:18.11
in Babylon are," what?
00:30:18.15\00:30:19.68
"Fourteen generations,
00:30:19.71\00:30:21.18
and from the
captivity in Babylon
00:30:21.22\00:30:22.92
until the Christ are," what?
00:30:22.95\00:30:24.92
"Fourteen generations."
00:30:24.95\00:30:26.35
And if you want to have
fun, that's 42 generations,
00:30:26.39\00:30:30.36
if you want to have
fun, go to Matthew 1:1
00:30:30.39\00:30:33.60
and let's just peek
at this very quickly.
00:30:33.63\00:30:35.53
Let's peek at this very quickly,
00:30:35.56\00:30:37.00
and you'll look
at how this unfolds,
00:30:37.03\00:30:39.03
and you start saying, "Oh,
00:30:39.07\00:30:40.94
now I understand
who's related to whom,
00:30:40.97\00:30:45.31
now I see why such and such
00:30:45.34\00:30:47.48
happened in the
way that it did."
00:30:47.51\00:30:49.24
Look at Matthew 1, it says,
00:30:49.28\00:30:51.15
"The book of the
genealogy of Jesus Christ,
00:30:51.18\00:30:54.48
the son of," who?
00:30:54.52\00:30:55.85
"David, and also
the son of," who?
00:30:55.88\00:30:57.29
"Abraham."
00:30:57.32\00:30:58.65
In each
category, these prophets,
00:30:58.69\00:31:01.62
these patriarchs are connected
00:31:01.66\00:31:03.53
in the family line of Jesus.
00:31:03.56\00:31:05.36
Now notice,
"Abraham begot Isaac,
00:31:05.39\00:31:07.76
Isaac begot
Jacob, Jacob begot," who?
00:31:07.80\00:31:10.77
"Judah."
00:31:10.80\00:31:12.13
What tribe did
Jesus come through?
00:31:12.17\00:31:13.74
Judah.
00:31:13.77\00:31:15.30
And His brothers,
"Judah begot Perez
00:31:15.34\00:31:18.61
and Zerah by
Tamar, Perez begot Hezron,
00:31:18.64\00:31:21.94
Hezron begot Ram.
00:31:21.98\00:31:23.68
Ram begot," who?
00:31:23.71\00:31:25.55
"Amminadab,
Amminadab begot Nahshon,
00:31:25.58\00:31:29.55
and Nahshon begot Salmon.
00:31:29.58\00:31:31.49
Salmon begot Boaz by," who?
00:31:31.52\00:31:35.02
By who? Rahab.
00:31:35.06\00:31:36.39
Who is Rahab?
00:31:36.42\00:31:37.76
Isn't that encouraging?
00:31:41.03\00:31:43.70
"Boaz begot Obed by
Ruth, Obed begot Jesse.
00:31:43.73\00:31:47.60
Jesse begot," who?
00:31:47.64\00:31:49.24
"David.
00:31:49.27\00:31:50.61
David the king
begot Solomon by her
00:31:50.64\00:31:53.84
whom had been
the wife of Uriah."
00:31:53.88\00:31:56.75
Find some courage,
come on amen, somebody.
00:31:56.78\00:31:58.71
Amen.
00:31:58.75\00:32:00.08
"Solomon begot
Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah,
00:32:00.12\00:32:02.58
Abijah begot Asa.
00:32:02.62\00:32:04.25
Asa begot Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat begot Joram,
00:32:04.29\00:32:06.59
and Joram begot Uzziah."
00:32:06.62\00:32:08.32
Do I need to keep going?
00:32:08.36\00:32:09.69
Do you get the point yet?
00:32:09.72\00:32:11.06
It's a
beautiful genealogy to see
00:32:11.09\00:32:12.76
that the Lord traces
00:32:12.79\00:32:14.13
the footsteps of
divinity from the beginning
00:32:14.16\00:32:17.97
all the way to
the birth of Jesus.
00:32:18.00\00:32:19.70
So now here's the point,
00:32:19.73\00:32:21.07
when
archeologists, and historians,
00:32:21.10\00:32:22.64
and genealogists
begin to put together
00:32:22.67\00:32:24.34
the line of Jesus, they say,
00:32:24.37\00:32:27.84
"All these other lines are true,
00:32:27.88\00:32:30.41
all these other
genealogies can be traced.
00:32:30.45\00:32:32.85
These names are
part of biblical history,
00:32:32.88\00:32:35.05
are part of
archaeological history."
00:32:35.08\00:32:37.22
So if these names
00:32:37.25\00:32:39.39
and these
family lines did exist,
00:32:39.42\00:32:41.92
it is higher in possibility
00:32:41.96\00:32:45.83
for the existence
of Jesus to be real.
00:32:45.86\00:32:48.53
And today, the proof of the fact
00:32:48.56\00:32:50.20
that Jesus was born is
the fact that it's 2016.
00:32:50.23\00:32:55.50
We were just in England
00:32:55.54\00:32:56.87
and we saw on one of
the buildings there A.D.
00:32:56.91\00:32:59.77
and they put
the year below that.
00:32:59.81\00:33:01.44
And then they had
the Latin, Anno Domini,
00:33:01.48\00:33:04.68
in the year of our Lord.
00:33:04.71\00:33:06.38
So no matter what
the country is on earth,
00:33:06.41\00:33:08.28
they all
recognize that it is 2016,
00:33:08.32\00:33:11.62
even though they may
have their own derivatives
00:33:11.65\00:33:13.56
or their versions of that.
00:33:13.59\00:33:14.92
For example, in
the Chinese dynasty,
00:33:14.96\00:33:17.29
they'll say, well,
this is the 4,000th year
00:33:17.33\00:33:20.00
or this is the 6000th
year, but when they do business,
00:33:20.03\00:33:22.80
it's 2016 in China,
it's 2016 in Russia,
00:33:22.83\00:33:26.67
it's 2016 in India,
it's 2016 in America
00:33:26.70\00:33:29.90
because they all acknowledge
the fact that Jesus was born.
00:33:29.94\00:33:32.64
What do you say?
00:33:32.67\00:33:34.14
And look at verse 16.
00:33:34.18\00:33:35.74
Thank you.
00:33:35.78\00:33:37.11
It says, "And
Jacob begot Joseph,
00:33:37.15\00:33:39.61
the husband of Mary,
00:33:39.65\00:33:41.92
of whom was born
Jesus who is called," who?
00:33:41.95\00:33:45.62
"Christ."
00:33:45.65\00:33:46.99
And so you find
that genealogy is true.
00:33:47.02\00:33:49.89
Another thing we call genealogy,
00:33:49.92\00:33:51.49
what's a modern
term for genealogy?
00:33:51.53\00:33:55.33
You all know it.
00:33:55.36\00:33:56.70
You got it in you. Family tree.
00:33:56.73\00:33:59.03
There you go, family tree.
00:33:59.07\00:34:00.94
It's a common thing.
00:34:00.97\00:34:02.60
And how many of are so excited
when we trace our family tree?
00:34:02.64\00:34:06.81
Okay, I was
expecting a response.
00:34:06.84\00:34:09.74
It works in some places
and in some cases you end up...
00:34:12.85\00:34:17.19
I remember one of my
good friends, he said,
00:34:17.22\00:34:19.52
he said he was so discouraged
when he traced his family tree.
00:34:19.55\00:34:23.66
He said, "Man, I
ended up in a shack
00:34:23.69\00:34:25.39
somewhere in the
south during slavery
00:34:25.43\00:34:26.80
and I was so discouraged.
00:34:26.83\00:34:28.66
I couldn't get past this shack
00:34:28.70\00:34:30.87
down in the south at
the time of slavery."
00:34:30.90\00:34:32.80
He said, "I got so discouraged."
00:34:32.83\00:34:34.87
He said, "But I read
and I opened my Bible,"
00:34:34.90\00:34:36.34
he says, "who
was the son of Adam?
00:34:36.37\00:34:38.44
Who was the son of God?"
00:34:38.47\00:34:39.81
And he said, "I
traced my genealogy
00:34:39.84\00:34:41.18
all the way back
to the beginning."
00:34:41.21\00:34:42.54
Amen?
00:34:42.58\00:34:43.91
So as the saying goes,
00:34:43.95\00:34:45.28
"If your relatives
were not on the ark,
00:34:45.31\00:34:47.85
you're in trouble."
00:34:47.88\00:34:51.09
We all have our
origin in Jesus Christ.
00:34:51.12\00:34:54.29
Praise the Lord for that.
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.16
Number 17.
00:34:56.19\00:34:58.03
Number 17.
00:34:58.06\00:35:01.50
What did the
Bible teach concerning
00:35:01.53\00:35:03.00
the government of Jesus?
00:35:03.03\00:35:04.83
The government of Jesus.
00:35:04.87\00:35:07.30
Isaiah 9, let's go to Isaiah.
00:35:07.34\00:35:10.97
You know, this might
seem like an act of futility
00:35:11.01\00:35:13.27
but what happens is you
get to appreciate even more
00:35:13.31\00:35:16.01
when you begin to look
00:35:16.04\00:35:17.38
at all these
different names in the Bible.
00:35:17.41\00:35:19.31
You begin to appreciate
00:35:19.35\00:35:20.68
with greater value
and greater veracity
00:35:20.72\00:35:23.05
the fact that the
Bible is not a book
00:35:23.08\00:35:24.85
that was just
put together by men
00:35:24.89\00:35:26.52
but it has such a divine origin
00:35:26.55\00:35:28.22
and it's divine by an origin,
it's like an arm broken string.
00:35:28.26\00:35:32.06
You know, like
somebody once said...
00:35:32.09\00:35:34.50
We've been to a cave before.
00:35:34.53\00:35:36.33
We were down in a cave in
Belize a number of years ago.
00:35:36.36\00:35:40.34
And the caves are dark,
but what they did, they said,
00:35:40.37\00:35:44.47
"If you go deep into the
cave, you can lose your way."
00:35:44.51\00:35:47.78
But what they did, is there,
is along the wall in the cave,
00:35:47.81\00:35:51.95
ropes that no
matter how far in you go,
00:35:51.98\00:35:54.82
if you could just find the rope,
00:35:54.85\00:35:56.45
you can find your way out.
00:35:56.48\00:35:59.12
Sometimes archeology seems dark,
00:35:59.15\00:36:01.69
but if you could hold
on to the rope of genealogy
00:36:01.72\00:36:05.43
of the birth and the life
00:36:05.46\00:36:07.46
and the history of
the birth of Jesus,
00:36:07.50\00:36:09.33
you can find your
way out of darkness
00:36:09.36\00:36:12.03
into this marvelous light.
00:36:12.07\00:36:15.80
Question number 17,
what did the Bible teach
00:36:15.84\00:36:17.91
concerning the
government of Jesus?
00:36:17.94\00:36:19.27
Isaiah 9:6, let's
look at that together.
00:36:19.31\00:36:22.18
Isaiah 9:7,
00:36:22.21\00:36:24.88
"Of the increase of
His government and peace,
00:36:24.91\00:36:29.28
there will be no," what?
00:36:29.32\00:36:31.22
"No end." Isn't
that wonderful to know?
00:36:31.25\00:36:32.95
One day there'll
be no end to peace.
00:36:32.99\00:36:35.52
"Upon the throne of
David and over His kingdom,
00:36:35.56\00:36:38.73
to order it and," what else?
00:36:38.76\00:36:41.20
"Establish it with,"
two things, with what?
00:36:41.23\00:36:44.00
"Judgment and justice from that
time forward, even forever,"
00:36:44.03\00:36:49.90
and I like this,
00:36:49.94\00:36:51.27
"the zeal of the Lord of
hosts will perform this."
00:36:51.31\00:36:55.28
Now when you read
the end of that passage,
00:36:55.31\00:36:56.95
you know, what's wonderful about
00:36:56.98\00:36:58.31
the way Isaiah is saying this,
00:36:58.35\00:36:59.68
he describes the
kingdom and its characteristics
00:36:59.71\00:37:02.88
and he said, "God is so driven
00:37:02.92\00:37:06.96
by the reality of His government
00:37:06.99\00:37:09.02
that His zeal will
make sure that this stands."
00:37:09.06\00:37:12.19
So if somebody
establishes government,
00:37:12.23\00:37:14.00
if they have no
passion about their government,
00:37:14.03\00:37:15.96
it doesn't have any existence,
it doesn't have any power,
00:37:16.00\00:37:18.53
it doesn't have any longevity.
00:37:18.57\00:37:20.20
But he is saying, "God,
the zeal of the Lord of hosts
00:37:20.24\00:37:22.90
will perform this."
00:37:22.94\00:37:24.94
How long will
His government last?
00:37:24.97\00:37:26.47
No end.
00:37:26.51\00:37:27.84
There'll be no
end. Now let's go.
00:37:27.88\00:37:30.38
It'll be no
end, write that down.
00:37:30.41\00:37:31.85
What does the Bible teach
about the government of Jesus?
00:37:31.88\00:37:33.92
It'll be no end. Wow.
00:37:33.95\00:37:36.69
And I'll give you
another text to add
00:37:36.72\00:37:38.05
to that in just a moment.
00:37:38.09\00:37:39.42
There'll be no
end to His government.
00:37:39.45\00:37:41.56
Now let's look at Luke 1:32-33
00:37:41.59\00:37:45.26
for the fulfillment.
00:37:45.29\00:37:47.56
Luke 1: 32-33
for the fulfillment.
00:37:47.60\00:37:50.80
Beautiful in its context.
00:37:50.83\00:37:53.17
Okay, I'm on my
way there. Wait for me.
00:37:53.20\00:37:58.24
For those who are
joining by following the study,
00:37:58.27\00:38:01.08
I hope you are
enjoying this as much as we are,
00:38:01.11\00:38:05.51
studying about Jesus.
00:38:05.55\00:38:06.92
Here it is, verse 32 and 33.
00:38:06.95\00:38:10.82
Okay, and the reason
00:38:10.85\00:38:13.59
I didn't go to
these passages earlier
00:38:13.62\00:38:15.42
because I knew that
it will come up early.
00:38:15.46\00:38:17.03
I stopped at 31
00:38:17.06\00:38:18.63
when I talked about
Mary and the birth of Jesus.
00:38:18.66\00:38:21.33
Here it is.
00:38:21.36\00:38:23.97
"He will be," the angel said
to Mary, "He will be," what?
00:38:24.00\00:38:28.07
"Great, and will be
called the Son of the "Highest,
00:38:28.10\00:38:32.97
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
00:38:33.01\00:38:37.55
And He will reign
over the house of," what?
00:38:37.58\00:38:40.92
"Jacob," together, "forever,
00:38:40.95\00:38:43.65
and of His kingdom
there will be no," what?
00:38:43.69\00:38:45.92
"End."
00:38:45.95\00:38:47.29
Now when you put that in
there, we write the same thing,
00:38:47.32\00:38:50.16
when you put that in there,
00:38:50.19\00:38:51.53
you'll discover
something very interesting.
00:38:51.56\00:38:53.06
After you do that, go
with me to Revelation 11.
00:38:53.09\00:38:55.83
Because somewhere between
00:38:55.86\00:38:57.20
the establishment
of the kingdom of God
00:38:57.23\00:38:59.67
and the reestablishment
of the kingdom of God,
00:38:59.70\00:39:03.04
there's been
somewhat of an interruption,
00:39:03.07\00:39:05.01
earthly
kingdoms, you had Babylon,
00:39:05.04\00:39:08.64
if you know this, Babylon,
00:39:08.68\00:39:10.01
Medo-Persia,
Greece, and what else?
00:39:10.05\00:39:12.25
Rome.
00:39:12.28\00:39:13.62
Then you had
interspersed in there,
00:39:13.65\00:39:14.98
then you had United
States, which is not a kingdom,
00:39:15.02\00:39:17.45
it's a republic.
00:39:17.49\00:39:18.95
Then you have all
these other monarchies
00:39:18.99\00:39:21.19
around the world, like
Great Britain, and France,
00:39:21.22\00:39:25.06
and some of the empires
that are around the world.
00:39:25.09\00:39:29.30
So between the establishment
of the kingdom of God
00:39:29.33\00:39:33.97
and the reestablishment
00:39:34.00\00:39:35.34
of the permanent
kingdom of God...
00:39:35.37\00:39:37.31
I like the way that
Revelation 11 brings this in.
00:39:37.34\00:39:39.87
Let's look at
this, Revelation 11.
00:39:39.91\00:39:43.78
Okay.
00:39:43.81\00:39:45.15
Exactly.
00:39:52.32\00:39:54.19
So you will see that
00:39:54.22\00:39:56.89
the sequence of the
unfolding of prophecy,
00:39:56.93\00:39:59.36
the Lord has a timetable
00:39:59.39\00:40:01.36
when His kingdom shall be firmly
00:40:01.40\00:40:03.77
and permanently
established again.
00:40:03.80\00:40:05.87
And all these earthly kingdoms
that seemed to be in power,
00:40:05.90\00:40:08.74
oh, no, don't get
distracted by that
00:40:08.77\00:40:11.07
because only His
kingdom will be no end, right?
00:40:11.11\00:40:14.08
Look at verse 15.
00:40:14.11\00:40:15.48
The Bible says, "Then
the seventh angel sounded
00:40:15.51\00:40:18.58
and there were
loud voices," where?
00:40:18.61\00:40:20.98
"In heaven.
00:40:21.02\00:40:22.35
That's the zeal of God saying,"
let's read this together,
00:40:22.38\00:40:25.85
"The kingdoms of
this world have," what?
00:40:25.89\00:40:28.89
"Become the kingdoms of
our Lord and of his Christ,
00:40:28.92\00:40:32.79
and He shall reign," how long?
00:40:32.83\00:40:34.93
"Forever and ever."
00:40:34.96\00:40:37.43
So you see, Nori, Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome,
00:40:37.47\00:40:41.04
all the other kingdoms,
00:40:41.07\00:40:42.44
they have their
place in history,
00:40:42.47\00:40:44.24
but don't get sidetracked,
00:40:44.27\00:40:45.61
as great as America
is, it's on a timetable,
00:40:45.64\00:40:48.01
only God's
kingdom will have no end.
00:40:48.04\00:40:50.78
The prophet said it,
God's Word confirms it,
00:40:50.81\00:40:53.68
and the history
beckons the very call
00:40:53.72\00:40:56.38
that heaven has established,
00:40:56.42\00:40:58.12
only God's
kingdom will be permanent.
00:40:58.15\00:41:00.72
Oh, even the royal family.
00:41:00.76\00:41:02.39
We went and we were
dazzled by the gold, and silver,
00:41:02.42\00:41:04.69
and the endless ubulance,
00:41:04.73\00:41:09.66
I don't even
know if that's a word
00:41:09.70\00:41:11.03
but that sounds pretty good.
00:41:11.07\00:41:12.50
The opulence, the pomp,
00:41:12.53\00:41:14.97
the how many sets of dishes
00:41:15.00\00:41:20.64
do you need?
00:41:20.68\00:41:22.81
They said the queen has over
00:41:22.84\00:41:25.11
a thousand sets of dishes given,
00:41:25.15\00:41:28.55
gifted her from all
these kingdoms and monarchs
00:41:28.58\00:41:31.89
from around the world
00:41:31.92\00:41:33.69
and some of them, the
sets have a thousand pieces
00:41:33.72\00:41:36.42
and it's all gold, and
marble, and silver, and china.
00:41:36.46\00:41:41.40
And I thought man.
00:41:41.43\00:41:44.03
And when they
set the royal table,
00:41:44.07\00:41:46.40
it's set with everything
on that table is measured.
00:41:46.43\00:41:49.00
They measure
the distance between
00:41:49.04\00:41:50.37
the forks, and the knives,
00:41:50.41\00:41:51.74
and the spoons, and the napkins.
00:41:51.77\00:41:53.11
They measure
the distance between
00:41:53.14\00:41:54.48
the end of the
table and the chair
00:41:54.51\00:41:56.18
so that when people
of other governments
00:41:56.21\00:41:58.85
walk into that room,
00:41:58.88\00:42:00.32
the queen has to
approve the final setting.
00:42:00.35\00:42:03.08
If she's not pleased
with it, they got to fix it.
00:42:03.12\00:42:06.49
The chair backs
can't be out of line
00:42:06.52\00:42:08.16
like one here and one
there, the other where,
00:42:08.19\00:42:10.13
now you see according
to man's measurements.
00:42:10.16\00:42:13.09
Now that's why God said,
"Let all things be done," how?
00:42:13.13\00:42:17.27
"Decently and," how? "In order."
00:42:17.30\00:42:21.27
God is not the
author of confusion.
00:42:21.30\00:42:23.14
Can you imagine walking
into the hall of the queen
00:42:23.17\00:42:26.47
and the napkins are everywhere
00:42:26.51\00:42:28.41
and she says to the dignitaries,
00:42:28.44\00:42:29.78
"Grab a fork when
you get to your place."
00:42:29.81\00:42:32.15
"Grab a fork?
00:42:32.18\00:42:33.52
Go and sit
wherever you want to sit."
00:42:33.55\00:42:35.42
No, I believe
that God has outlined
00:42:35.45\00:42:37.89
a place for each of us to sit.
00:42:37.92\00:42:39.65
If they do that
in earthly dynasties,
00:42:39.69\00:42:41.92
surely God's got
to be more organized
00:42:41.96\00:42:44.79
than any earthly kingdom.
00:42:44.83\00:42:46.16
Praise the Lord for that.
00:42:46.19\00:42:48.03
What a day is going to be
00:42:48.06\00:42:49.46
because everything
in heaven is an order.
00:42:49.50\00:42:51.90
Nothing is out of place.
00:42:51.93\00:42:53.27
Those constellations,
Orion and the Horsehead Nebula,
00:42:53.30\00:42:58.94
all those things are
in the same rotating belt
00:42:58.97\00:43:00.94
that they'd been in for
00:43:00.98\00:43:02.31
thousands and thousands of years
00:43:02.34\00:43:04.78
and who holds them in place?
00:43:04.81\00:43:06.35
The heavens
declare the glory of God.
00:43:06.38\00:43:09.08
Wow.
00:43:09.12\00:43:10.45
John 18:36, question
number 18, let's look at that.
00:43:10.49\00:43:13.86
Question number 18.
00:43:13.89\00:43:15.22
Let me go there,
00:43:20.56\00:43:23.00
and the question is
how did Jesus confirm
00:43:23.03\00:43:26.37
the reality of
His heavenly kingdom?
00:43:26.40\00:43:28.84
How did He confirm the
reality of His heavenly kingdom?
00:43:28.87\00:43:34.64
I liked the way He said it.
00:43:34.68\00:43:36.01
That's why let me
just make a point here.
00:43:36.04\00:43:37.38
That's why don't get
00:43:37.41\00:43:38.75
sidetracked too
much by politics.
00:43:38.78\00:43:41.28
Amen.
00:43:41.32\00:43:42.65
Thank you for the two amens.
00:43:42.68\00:43:44.65
For those of you
that are shouting
00:43:44.69\00:43:46.02
on the other side of the camera,
00:43:46.05\00:43:47.39
I could hear you.
00:43:47.42\00:43:48.76
Don't get
sidetracked by politics.
00:43:48.79\00:43:52.26
Because of this
statement that Jesus made,
00:43:52.29\00:43:55.86
the Roman
Government tried so much
00:43:55.90\00:43:58.40
to distract the mission
of the disciples of Jesus.
00:43:58.43\00:44:02.27
They kept saying,
"You are under our rule."
00:44:02.30\00:44:05.27
Even the Jews
that rejected Jesus
00:44:05.31\00:44:07.91
acknowledged the rule of Rome.
00:44:07.94\00:44:09.84
They appeal to Rome to
accomplish their design.
00:44:09.88\00:44:13.21
But I like what Jesus
said, and this is something that
00:44:13.25\00:44:15.88
we must never forget as those
00:44:15.92\00:44:18.52
who are connected
to a divine kingdom.
00:44:18.55\00:44:20.92
Here's what the Bible says.
00:44:20.96\00:44:22.29
How did Jesus confirmed
00:44:22.32\00:44:23.66
the reality of
His heavenly kingdom?
00:44:23.69\00:44:25.03
Here it is.
00:44:25.06\00:44:26.39
"Jesus answered,"
let's read this together,
00:44:26.43\00:44:27.80
"My kingdom is
not of this world.
00:44:27.83\00:44:31.13
If My kingdom were of
this world," this is huge,
00:44:31.17\00:44:34.40
"My servants would fight,
00:44:34.44\00:44:37.47
so that I should not
be delivered to the Jews,
00:44:37.51\00:44:40.41
but now My kingdom
is not from here."'
00:44:40.44\00:44:45.28
The point I want
to pull out of that
00:44:45.31\00:44:46.65
is there should be no political
strife among Christians.
00:44:46.68\00:44:50.32
Amen. Amen.
00:44:55.32\00:44:56.66
Just want to hear, I
know I didn't hear it
00:44:56.69\00:44:58.36
but I was just making sure.
00:44:58.39\00:45:00.40
Christians should not be
infighting about politics
00:45:00.43\00:45:04.67
because our kingdom
is not of this world.
00:45:04.70\00:45:09.27
And you know what
happens, every four years,
00:45:09.30\00:45:12.21
whoever comes to
be in the next seat,
00:45:12.24\00:45:14.91
fight over who's going
to be the next president,
00:45:14.94\00:45:16.68
who's going to be
in the White House,
00:45:16.71\00:45:19.38
it doesn't matter.
00:45:19.41\00:45:20.92
Because what matters is
00:45:20.95\00:45:22.88
our kingdom is
not of this world.
00:45:22.92\00:45:25.02
Matter of fact,
Paul the Apostle says,
00:45:25.05\00:45:26.86
"Our citizenship is in heaven
00:45:26.89\00:45:30.23
from whence we
look for our savior.
00:45:30.26\00:45:33.29
Our citizenship is in heaven."
00:45:33.33\00:45:36.20
Now we may be
citizens of the United States
00:45:36.23\00:45:38.33
and some of you as
citizens of other countries,
00:45:38.37\00:45:40.44
but don't forget,
Abraham said it well,
00:45:40.47\00:45:44.17
"I'm looking for a
city who has foundations,
00:45:44.21\00:45:48.01
whose builder
and maker is," what?
00:45:48.04\00:45:49.58
"God."
00:45:49.61\00:45:50.95
That's why he
said, "I'm a pilgrim.
00:45:50.98\00:45:53.95
I'm going to keep on traveling
until I find that city."
00:45:53.98\00:45:57.02
So don't get locked
down with all this jargon
00:45:57.05\00:46:00.22
because I'll be
very honest with you.
00:46:00.26\00:46:02.26
No matter what
promise any politician makes,
00:46:02.29\00:46:05.33
he or she ain't
going to keep it.
00:46:05.36\00:46:09.63
Only God's
promises are sure, right?
00:46:09.66\00:46:12.03
He honors His
word above His name.
00:46:12.07\00:46:14.47
But people tell you things
00:46:14.50\00:46:15.94
and then they
argue with who said what,
00:46:15.97\00:46:17.64
and who said it to whom,
and what was said on what date,
00:46:17.67\00:46:20.51
and who said it
again, and it doesn't matter.
00:46:20.54\00:46:23.58
Let your life be
focused on the Lord
00:46:23.61\00:46:25.45
whose kingdom is
not of this world.
00:46:25.48\00:46:30.05
Wow.
00:46:30.09\00:46:32.02
I hope everybody heard that.
00:46:32.05\00:46:36.19
I should have been
on CNN to say that,
00:46:36.22\00:46:38.73
or Fox News, or MSNBC,
or whatever, HLN, whatever.
00:46:38.76\00:46:42.46
Let's go to number 19,
moving right along, number 19.
00:46:42.50\00:46:46.77
So what did you
put down for number 18?
00:46:46.80\00:46:48.64
What did Jesus say?
00:46:48.67\00:46:50.01
"My kingdom is
not of this world."
00:46:50.04\00:46:52.51
So when you get
all bent out of shape,
00:46:52.54\00:46:55.14
you know, the only election
00:46:55.18\00:46:56.85
the Bible talks about
is making your calling
00:46:56.88\00:46:58.88
and your election
for salvation, sure,
00:46:58.91\00:47:01.95
all the other
elections don't matter.
00:47:01.98\00:47:05.09
Matters to some degree
00:47:05.12\00:47:06.45
because you're
citizens of the government,
00:47:06.49\00:47:07.82
you want to make sure
that things are in place,
00:47:07.86\00:47:09.19
but don't get bent out of shape
00:47:09.22\00:47:10.59
because when
you make an election
00:47:10.63\00:47:11.96
on the side of Jesus,
He will take care of you.
00:47:11.99\00:47:16.00
He sets them up,
brings them down.
00:47:16.03\00:47:18.23
Number 19, here we go.
00:47:18.27\00:47:19.73
How does the Bible
describe the preparation
00:47:19.77\00:47:23.64
for the ministry of Jesus?
00:47:23.67\00:47:25.17
How does the Bible
describe, question 19,
00:47:25.21\00:47:28.01
the preparation for
the ministry of Jesus?
00:47:28.04\00:47:31.95
How does it describe that?
00:47:31.98\00:47:34.25
Let's start with Malachi 3,
00:47:34.28\00:47:36.38
the last book of
the Old Testament,
00:47:36.42\00:47:37.75
Malachi 3:1.
00:47:37.79\00:47:41.66
Okay.
00:47:41.69\00:47:43.02
It's the great silence
between the voice of God,
00:47:43.06\00:47:46.63
and the Old Testament,
00:47:46.66\00:47:48.00
and the appearing
of Christ in the new,
00:47:48.03\00:47:51.83
Malachi 3:1, here's
what the Bible says,
00:47:51.87\00:47:55.80
"Behold, I send My messenger,
00:47:55.84\00:47:59.77
and He will," do what?
00:47:59.81\00:48:01.91
"Prepare the way before Me.
00:48:01.94\00:48:03.91
And the Lord, whom you seek,"
00:48:03.95\00:48:05.91
I like this, "will," what?
00:48:05.95\00:48:07.45
"Suddenly come to His temple,
00:48:07.48\00:48:11.15
even the
Messenger of the covenant,
00:48:11.19\00:48:15.29
in whom you delight.
00:48:15.32\00:48:18.03
Behold, He is coming,'
says the Lord of hosts.'"
00:48:18.06\00:48:22.10
Now I want you to notice
something very significant
00:48:22.13\00:48:23.87
about this prophecy.
00:48:23.90\00:48:26.10
You find the word
"messenger" in small caps
00:48:26.13\00:48:29.67
and then
messenger in large caps.
00:48:29.70\00:48:31.67
Did you notice that?
00:48:31.71\00:48:33.88
The first one refers
to who? John the Baptist.
00:48:33.91\00:48:37.88
The next one
refers to who? Jesus.
00:48:37.91\00:48:40.28
So when you see those changes...
00:48:40.32\00:48:42.95
Right here on
the screen it says,
00:48:42.98\00:48:44.32
"Even the
Messenger of the covenant,"
00:48:44.35\00:48:46.35
Jesus is the
Messenger of the covenant,
00:48:46.39\00:48:48.46
but the messenger that prepares
the way is John the Baptist.
00:48:48.49\00:48:51.66
And by the way, this is strange,
00:48:51.69\00:48:53.63
John the Baptist
is the cousin of Jesus
00:48:53.66\00:48:55.53
who is older than the
one who is before him.
00:48:55.56\00:48:59.73
Put that together.
00:48:59.77\00:49:01.30
See, John, six
months older than Jesus,
00:49:01.34\00:49:04.17
who in fact has no
beginning, has no end,
00:49:04.21\00:49:06.37
that will really
mess your mind up.
00:49:06.41\00:49:08.98
So the answer, how
does the Bible describe
00:49:09.01\00:49:10.45
the preparation for
the ministry of Jesus?
00:49:10.48\00:49:12.71
John the Baptist, the
messenger, the messenger,
00:49:12.75\00:49:16.42
he sends forth the messenger.
00:49:16.45\00:49:19.09
Now let's look at the
fulfillment in Luke 7.
00:49:19.12\00:49:21.62
Here it is.
00:49:25.89\00:49:28.83
"When the messengers
of John had departed,"
00:49:28.86\00:49:33.50
Luke 7:24, "had departed.
00:49:33.54\00:49:36.54
He began to speak
00:49:36.57\00:49:37.94
to the
multitudes concerning John,"
00:49:37.97\00:49:40.91
and this is beautiful,
00:49:40.94\00:49:43.24
"What did you go out
into the wilderness to see?
00:49:43.28\00:49:46.82
A reed shaken by the wind?"
00:49:46.85\00:49:50.99
And the answer was, no.
00:49:51.02\00:49:52.35
"This is he of
whom it is written,
00:49:52.39\00:49:55.12
'Behold, I send My," what?
00:49:55.16\00:49:57.73
"My what?
00:49:57.76\00:49:59.09
"Messenger, behold,
I send My messenger,"
00:49:59.13\00:50:03.30
verse 27, "before Your face,
00:50:03.33\00:50:05.93
who will prepare
Your way before You."'
00:50:05.97\00:50:10.01
So when the preaching of John,
00:50:10.04\00:50:12.84
which was a fire
and brimstone preacher,
00:50:12.87\00:50:16.14
he was a man of such conviction.
00:50:16.18\00:50:18.78
His purpose was to
prepare the way for Jesus.
00:50:18.81\00:50:22.78
That's why when John
was placed in prison,
00:50:22.82\00:50:25.72
Jesus didn't go to see him.
00:50:25.75\00:50:28.39
Now a lot of people have said,
00:50:28.42\00:50:30.76
I'm going to make
a contemporary now,
00:50:30.79\00:50:33.46
a lot of people say,
00:50:33.50\00:50:35.30
"You know, you
know who is in prison?
00:50:35.33\00:50:36.87
Pastor never went to see him."
00:50:36.90\00:50:38.27
Can you imagine they
said that about Jesus?
00:50:42.74\00:50:45.87
They said,
"Didn't he work for Him?
00:50:45.91\00:50:49.98
And He never went to
see him." Now why didn't He?
00:50:50.01\00:50:54.02
This doesn't apply
to me, this applies...
00:50:54.05\00:50:55.38
Why did He not go?
00:50:55.42\00:50:57.09
He said...
00:51:01.09\00:51:04.13
Okay, come on.
00:51:04.16\00:51:05.49
I must, He must...
00:51:05.53\00:51:09.33
Exactly.
00:51:09.36\00:51:10.70
John had to decrease
so that Jesus could what?
00:51:10.73\00:51:14.07
Increase, and what
many people don't know is
00:51:14.10\00:51:17.34
that when Jesus
began His ministry,
00:51:17.37\00:51:20.61
there was a lot of confusion
among the religious leaders.
00:51:20.64\00:51:23.48
They said, "Who is baptizing?
00:51:23.51\00:51:26.11
What baptism are
you of? John's baptism.
00:51:26.15\00:51:29.12
What baptism are
you of? Jesus' baptism."
00:51:29.15\00:51:34.26
That's why later on,
00:51:34.29\00:51:35.92
there were those
who were baptized
00:51:35.96\00:51:37.29
who never even
heard of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:37.33\00:51:39.23
That's why in
the Book of Acts 19,
00:51:39.26\00:51:41.93
he said, "Of what
baptism are you from?
00:51:41.96\00:51:44.07
John's baptism?
Have you heard of that?
00:51:44.10\00:51:46.33
We haven't even
heard of the Holy Spirit."
00:51:46.37\00:51:49.27
They were baptized by water.
00:51:49.30\00:51:51.11
But John said, "There's
one that's coming after me
00:51:51.14\00:51:53.88
that would
baptize you with," what?
00:51:53.91\00:51:55.71
"Fire.
00:51:55.74\00:51:57.08
Whose shoes,
00:51:57.11\00:51:58.45
I'm not even worthy to
loose the latchet on His shoes."
00:51:58.48\00:52:02.18
So John had to...
00:52:02.22\00:52:03.55
His ministry
was just the lead up
00:52:03.59\00:52:05.49
to the coming of the Messiah.
00:52:05.52\00:52:06.92
His ministry was
to come to an end,
00:52:06.96\00:52:09.62
and to be fulfilled,
00:52:09.66\00:52:11.16
and to lead
right into the Messiah,
00:52:11.19\00:52:12.93
"the Messenger of the covenant,"
00:52:12.96\00:52:15.13
the messenger preparing the way
00:52:15.16\00:52:17.60
was to lead to the
Messenger of the covenant,
00:52:17.63\00:52:20.17
who is in fact Jesus.
00:52:20.20\00:52:21.54
Wow.
00:52:21.57\00:52:22.90
So John was the fore...
00:52:22.94\00:52:27.24
John was the forerunner.
00:52:27.28\00:52:29.81
That's right.
00:52:29.84\00:52:31.18
Forerunner, he prepared the way.
00:52:31.21\00:52:34.25
So you want to write that down.
00:52:34.28\00:52:35.62
How does the Bible describe
00:52:35.65\00:52:36.99
the preparation of
the ministry of Jesus?
00:52:37.02\00:52:38.75
John was the messenger.
00:52:38.79\00:52:42.69
John was the forerunner,
00:52:42.72\00:52:44.06
Jesus is the
Messenger of the covenant.
00:52:44.09\00:52:46.76
Wow.
00:52:46.80\00:52:48.13
Now, also the
Bible talks about the way
00:52:52.93\00:52:55.64
that Jesus communicates.
00:52:55.67\00:52:57.61
Let's look at
question number 20.
00:52:57.64\00:52:59.84
Number 20.
00:52:59.87\00:53:02.41
What does the Bible
teach concerning the method
00:53:02.44\00:53:04.55
of Jesus' communication?
00:53:04.58\00:53:06.95
How does Jesus communicate?
00:53:06.98\00:53:09.25
We're going to
start with Psalm 78:2-4.
00:53:09.28\00:53:11.65
Now this by the
way, this passage,
00:53:11.69\00:53:14.36
we're going to look
at in just a moment here,
00:53:14.39\00:53:16.26
talks about a
method of communication
00:53:16.29\00:53:18.86
that really wasn't
put into strong impact
00:53:18.89\00:53:21.10
or if put into strong exercise
until the ministry Jesus.
00:53:21.13\00:53:25.47
That's what makes
it so significant.
00:53:25.50\00:53:27.57
When you look at
the word parable,
00:53:27.60\00:53:29.30
you find the Old Testament
prophets talk about the way
00:53:29.34\00:53:31.37
that Jesus is
going to communicate.
00:53:31.41\00:53:33.07
And then when Jesus comes,
00:53:33.11\00:53:34.44
He begins to
communicate this way.
00:53:34.48\00:53:36.54
Let's look at
Psalms 78:2-4. Here it is.
00:53:36.58\00:53:42.38
The Bible says,
00:53:42.42\00:53:43.75
"I will open my
mouth in a," what?
00:53:43.79\00:53:45.62
Parable. "A parable.
00:53:45.65\00:53:46.99
I will utter
dark sayings of old,
00:53:47.02\00:53:50.19
which we have heard and known,
00:53:50.23\00:53:53.36
and our fathers have told us.
00:53:53.40\00:53:56.77
We will not hide
them from their children,
00:53:56.80\00:54:00.04
telling to the
generation to come
00:54:00.07\00:54:02.64
the praises of the Lord,
00:54:02.67\00:54:04.71
and His strength
and His wonderful works
00:54:04.74\00:54:08.04
that He has done."
00:54:08.08\00:54:09.78
But He hid them,
He hid them in...
00:54:09.81\00:54:12.88
Parables. Thank you.
00:54:12.91\00:54:14.25
He hid them in parables.
00:54:14.28\00:54:16.05
You know, for example,
00:54:16.08\00:54:18.85
we use symbolic language today.
00:54:18.89\00:54:22.26
You know, one of
the ones we might use,
00:54:22.29\00:54:24.59
you may have
heard this growing up,
00:54:24.63\00:54:26.09
a stitch in time saves nine.
00:54:26.13\00:54:29.23
What does that mean?
00:54:29.26\00:54:31.87
If you would fix your button
when it starts to fall off,
00:54:31.90\00:54:35.44
you wouldn't have to
use many more stitches
00:54:35.47\00:54:37.24
to put it back on.
00:54:37.27\00:54:38.84
What's another
one you can think of?
00:54:38.87\00:54:40.21
That's parabolic.
00:54:40.24\00:54:41.58
You may have heard
among your parents.
00:54:41.61\00:54:42.94
You guys know,
don't count your chickens
00:54:46.08\00:54:49.78
before they hatch.
00:54:49.82\00:54:51.39
And how many of you
had chickens to count?
00:54:51.42\00:54:53.66
Well, I did.
00:54:53.69\00:54:55.02
When I lived in Brooklyn,
00:54:55.06\00:54:56.39
we had like 23
chickens in our hallway...
00:54:56.42\00:55:00.33
in Brooklyn.
00:55:00.36\00:55:02.33
But what does that mean?
00:55:02.36\00:55:03.70
What does, don't count
your chickens before...?
00:55:03.73\00:55:05.07
What does that mean?
00:55:05.10\00:55:06.43
Yeah, wait till you
get it and then count it.
00:55:09.97\00:55:13.01
And a wise man keeps the
thing until it comes to pass
00:55:13.04\00:55:16.44
but a foolish
man utters his mind.
00:55:16.48\00:55:18.08
What does that mean?
00:55:18.11\00:55:20.18
Don't blab until
it really happens
00:55:20.22\00:55:21.92
'cause some people say,
00:55:21.95\00:55:23.28
"I'm going to
get this two days."
00:55:23.32\00:55:25.25
And all of a
sudden it falls through,
00:55:25.29\00:55:26.65
"Whatever happened to that thing
00:55:26.69\00:55:28.02
you were talking about?"
00:55:28.06\00:55:29.39
"Well, it didn't work out."
00:55:29.42\00:55:30.76
Wait until it
happens, then talk about it.
00:55:30.79\00:55:33.53
And there's so many wise sayings
00:55:33.56\00:55:35.30
in the Book of proverbs.
00:55:35.33\00:55:37.90
But sometimes,
00:55:37.93\00:55:39.97
the message needs to be hidden.
00:55:40.00\00:55:41.84
And that's what a parable is.
00:55:41.87\00:55:43.27
A parable is not just a saying,
00:55:43.30\00:55:44.64
but a parable is
a hidden message.
00:55:44.67\00:55:46.34
Let's look at this.
00:55:46.37\00:55:48.41
Let's go to...
00:55:48.44\00:55:49.78
This is...
00:55:49.81\00:55:51.15
We just saw...
00:55:51.18\00:55:52.51
Okay, let me go back here.
00:55:52.55\00:55:55.25
Now Matthew...
00:55:55.28\00:55:56.75
I'm going to
apologize for our graphic, guys.
00:55:56.79\00:55:58.72
I didn't give them this
slide but we can look at it.
00:55:58.75\00:56:01.52
Matthew 13.
00:56:01.56\00:56:03.02
So would not
appear on the screen,
00:56:03.06\00:56:04.79
but we can look at it together.
00:56:04.83\00:56:06.49
Let's go to Matthew 13.
00:56:06.53\00:56:07.90
And let's look
at verse 34 and 35.
00:56:11.20\00:56:14.74
Matthew 13:34-35.
00:56:14.77\00:56:18.97
All right.
00:56:19.01\00:56:21.24
And the Bible says,
00:56:21.28\00:56:22.61
"All these things Jesus spoke
to the multitude in," what?
00:56:22.64\00:56:26.72
"In parables.
00:56:26.75\00:56:28.85
And without a parable,
He did not speak to them,
00:56:28.88\00:56:32.45
that it might be
together fulfilled,
00:56:32.49\00:56:35.06
which was spoken by
the prophet saying,"
00:56:35.09\00:56:38.39
here we are now
quoting the very verse,
00:56:38.43\00:56:40.20
"I will open my
mouth in parables.
00:56:40.23\00:56:42.16
I will utter things
which have been kept secret
00:56:42.20\00:56:46.03
from the
foundation of the world."
00:56:46.07\00:56:49.40
What's amazing
about that whole prophecy
00:56:49.44\00:56:51.77
is the reason why Jesus spoke
in parables to the multitude.
00:56:51.81\00:56:56.95
I'll just tell you very
quickly in the interest of time,
00:56:56.98\00:56:59.31
if the people
that were against Him
00:56:59.35\00:57:01.18
knew His plan,
00:57:01.22\00:57:03.18
they would have done
everything to interrupt it.
00:57:03.22\00:57:05.59
So we spoke to the
multitudes in parables.
00:57:05.62\00:57:08.02
But one of the things
you'll find in Matthew 24,
00:57:08.06\00:57:09.89
and we're not
going to turn there,
00:57:09.92\00:57:11.56
it says, "After He
sent the multitudes away,
00:57:11.59\00:57:14.16
after He sent
the multitudes away,
00:57:14.20\00:57:16.40
He revealed to His disciples,
00:57:16.43\00:57:18.93
the things that He spoke in
parables to the multitudes."
00:57:18.97\00:57:22.37
So today, another
way that God communicates
00:57:22.40\00:57:25.51
is not just in parables
00:57:25.54\00:57:27.11
but He also
communicates in prophecy.
00:57:27.14\00:57:30.25
Prophecy has symbols
unfolded by scripture.
00:57:30.28\00:57:33.35
Parables are given so that those
00:57:33.38\00:57:35.58
who may intend to do harm
00:57:35.62\00:57:37.59
to the one carrying out
the work, like Jesus was,
00:57:37.62\00:57:40.89
the message is hidden to them.
00:57:40.92\00:57:42.26
So they did not understand it.
00:57:42.29\00:57:44.33
He did that so His
sayings would be dark to those
00:57:44.36\00:57:47.40
who had ill intent
00:57:47.43\00:57:48.83
but He always
made it known to those
00:57:48.86\00:57:51.67
who are part of
the movement of light.
00:57:51.70\00:57:53.74
And so, friends,
00:57:53.77\00:57:55.10
as you continue
studying this passage, remember,
00:57:55.14\00:57:57.21
if it doesn't make
sense, continue studying
00:57:57.24\00:57:59.37
because one day we know
00:57:59.41\00:58:00.74
it will come
into a sharper focus.
00:58:00.78\00:58:03.18
God bless you.
00:58:03.21\00:58:04.55