AND THIS SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO YOU

12-24-17 This message may be viewed live streaming video at www.tabernacleofmoses.org commencing today Sunday at 11:00am, and repeated 24/7 for one week; thereafter, the video, audio, and study notes are archived.

The brightness of our revelations depends upon the correctness of our doctrines (our building blocks)

(Luke 2:1-7)  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus [the Roman Emperor], that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem [house of bread] [1]; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused [married] wife, being great with child [i.e., pregnant]. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son [2], and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger [3]; because there was no room for them in the inn.

1.     (John 6:35)  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

a.     (John 6:48)  I am that bread of life. [“shall never hunger”]

b.     (John 7:37,38)  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [“shall never thirst”] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

2.     (Mark 6:3)  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

3.     manger = Dict: a feeding trough, to eat, to chew; for horses or cattle to eat.

(Luke 2:8-14) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch [Gk: guarding] over their flock by night [i.e., during the dark hours when evil abounds]. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory [the Shekinah] of the Lord shone round about [Gk: perilampo perilampo perilampo; to illuminate all around, invest with a halo] [encompassed] them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not [“fear not” 62x; “be not afraid” 28x = 90x: 9 is the number of the Holy Spirit]: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign [Gk: an indication: miracle, token, wonder] unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

(Luke 2:15-20)  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger [3x, the “sign”]. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER AFTER THE BIRTH OF JESUS

(Mat 2:1,2)  Now when Jesus [the King of Faith] was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod [Gk: heroic /// sight] the king [the King of Sight whom the King of Faith has come to replace] [1], behold, there came wise men from the east [ref. the tabernacle of God] to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? [imagine Herod’s reaction to that] for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

1.     (2 Cor 5:7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

(Mat 2:3-6) When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled [Gk: stirred up, agitated], and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

(Mat 2:7,8)  Then Herod, when he had privily [Gk: privately] [i.e., Herod has a plan] called the wise men, enquired of them diligently [Gk: to be exact] [precisely] what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently [Gk: to be exact] [precisely] for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

(Mat 2:9-12)  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary [Heb: rebellious /// bitterness] his mother, and fell down [humbled], and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him [their] gifts [i.e., their sacrifices] [1]; gold [their precious worldly goods], and frankincense [their worship and prayers], and myrrh [their bitterness]. And being warned of God in a dream [2] that they should not return to Herod [i.e., not return to the old life of sight], they departed into their own country another way [3].

1.     (Rom 12:1)  I beseech [Gk: implore] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies [i.e., your greatest treasure] a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2.     (Job 33:14-18)  For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his [evil] purpose [i.e., like Herod’s evil purpose], and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

3.     (John 14:5,6)  [Doubting] Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Amen