AND IT CAME TO BE

 
Newsletter  121                                                January, 4, 2009  

STARTING WITH THIS ISSUE:
The lesson contained in this column will be based on a text from the week's scriptures read during the previous week. In this case, Matthew 1,2,3.

AND IT CAME TO BE

We know that the Gospel of Matthew was written with the Jewish nation in mind because of the many prophecies , that had been made many years before. The non-Jewish world was not aware of these, but every person of Jewish descent was . They were a part of the fabric of his life. It was these very prophecies that prepared this nation for the coming of the Messiah.

Matthew 1:18-25 (King James Version)

18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 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.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”

Matthew 2:24 tells us that this was foretold by the prophet.

Herod was troubled about this prophecy for he was king at that time. This same prophet had also told where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem of Judah, just eight miles from his very throne! “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

Because of this prophecy, the Lord warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to save him, and to fulfill the prophecy “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” God had sent this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so that Jesus might be born there, and then instructed them to flee to Egypt so that, he could be called back to return to Nazareth that he might begin his ministry from Nazareth. “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.“ Matthew 2:23.

God still puts his servants where He plans to use us today.

In so doing, he saved him from the destruction that Herod sent on the whole area of Ramah. “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.” Matthew 2:18 - Jeremiah 31:15.

Before he began his ministry in Galilee, Jesus went to John the Baptist that he might be baptized. John was preaching there also in fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Isaiah 11:2, 42:1.

In the first three chapters of Matthew, there are ten ancient prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, that are fulfilled. And they came to be!
                 _________________

 I PLEDGE TO READ MY BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2009

 JANUARY

4th. Sunday - Genesis 7,8, Matthew 4, Proverbs 1:1-7
5th. Monday - Genesis 9,10, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 4
6th. Tuesday - Genesis 11,12, Matthew 5:27-48, Psalm 5
7th. Wednesday - Genesis 13,14,15, Matthew 6, Psalm 6
 8th. Thursday - Genesis 16,17,18, Matthew 7, Proverbs 1:8-19
9th. Friday - Genesis 19,20, Matthew 8, Psalm 7
10th. Saturday - Genesis 21,22,13, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 8

 LINKS TO OUR BLOG SITES
 
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com/ http://scripturegems.blogspot.com/ http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com/ http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/ http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com/ _________________

PRAISE THE LORD !

We now have 542 blog pages  representing 70 languages.
 _________________

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

"Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Matthew 12:32b
________________

CHRISTIAN GREETINGS FROM:
♥
e-cards@dayspring.com
e-movies@dayspring.com
 _________________
This mailing is now also blogged. Its’ address is http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.com/ As with all our blogs there is opportunity at the bottom of the page for you to ask questions or add comments. I will be notified, and will reply there if a reply is appropriate. Blogs are public, if you want privacy, use the e-mail link in the banner instead.
 _______________

  GOD ♥ YOU
  
HAVE A CHUCKLE

A surgeon, an architect, and a politician were considering the question of whose profession was the oldest.
"I think my line of work would win this one hands down," the surgeon said. "After all, Eve was created from Adam's rib, and that sounds like surgery to me."         

"Maybe," the architect said, "but before Adam, order was created out of chaos. That was architectural accomplishment."
 
"Sure," the politician said. "But before that, someone had to create the chaos."

____________

READ A GOOD BOOK

 
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB
Newsletter  121 V                                                January, 4, 2009  
CLICK HERE TO EMAIL US:
STARTING WITH THIS ISSUE:
The lesson contained in this column will be based on a text from the week's scriptures read during the previous week. In this case, Matthew 1,2,3.
AND IT CAME TO BE
We know that the Gospel of Matthew was written with the Jewish nation in mind because of the many prophecies , that had been made many years before. The non-Jewish world was not aware of these, but every person of Jewish descent was . They were a part of the fabric of his life. It was these very prophecies that prepared this nation for the coming of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:18-25 (King James Version)
18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 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.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Matthew 2:24 tells us that this was foretold by the prophet.
Herod was troubled about this prophecy for he was king at that time. This same prophet had also told where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem of Judah, just eight miles from his very throne! “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Because of this prophecy, the Lord warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to save him, and to fulfill the prophecy “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” God had sent this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so that Jesus might be born there, and then instructed them to flee to Egypt so that, he could be called back to return to Nazareth that he might begin his ministry from Nazareth. “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.“ Matthew 2:23.
God still puts his servants where He plans to use us today.
In so doing, he saved him from the destruction that Herod sent on the whole area of Ramah. “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.” Matthew 2:18 - Jeremiah 31:15.
Before he began his ministry in Galilee, Jesus went to John the Baptist that he might be baptized. John was preaching there also in fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Isaiah 11:2, 42:1.
In the first three chapters of Matthew, there are ten ancient prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, that are fulfilled. And they came to be!
                 _________________
 I PLEDGE TO READ MY BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2009
 JANUARY
4th. Sunday - Genesis 7,8, Matthew 4, Proverbs 1:1-7
5th. Monday - Genesis 9,10, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 4
6th. Tuesday - Genesis 11,12, Matthew 5:27-48, Psalm 5
7th. Wednesday - Genesis 13,14,15, Matthew 6, Psalm 6
 8th. Thursday - Genesis 16,17,18, Matthew 7, Proverbs 1:8-19
9th. Friday - Genesis 19,20, Matthew 8, Psalm 7
10th. Saturday - Genesis 21,22,13, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 8
 LINKS TO OUR BLOG SITES  
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com/ http://scripturegems.blogspot.com/ http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com/ http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/ http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com/ _________________
PRAISE THE LORD !
We now have 542 blog pages  representing 70 languages.
 _________________

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

"Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Matthew 12:32b
________________

CHRISTIAN GREETINGS FROM:
♥
e-cards@dayspring.com
e-movies@dayspring.com
 _________________
This mailing is now also blogged. Its’ address is http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.com/ As with all our blogs there is opportunity at the bottom of the page for you to ask questions or add comments. I will be notified, and will reply there if a reply is appropriate. Blogs are public, if you want privacy, use the e-mail link in the banner instead.
 _______________
  GOD ♥ YOU  
HAVE A CHUCKLE

A surgeon, an architect, and a politician were considering the question of whose profession was the oldest.
         
"I think my line of work would win this one hands down," the surgeon said. "After all, Eve was created from Adam's rib, and that sounds like surgery to me."         

"Maybe," the architect said, "but before Adam, order was created out of chaos. That was architectural accomplishment."  

"Sure," the politician said. "But before that, someone had to create the chaos."

____________

READ A GOOD BOOK


"The Call to Africa"
$12.75 by mail (USA)