CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: GOD WATCHES OVER HIS WORD TO ESTABLISH IT.
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
In the spirit of Christmas, today I want us to talk about something wonderful. And that is. God watches over His word to establish it. If you have yet to read my previous blogs on the Christmas series check them out here and here. He will never promise you anything and fail to deliver. The Bible has proven God’s track record over time. Therefore, you can always rest because if He said it, He will fulfill it. God ordains all your steps and regardless of how things turn out, He will always get you back on track. You will never miss out on what God has for you. His being sovereign means that He will always redirect you when you go astray. This means that everything He has spoken over your life will come to pass.
Table of contents
- How does the verse above tie into the birth of Jesus Christ?
- Jesus would be born of a virgin.
- The Significance and how it proves that God watches over His word to establish it.
- Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and was from the lineage of David.
- How this proves that God watches over His word to establish it.
- Jesus would escape to Egypt
- Jesus would be called a Nazarene
- Key Takeaways that show that God watches over His word to establish it.
The Birth of Jesus is a perfect example of how God watches over His word to establish it. The Prophet Isaiah prophesied the coming Messiah in the book of Isaiah. And when the time was right, God brought it to pass. No wonder the book of Habakkuk tells us to write the vision down and make it plain because, although it tarries, it will surely come to pass. God will never promise you something He cannot fulfill. He is not a man that He should lie. And He never gives false hopes. What promises has God spoken over your life? Today, I want you to keep in mind that God watches over His word to establish it.
How does the verse above tie into the birth of Jesus Christ?
As we approach Christmas, I wonder if you have reflected on the lessons that you can learn surrounding the birth of Jesus. And yes, maybe the thing that pops in your mind is the gift of salvation. And that's amazing. But there is more. But today I want us to look at the details surrounding His birth from a slightly different angle.
The prophets prophesied everything that happened during the birth of Jesus centuries and decades before He was born. And it is funny how things happened exactly as prophesied although at the time it did not look like it. Let us look at some of the prophecies in detail.
Jesus would be born of a virgin.
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah had prophesied through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Jesus would be born of a virgin and in Luke 1 it happened.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
The Significance and how it proves that God watches over His word to establish it.
The significance of this is that God always has a way and a path for you. And also there is nothing impossible with Him. God will help you achieve that which He wants you to. Do not worry about how God will do it. Because as long as He has said it, it will surely come to pass. Maybe God said you would achieve something that looks impossible. And you are wondering how He is going to let it happen. Quit worrying and know that God has it all mapped out. He knew you would do what He is telling you to. And He ordained your path to lead you to the destination He has for you. God will also soften your heart toward the role He has assigned you. Mary knew that because she was not married, her pregnancy would lead to ostracism and ridicule too.
Who would believe that a virgin could conceive? Certainly, no one would. But Because God had assigned that role to her, her heart was softened towards it and she accepted the role. No wonder it is said that when God gives you a role, He will equip you for it. Sometimes the equipping could be just saying yes. It does not matter how unqualified you feel for the task that God has set out for you, He has already qualified for it.
Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and was from the lineage of David.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah
Micah prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and in Luke 2, the prophesy was fulfilled
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
How this proves that God watches over His word to establish it.
What we can learn from this prophecy is that God’s word will never go back to Him void. God watches over His word to establish it. Joseph and Mary did not even live in Bethlehem. But a census ensued around the time of Jesus’ birth and both Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. because Joseph- Mary’s husband was of the lineage of David. God had given David a promise that his lineage would always be on the throne. And with Jesus now resurrected, He is now a king who will forever be on the throne.
When God told David that there would always be a king on the throne from his lineage, David might not have known how it would happen. And maybe David thought it meant that his lineage would always be on the throne. But God had an even greater plan, the plan being that God would raise a king whose kingdom they would never take away from Him. No one can take Jesus’ kingdom from Him because He emerged victorious when He defeated the jaws of sin and death. After His resurrection, God seated Him at His right hand and gave Him authority over everything under the sun and in the heavens.
Jesus would be a King, priest, and Prophet, and how it proves that God watches over His word to establish it.
The wise men brought gifts to Jesus when they came to see Him. Each gift had a meaning that identified Jesus as the king, priest, and prophet.
Frankincense = High Priest of God
Frankincense is an aromatic, clear resin obtained from trees in northern India and Arabia. It is used in incense and perfumes and was treasured for its aroma and healing properties. Frankincense was an ingredient used in the Lord’s sanctuary as part of the offering and as a sweet savor (incense). Frankincense is also a symbol of prayer. Because of its use in the Temple, frankincense is considered to be emblematic of Jesus’ office as a Priest of God. It is also symbolic of the priest’s work in offering the prayers of the people to the Lord, The gift of frankincense, given by one of the wise men, pointed to the work of Jesus as a Priest of God, who ministered for three and one-half years to the people.
Myrrh = Prophet of God
Myrrh was a spice used for medicine, cosmetics, and anointing oil. It was mixed into the oil that was used to anoint prophets for the divinely appointed work of revealing God and communicating His will and words to His people. Jesus came to the nation of Israel (Matthew 15:24) and He came as a Prophet in fulfillment of a prophecy of Moses:
Jesus also confirmed His office as a Prophet by His works:
- As a Prophet, Jesus did the will of the Father: John 4:34 Jesus said unto them, My meat [food] is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work.
- As a Prophet, Jesus did the work of the Father: Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father…
- Being a Prophet, Jesus spoke the words of the Father: John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them…I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
The gift of myrrh also takes on another representation. In addition to anointing prophets, they used oil in the anointing of the dead. The wise men presented Myrrh to Jesus at His birth, pointing to His life as a Prophet. And at His death, myrrh anointed His body for the grave.
What Is The True Meaning Of Christmas?
Read also: 3 Signs that prove you don’t have faith.
Gold = Kingship of God
Gold in the Bible is symbolic of God. It represents the most precious of metals and is extremely rare in its purest form. The intrinsic value of gold has been established since ancient times and gold was used to honor kings. King Solomon had an ivory throne overlaid with the best gold (1 Kings 10:18). The furniture of the Tabernacle features gold, symbolically pointing to Christ and His deity.
They constructed the Ark of the Covenant of acacia wood (symbolic of Jesus’ humanity) and overlaid it with gold (symbolic of His divinity). They made the mercy seat and two cherubim of pure gold (Exodus 25:10-21). Since gold represents God, it’s no surprise that the people at the time created many idols and false gods of gold. Because gold is a pure and valuable metal, it is also associated with God’s precepts, principles, and promises—all of which are perfect and pure and supersede any that are set by man.
The gift of gold, given by one of the wise men, pointed to the begotten Son who was given by God to be King of His people. This wise man’s gift proclaimed Jesus to be King at birth (Matthew 2:2), as did others during His life:
How during His ministry people identified Jesus as king.
- Jesus proclaimed Himself as King:
- Some of the people proclaimed Jesus King:
- Pilate proclaimed Jesus, King: John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Jesus would escape to Egypt
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son. Hosea 11
Because King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, the Angel warned Joseph in a dream and he fled to Egypt.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Mathew 2
Jesus would be called a Nazarene
The prophecies surrounding Jesus being born in Bethlehem prove He would be a Nazarene and God fulfilled this in the book of Mathew.
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Key Takeaways that show that God watches over His word to establish it.
God will always keep His promise. God watches over His word to establish it. What has God spoken over your life.? I want you to know that He will surely fulfill it. He is not a man that He should lie. Hold on to all the promises He has spoken over you and know that although it may tarry, it will surely come to pass.
Even when things work against you, God will always redeem them to work in your favor and bring you to your intended destination. Because of the census, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This is just one example. Do situations seem to work against you? I want you to stay encouraged because God will orchestrate everything to work out for your good. He always has a way out for you and He makes a way even in the wilderness. God has a brilliant plan for your life. He loves you. Never forget that.
Anytime the enemy tries to discourage you, I want you to remind Him that God watches over His word to establish it. And He will never promise you something He has no intention of fulfilling. And the best part is that He is faithful even when we are faithless because He cannot deny Himself. God is true to His word and He always keeps His promises.
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Radiantly Resurging
Mercy is the author and founder of radiantly resurging. She is a Christian and having gone through the wilderness season, she decided to impart the knowledge learned to help others navigate their wilderness season too
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