Key Scriptures: Genesis 3:1–20, 5:2; 1 John 2:16; Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 12:10
- Salvation (Zacharias):
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The name of Jesus? Meaning? Significance?
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2. Favor (Mary)
Scripture(s): ______________________________________________
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3. Blessed (Elizabeth)
Scripture(s): ______________________________________________
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4. Guidance (Joseph)
Scripture(s): ______________________________________________
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5. Joy (Shepherds)
Scripture(s): ______________________________________________
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6. Redemption (Anna)
Scripture(s): ______________________________________________
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7. Peace (Simeon)
Scripture(s): ______________________________________________
What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this message?
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Seven Voices of Christmas Prophecy
Today, I would like to teach you seven words prophesied connecting us to Jesus’ birth. Now, through the word of God, the Holy Spirit, gave most of these words to Pastor Robert Morris. He is a Pastor of a large church in Southlake Texas. The seven words are as follows: Salvation, favor, blessing, direction, joy, redemption, and peace. These prophetic words are all gifts that God desires for us to understand. These words will renew our mind and prepare us for the new year. So, I encourage you to read the Christmas story. Today, we are going to camp out in Luke chapter one and Matthew chapter one and two.
| There are several key scriptures for today and they are as follows: Genesis 3:1–20, 5:2; 1 John 2:16; Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 12:10 |
What was the prophecy in these scriptures? Well, prophecy means God is speaking. So, our question for today is: “what is God saying to us?”
Our first word of prophecy for today is SALVATION.
Here in Luke we see that God gave this prophecy to Zacharias. This Zacharias was the father of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was born about six months before Jesus. So, that makes John the Baptist 6 months older than Jesus.
Zacharias was married to Elizabeth. Both of them were past the age of child birth. Medically that means Elizabeth was older than 55. She was called barren in scripture. In fact, Zacharias was very clever in speaking, because he said he was old, but said his wife was advanced in years. He prayed for his wife to have a baby. While, he was in the temple an angle appeared to him and told him that his prayers were answered. He was struck with not be able to speak until his baby was born, because he did not believe the message.
Alright, let’s pick up in Zechariah’s Prophecy in: Luke 1:67–77
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
(Now the words blessed and redeemed are also found in other prophecies, but here our question is: ““what is God saying to us this holiday season?”)
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
Notice the prophetic word salvation in verse 68 and 77. In 68 it’s the horn of salvation and in 77 it’s the goal of bringing salvation to all people.
Strong’s accord describes salvation as God’s rescue which delivers believers out of destruction and into His safety. However, what’s important for us to take away today is that when we think of Christmas that we know “Salvation came into the world.” Let’s not forget that Salvation for the remission of our sins is the main message of Christmas!”
Now, the name of the baby sent into the world is Jesus. The name of Jesus means salvation. Jesus’ name in Hebrew is rendered as Yeshua; which means: “I am the God who saves.” In the Greek language Yeshua is rendered Jesus. His birth made a way for us to be saved. It’s not just to go to heaven. We are saved from our old sinful lives, from the bondage we were in, that we may walk in freedom with Him!
One more point here…. Yeshua means “ I am the God who saves.” So, Jesus said:
“I am…”
“I am the bread of life. (John 6:35).
“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12).
“I am the door.” (John 10:9).
“I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11).
“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25).
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1).
These were very important statements and the Sadducees and Pharisees sought to kill Jesus, because He was claiming that He was God and rightfully so. Jesus was actually saying: I am God the bread of life, I am God the door, I am God the good Shepherd, I am God the light, the truth, and the way, and I am God the resurrection and the life.
So, the first word of prophecy is Salvation the second word of prophecy is FAVOR.
Luke 1:26–30
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[b] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[c] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Notice twice the word favor was mentioned in those scriptures. We all know that grace is unmerited favor from God. However, in the Greek language grace was rendered favor. So, we see here that God gave Mary grace and favor among all women. God gave favor not Mary. She was the recipient.
According to Gen. 6:8 8 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
This is the season God wanted us to understand the prophecy of Salvation and Grace. In these scriptures God is speaking Grace and Salvation through His son Jesus. Salvation and grace is the foundation of the gospel.
Therefore, the word for favor is more frequently translated as grace. Jesus’ birth meant the extension of grace and favor to the whole world. For example, I have three teens, but the two girls argue about who is the favorite a lot especially when it comes to grandma. Elainna clams to be momaw’s favorite; while, Julie claims to be the favorite. What they do not realize is that their can be more than one favorite. If you look at the people in the world; who would be God’s favorite. That’s right, the ones who He has given grace too. All of the saints are God’s favorite. His people as a whole compared to the rest of the world are His favorite.
Our third prophetic word is BLESSING!
It is delivered to us through Elizabeth. This is another time in scripture that God choose the woman to be the prophetess. We read here that she was filled with the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost speaks; just as, the preachers and teachers we have today.
Luke 1:39–45
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
The curse Satan had placed on women was now reversed with the blessed birth of Jesus Christ. The entry of Jesus into the world releases blessing on all who believe; i.e., men and women alike.
The Greek word for blessed means happy. If we look outside the walls of the church we see a bunch of unfulfilled and unhappy people. Today, more and more people are isolated and depressed. People are in search of nothing, but happiness. They spend money on having a jubilee of a time, but that time runs out. The ruler of this world can make you happy for a season but the true blessedness comes from only Jesus. Jesus came into this cruel world to give us happiness. He is the ultimate fulfillment of our search for happiness.
We find this notion in Acts 3:26 [‘King James Version} 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Today, we see that the promise of an easy, prosperous life on earth often draws a bigger crowd than the chance to be reconciled with God. But, if you want true happiness and true blessings you must have a relationship with Jesus Christ. James 1:17, {KJV} tells us the following: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” .
Our next prophecy word is number 4 and it’s DIRECTION or Guidance.
Matthew 1:19–20, 2:13–23
Matthew 1:19-20
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
– This was direct directions was from the Lord. Today, direction from the Lord is given many different ways.
Acts 2:17-20 King James Version Says it this way:
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
Jesus came so that we could have guidance every day! He still speaks through dreams and through His Word, leading and guiding us by His Holy Spirit.
Again in Matthew 2:13-23 God gives Joseph directions. The English Standard Version puts their Flight to Egypt this way:
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Oh this is good. While, God sent His son Jesus into the world, He had us on His mind. The life of Jesus gave us nothing but direction for our lives. During this Christmas season and throughout the new year we don’t have to fret or have anxiety, because Jesus sent the comforter into the world to give us direction. No matter what God is going to guide us. He will tell us what do when we do not know what to do. I’m thankful that God gave me the directions to this church. He also told me where to send my kids to school. God is there for every step we have to take. He knows what we are going through, because Jesus was born in a manger and He grew up. Jesus was sent so He could direct us to salvation and to redemption; so, everyday He could bless us with favor, joy, and peace.
5. Our fifth word of prophecy is Joy
Then in Luke 2:8-10 God gives direction and Joy to the shepherds in the field. According to the English Standard Version the account reads this way…
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Joy is not based on our circumstances. In this life Scripture warns us that we will experience difficulty, but Jesus is the reason we can go through those difficulties and still have joy!
The difference between joy and happiness is that we can have joy through our challenges, but the emotion of happiness is absent. The minute that trouble comes into our life happiness fleas.
• For example, we are not happy when we lose a job,
• we are not happy when we parked from a friend,
• we are not happy when death occurs and we are certainly not happy when travesty hits.
However, we can still have joy through those events in our life. I still have true joy in my faith, because I know my future is secure with the Heavenly Father.
We can rejoice in all things that are eternal.
• We can rejoice, because our name is written in the book of life.
• We can have joy, because well have a new name and a new body in glory land.
• We can have joy in knowing that through the blood of Jesus Christ we have a home heaven.
My friends, this is why Paul says rejoice always. This is why a Christian should always have a smile on their face. Therefore, this is why a Christian is blessed beyond measure.
Our 6. Word of prophecy is: Redemption
Luke 2:36-38
English Standard Version
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[a] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
God is not limited by our age, our qualifications, our sin, etc. Jesus paid the price to redeem us, to buy us back in full, to restore to us all that sin has stolen. Even if we fall away from Him, God loves us and came to redeem us.
Our 7th word of prophecy is: Peace
Luke 2:25-35
English Standard Version
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Even though we have all sinned, we have peace with God through Jesus. Peace is not determined by our circumstances. We can experience turmoil and pain yet still have peace through Him. God used Simeon and Anna to introduce Jesus to His people. This was truly a day of great celebration and hope for the future.
From our birth we are separated from God. We are born into this old sinful world at war with God. How does God make peace with humankind? – through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only way to end this war is to be reconciled to God. We are reconciled to God through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. Once, we are able to plead the blood of Jesus Christ over our life; then, we have true peace with God. Only Christians can understand this type of peace.
However, when I consider a family member who is not saved I realize their behavior is a result of not having true peace and they have no idea about the concept. Until you have had your sins we washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ you cannot feel the sin being unloaded. Until you’ve given your heart soul and body to Christ you do not feel free. Its only understood when we have accepted the sacrifice that Jesus Christ paid for us. At regeneration we experience and understand true peace.
Moreover, from a preacher’s standpoint: “God sent his only begotten son into the world karma to live a simple life, to be blameless, born of a virgin, crucified, died, and rose again on the third day.” This is god‘s plan of salvation his G.P.S.” Everyone has to come to God with a willing and broken Spirit. They must accept the gospel, repent, turn from their sin, and allow God to be their Lord and Savior. Christmas was just the beginning for Jesus and it can be a new beginning for some of you! Give yourself and your kin the best gift ever and that is the peace of mind that knowing: the family circle will be completed in heaven!
As we sing the next carol-please come! Jesus is calling! Jesus is waiting!
Yes, this is the peace that God made and supplied for us through Jesus Christ his son and it began on Christmas. This prophecy of peace was set up for each and every person! Peace, therefore, is a God thing! Peace begins and ends with God. God created it and he sustains it.
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