12/18 Luke 2:6-7
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
REAL
This is a real event. God sent His son who would live like the most of us, the poor of us, and still live a life without sin. Remember the poor. We are called to help the Lord take care of them. Praise the Lord.
12/17 Luke 2:4-5
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
TAXES
Who would have thought taxes would be part of the Jesus birth narrative, but it is. The Lord can use anything to accomplish His purposes including you and me. Bless the Holy Name of the Lord. Praise His for all His wonderful greatness.
12/16 Luke 2:1-3
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.
BEGINNING
The prophesy begins the process of fulfillment. We will study it this Christmas. Jesus coming was foretold over several hundred years by multiple authors in the Old Testament. He is Lord and is Lord over all things including time and circumstance.
12/15 Matthew 8:28-34
When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area. 29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” 30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” 32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.
OVER
Jesus is over all things. He commands and the demons shake and obey. He is able to deal with your situation. Talk with Him. Ask Him for His help. The Lord values you.
12/14 Matthew 8:21
Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. ” 23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
SON
He is the Son. The Son of God. Listen to Him. Obey Him. Jesus is Lord.
12/13 Matthew 8:18-20
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
HOME
Jesus knew where His home was and He knew he was just passing through. We need to be careful about what we put our heart and soul into because we too are just passing through. This world is not our home. The Father has a place prepared for us and it is our eternal home.
12/12 Matthew 8:16-17
That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”
SICK
We live in a sinful, sick work. Jesus heals the sick, removes our diseases and makes us whole. He is at work in the world today seeking and saving the lost. When we have spiritual sickness and physical sickness we go to Jesus. He is Lord.
12/11 Matthew 8:14-15
When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. 15 But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
JESUS
Jesus came to Earth to save us from our sin. He paid the price for our sin and provided a way for us to regain family membership in the Family of God. Jesus is Lord. He provided for Peter’s mother-in-law and He will provide for you.
12/10 Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6“Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
BELIEVE
Believe in the Lord. Believe that He will do what He says. Rejoice, Jesus loves you.
12/09 Matthew 8:1-4
Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
YES
Yes, Lord, I want to be healed. Do you? Ask Him to heal you, plead your case and He will do the right thing. We seldom know what the right thing is but the Lord always knows the right thing to do and He will do it. Commit yourself to live with the Lord’s decision and continue with your life. All good things come from Him. Trust in Him. He is a rewarder of those who believe in Him and obey Him.
