I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY: GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

12-25-16 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 audio and notes without video are archived.

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

 

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

(Mat 1:18-25)  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise [Gk: on this way]: When as his mother Mary [Heb: rebellious /// bitterness] was espoused [engaged] to Joseph [Heb: let him add (adding)], before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just [Gk: righteous] man, and not willing to make her a publick [public] example, was minded to put her away privily [Gk: privately, secretly]. But while he [Joseph] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of [king] David, fear not to take unto thee Mary [as] thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [Heb: Jehovah-saved]: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did [(obedience)] as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not [intimately, sexually] till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

 

(Luke 2:1-7)  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, 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 [Heb: house of bread]; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered [Gk: born, bring forth]. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes [Gk: strips (of cloth)], and laid him in a manger [Gk: (to eat); a crib (for fodder): stall] [for domesticated animals only]; because there was no room for them in the inn.

1.     (John 6:48) I am that bread of life. (John 6:51) “if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever”

 

THE SHEPHERDS (THE FIRST TO SEE JESUS)

(Luke 2:8-20)  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding [Gk: camping out] in the field, keeping watch [Gk: guarding] over their flock by night [i.e., in the surrounding darkness]. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them [Gk: to illuminate all around, invest with a halo]: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: 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 [Bethlehem] a Saviour [Gk: a deliverer], which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign [Gk: indication: miracle, 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. 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. 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 [i.e., pastors]. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [Gk: considered] 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.

 

THE WISE MEN (FURTHER AWAY, BUT COMING TO JESUS)

(Mat 2:1-23)  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod [Heb: heroic /// a view; form: appearance, shape, sight] the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, 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 [Gk: anointed; the Messiah] 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. Then Herod, when he had privily [Gk: privately, secretly] called the wise men, enquired of them diligently [Gk: to be exact] what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 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 his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense [tree sap], and myrrh [perfumed oil] [these three gifts summarize the nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:1-11)]. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [Biblically, the land of the unsaved], and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked [fooled] of the wise men, was exceeding wroth [Gk: enraged], and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

 

WISE MEN, THEN AND NOW

(1 Cor 10:15-17)  I speak as to wise men [Gk: thoughtful men]; judge ye what I say. The [wine] cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [Gk: partnership: fellowship] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1.     (John 6:48) I am that bread of life. (John 6:51) “if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever

2.     (Mat 26:27,28)  And he took the cup [of wine], and gave thanks [to Father God], and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed [Gk: to pour forth: gush (pour) out] for many for the remission [Gk: forgiveness] of sins.

 

HOLY COMMUNION

(1 Cor 11:23-30)  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed [syn: be disloyal to] took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup [of wine], when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew [Gk: proclaim: declare, preach, teach] the Lord's death till he come [His second coming]. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily [Gk: irreverently /// unfit], shall be guilty [i.e., not forgiven] of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily [Gk: irreverently /// unfit], eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning [Gk: to separate thoroughly; (not) discriminating] the Lord's body [from the world]. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [Gk: be dead].

1.     (Prov 4:20-22)  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

 

 

 

Amen