She Will Give Birth To A Son, And You Are To Give Him The Name Jesus; He Will Save His People From Their Sins
Do Not Reject Prophecy Nor Angels Nor Visions
MATHEW 1:20-23
“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
”Matthew 1:20-23 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/mat.1.20-23.nkj.
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It would of been very difficult for anyone to believe that the conception and birth of Jesus Christ was a supernatural event. So God sent His angel to speak to Joseph and reassure him that he should not be afraid to take Mary as His wife, for the conception was not of sin, but of the Holy Spirit.
In the same way, it is likely that God sends His angels to bring humanly inconceivable messages to His people today.
Therefore, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”
Hebrews 13:1-2 NKJV
Angels are spiritual beings created by God. Some godly, and some evil, for they turned against God to join the devil; “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV
God uses His godly angels to help carry out His work here on earth.
They bring God’s messages to people (LUKE 1:26), protect God’s people (DANIEL 6:22), they bring encouragement (GENESIS 16:7-11), give guidance (EXODUS 14:19), carry out punishment (2 SAMUEL 24:16), patrol the earth (ZECHARIAH 1-9-14), and support us in battling the forces of evil (2 KINGS 6:16; REVELATION 20:1-2).
The angel told Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call Him JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins and fulfil the words of the prophets which was spoken by God, saying, ““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.””
Matthew 1:23 NKJV.
This is further confirmation that Jesus, which means “the Lord saves” is God in human form; that He was always God, and that He came to save His people from their sins.
God came to earth through the womb of Mary to save His people from the consequences of sin.
He did so out of love for each and every one of us, He wants no one to perish, but for all to come to Him in repentance (2 PETER 3:9). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV
That includes you, however great your sin, whatever your skin colour, place of origin, your sexual orientation, whatever your weaknesses or failings, however useless you might feel, nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
But if we are to put our trust in Jesus, we must build relationship with Him, we cannot possibly put our trust in someone we don’t know.
That means having conversation with Him, and as we get to know Him more, our faith will develop in everything we do.
Therefore, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
To pray without ceasing is to be constantly in communication with Him, speaking and listening and involving Him in everything we do.
Conversation is two way, we believers must have ears that listen.
We hear God in many ways, from within as a gut feeling, for, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Romans 8:16-17 NKJV
God also speaks to us through all kinds of signs and wonders, through people, visions, and dreams, and through His prophets, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7 NKJV
Sadly, many reject prophecy, some in fear of false prophets and teachings, others simply because what they heard doesn’t fit their programs and agendas.
But hearing God through every way He speaks is very important, particularly prophecy. For Christ church stands on the five fold ministry of Christ, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,”
Ephesians 4:11 NKJV
If it’s not Christ five fold ministry and evry part of it, it shall prophet your nothing.
However, my “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”
I John 4:1-3 NKJV
Of course we must discern correctly, but we must not reject prophecy, we need to hear and believe it, to walk and achieve it.
Of course theirs false prophets and we must be careful not to be deceived, but “now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.””
Acts 5:38-39 NKJV
Therefore my beloved, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
I Thessalonians 5:19-28 NKJV
Christmas is upon us, and many say that the Christmas celebrations are not of God, that it is a pagan festival and that believers should not involve.
But the truth is, the celebration of Christmas is a prime example of God using what the devil brought for evil and turned it to good.
Simply through the Christmas celebrations pretty much everyone worldwide has heard the name of Jesus.
Christmas is far more than a celebration of Christ birthday, it is an opportunity to stir up our love for Christ and one another, to give thanks and celebrate His whole life and what He has done for His people.
It is opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with your family and others with your testimony.
My brethren, this Christmas season, whether you celebrate it or not, don’t fight about the wrongs or rights of it, but rather use the seasons opportunities to share the Good News, and make a point of remembering exactly what Christ has done for you and involve Him and praise Him with a thankful heart and be certain He is sitting at the head of your table, that He is not forgotten during any of your celebrations, and that He remains above all in your household.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
