God gave 7 prophetic words
around the birth of His Son. Prophecy is God speaking. What was God
speaking at the time of Jesus's birth?
1. Salvation (Zacharias)
Luke 1:67-69 NKJV
67 Now his father Zacharias
was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 “Blessed
is the Lord God of Israel,For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And
has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His
servant David,
Luke 1:76-77 NKJV
76 “And you, child, will be
called the prophet of the Highest;For you will go before the face of the Lord
to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to
His people By the remission of their sins,
Christmas represents
salvation. Jesus means "I am" Savior, or I am God your
Salvation.
2. Favor (Mary)
Luke 1:26-30 NKJV
26 Now in the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to
a virgin (very young) betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel
said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with
you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then
the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with
God.
Favor means Grace.
Christmas is God's time of Grace. Favorite means one on whom favor rests.
God has more than one favorite.
3. Blessed (Elizabeth)
Luke 1:39-45 NKJV
39 Now Mary arose in those
days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and
entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it
happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in
her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then
she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this
granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For
indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe
leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who
believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her
from the Lord.”
Blessed means happy.
Jesus came to make us happy which lasts.
Acts 3:26 NKJV
26 To you first, God,
having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in
turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
I use Explanation,
Amplification, and Illustration when I teach. Different speakers have
different rhythms.
4. Guidance (Joseph)
Matthew 1:19-20 NKJV
19 Then Joseph her husband,
being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to
put her away secretly. 20 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.
Matthew 2:13 NKJV
13 Now when they had
departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,
saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to
Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young
Child to destroy Him.”
Matthew 2:19-23 NKJV
19 Now when Herod was dead,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise,
take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for
those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose,
took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But
when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a
dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 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.”
God's going to guide you.
You don't have to be worried or upset because God's going to guide us. This is
what Christmas means. Guidance Protection Services
=GPS. God speaks to us through His Word, and even in dreams.
5. Joy (Shepherds)
Luke 2:8-10 NKJV
8 Now there were in the
same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock
by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then
the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy which will be to all people.
Jesus is the reason for the
season. Joy is the cause of Joy which does not depend on
circumstances. Satan attacks during tragedies especially during
Christmas. Christians can grieve and rejoice at the same time.
We grieve in hope.
6. Redemption (Anna)
Luke 2:36-38 NKJV
36 Now there was one,
Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of
Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from
her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four
years (you're never too old to be used by God), who did not depart from the
temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And
coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him
to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Redeem means to buy back
again. Read Hosea 1 and 3. Hosea buys a wife out of prostitution
twice. Even when we leave, God is there to redeem us all over
again.
7. Peace (Simeon)
Luke 2:25-29 NKJV
25 And behold, there was a
man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just 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 So he came by 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 depart in peace,According to Your word;
Luke 2:33-35 NKJV
33 And Joseph and His
mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.34 Then Simeon
blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child
is destined for the fall (stumbling) and rising of many in Israel, and for a
sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce
through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Mary begins to realize that
this is going to be tough. Even though it's going to be tough you can
still have peace.
Salvation, Favor, Blessing,
Guidance, Joy, Redemption, Peace
What is the Holy Spirit
saying to me through this message?
Robert Morris, Gateway Church
http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/events/individual-messages-2018/session/2018/12/08/the-seven-words-of-christmas
