Christmas Prophecies

• Probability vs absolute truth
• 12 3 4 5 6 = 10
• 12+3-4+5-6=10

 

• Aristotle. - “To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is and of what is not that it is not is true.”
• C. S. Peirce. – “The object of reasoning is to find out, from the consideration of what we already know, something else which we do not know. Consequently, reasoning is good if it be such as to give a true conclusion from true premises, and not otherwise.”
• W. Blake – “Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believed.”

 

• Because of our limitations in this world, we are forced to draw conclusions and make decisions based on the likelihood the knowledge we possess is true, and not on the absolute certainty it is true.
• More specifically, we base the level of credibility of knowledge we obtain (in any given situation) using probability — not certainty.
• It is practical and serves us well.
• The alternative way of conducting our lives would be impractical, paralyzing, and most likely impossible —   any sort of progress would be anyway.

 
Promised through the Seed of a Woman
Genesis 3:15
15 I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her seed. [1]
Galatians 4:4-5
4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.[2]
 
Promised before Jewish Judicial Power was lost
Genesis 49:10
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah
or the staff from between his feet
until He whose right it is comes
and the obedience of the peoples belongs to Him.[3]

• If Jesus was born around 4 BC… Jews didn’t lose judicial power until the Roman courts took over in 7 AD.
• Jewish Sanhedrin could no longer pronounce the death penalty.

 
Promised through the Seed of Abraham
Genesis 22:18
(15) Then an angel of the Lord called to Abraham…
18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command.” [4]
Matthew 1:1
1 The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:[5]
 
Promised through the Seed of a line of Jewish Patriarchs
Genesis 21:12 – Line of Isaac
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be concerned about the boy and your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your offspring will be traced through Isaac[6][7]
 
Jeremiah 23:5-6 – Line of David
5 “The days are coming” —this is the Lord’s declaration--
“when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David.
He will reign wisely as king
and administer justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely.
This is what He will be named:
Yahweh Our Righteousness. [8]
 
Isaiah 11:1-2 – Line of Jesse
1 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him --
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. [9]
 
Numbers 24:17 – Line of Jacob
17 I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel. [10]
 
Micah 5:2 – Line of Judah
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
One will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for Me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from eternity.[11]
 
Luke 3:31-34
31 son of Nathan, son of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6),
32 son of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-2), son of Obed,
son of Boaz, son of Salmon,
son of Nahshon, 33 son of Amminadab,
son of Ram, son of Hezron,
son of Perez, son of Judah, (Micah 5:2)
34 son of Jacob (Number 24:17), son of Isaac (Genesis 21:12), [12]
 
Born in Bethlehem
Micah 5:2
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
One will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for Me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from eternity.[13]
Matthew 2:1
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, [14]
 - 2 Bethlehem’s – Sea of Galilee & near Jerusalem.
 
Born of a Virgin
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.[15]
Matthew 1:18
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.[16]
 
Worshipped by Shepherds
Psalm 72:9
9 May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust. [17]
Luke 2:8-12
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” [18]
 
Presented Gifts by Kings who Worshipped Him
Psalm 72:10-11
10 May the kings of Tarshish
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11 Let all kings bow down to him,
all nations serve him. [19]
Matthew 2:11
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh[20]
 
Weeping for Children wo will be Killed
Matthew 2:16-18
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 (Jeremiah31:15) A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she refused to be consoled,
because they were no more.[21]
 
Flight to Egypt
Hosea 11:1
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son. [22]
 Matthew 2:13-14
13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and His mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.[23]
 
Son of God
Psalm 2:7
7 I will declare the Lord’s decree:
He said to Me, “You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.[24]
 Matthew 3:17
17 And there came a voice from heaven:
This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him! [25]
 
Called the Lord
Psalm 110:1
1 This is the declaration of the Lord
to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”[26]
 Luke 2:11
17 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.[27]
 
Jesus’ Pre-Existence
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.[28]
 Colossians 1:17
17 He is before all things,
and by Him all things hold together. [29]
 
Shall Be Immanuel (God With Us)
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.[30]
Matthew 1:23
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name Him Immanuel, [31]
 

• These cannot all come to pass by chance.
• In 1969, Professor Peter Stoner took eight of those prophecies, eight of them...born in Bethlehem, preceded by a messenger, riding on a donkey, betrayed by a friend, sold for 30 pieces of silver, money used to buy a potter's field, silent as a lamb, hands and feet pieced.
• Had his math students do a study of the science of probability. They came up with one chance in ten to the seventeenth power...that's one chance in ten with seventeen zeroes after it.
• And interestingly enough, some years later his grandson went back to the problem and decided it was actually ten to the eighteenth power. I'm not sure where that distinction lies.
• Cover Texas with silver dollars… have a blind man pick 1 pre-marked silver dollar out of the whole bunch.

 
But here is the “proof in the pudding.” (You have to eat the pudding to know what is in it.)
Colossians 1:27
27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.[32]

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 3:15). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 4:4–5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 49:10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 22:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 21:12). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 22:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Je 23:5–6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 11:1–2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Nu 24:17). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mic 5:2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 3:31–34). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mic 5:2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 2:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 7:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[17] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ps 72:9). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[18] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 2:8–12). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[19] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ps 72:10–11). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[20] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 2:11). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[21] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 2:16–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[22] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ho 11:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[23] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 2:13–14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[24] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ps 2:7). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[25] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 3:17). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[26] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ps 110:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[27] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 2:11). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[28] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 9:6–7). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[29] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Col 1:17). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[30] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 7:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[31] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:23). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[32] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Col 1:27–28). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

The ABCs of Christmas from Luke 2
A - Angels from the realms of glory, Telling of the Christmas story.
B - Bethlehem beckons with joyful accord; Come hither, come see and worship the Lord.
C - Christ was born on Christmas Day, Asleep in a manger, a bed made of hay.
D - Divine and holy is Thy Birth; Angels give flight o'er all the earth.
E - Everlasting Father Lord of all, Look with mercy and love on us all.
F - "Fear not," said the angel, one night long ago. "I bring good tidings, to earth below."
G - "Glory to the Son," we sing, "Christ is our Prophet, Priest and King."
H - Heavenly hosts, their watch are keeping, Precious child so sweetly sleeping,
I - Immanuel, we sing Thy praise, Thou Prince of Life, Thou Fount of Grace.
J - Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Born in a manger, God's only Son.
K - King of Kings, prophets foretold, Now all men His love behold.
L - Love is a gift He gives to all. To each of us, both great and small.
M - Messiah and Savior--for this He came-- Live in our hearts and there remain.
N - Night so holy, silent and still, Proclaiming joy, peace and good will.
O - Odors of Edom and offerings divine, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine.
P - Peace on earth, good will from heaven, Souls redeemed and sins forgiven.
Q - Quietly He came to earth To give us all a second birth.
R - Rejoice, give thanks and loudly sing, Glory to the New-born King.
S - Shepherds watched their flocks by night While Wise Men followed the heavenly light.
T - Tidings of great joy I bring; Good news from heaven the angels sing.
U - Unto us a Child is born On this happy Christmas Morn.
V - Virgin-born, Immanuel, Let every tongue Thy praises tell.
W - Wise Men from the East, they came To worship and praise His holy name.
X - X is for Christ when in Greek it is read, A Savior, the Lord, so the angel said.
Y - Yonder shines brightly the heavenly star Showing the way to those from afar.
Z - Zeal was bestowed on God's only Son From His childhood years till His work was done.
(Donna O'Briant ©1997 Compliments of Joni and Friends PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376 www.joniandfriends.org)

There is a verse that for me sums up the real meaning of Christmas better than any verse in the Bible.
 
It is just one verse tucked away in a forgotten corner of the New Testament.
2 Corinthians 8:9 - "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.”
 
That sentence sums up the great truth behind Jesus’ birth.
 
  A — He Was Rich
Forbes list of the 400 richest people in America. Here’s the top 13 from that list:
1. Bill Gates
Net Worth: $81B
Source of wealth: Microsoft
2. Jeff Bezos
Net Worth: $67B
Source of wealth: Amazon.com
3. Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $65.5B
Source of wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
4. Mark Zuckerberg
Net Worth: $55.5B
Source of wealth: Facebook
5. Larry Ellison
Net Worth: $49.3B
Source of wealth: Oracle
6. Michael Bloomberg
Net Worth: $45B
Source of wealth: Bloomberg LP
7. Charles Koch
Net Worth: $42B
Source of wealth: diversified
7. David Koch
Net Worth: $42B
Source of wealth: diversified
9. Larry Page
Net Worth: $38.5B
Source of wealth: Google
10. Sergey Brin
Net Worth: $37.5B
Source of wealth: Google
11. Jim Walton
Net Worth: $35.6B
Source of wealth: Wal-Mart
12. S. Robson Walton
Net Worth: $35.5B
Source of wealth: Wal-Mart
13. Alice Walton
Net Worth: $35.4B
Source of wealth: Wal-Mart
 
After further perusing the entire list, I can report two things to you:

1. I am not on that list.
2. I don’t know anyone who is.

I know some wealthy people, but I don’t know any billionaires. You see, there are several categories of richness.
- The Average Rich fly first class.
- The Medium Rich charter a jet.
- The Super Rich own the jet.
- The Incredibly Rich own the airline.
- But Jesus Christ owns the skies.
- When the Bible says, "He was rich," it is speaking of what he had before he left heaven to come to earth.
 - All the glory of God radiates from him (Hebrews 1:3). - He shared glory with the Father before the world began (John 17:5).
- All things were created through him (John 1:3).
- All things hold together in him (Colossians 1:17).
- He upholds all things (Hebrews 1:3).
- He is the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5).
- Before he was born, he was the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6).
 
Luke 2:11 tells us the true identity of the babe in the manger: “For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord”.

Suppose you thought about it this way: Take the ten richest men and women who ever lived . . .
And the ten most powerful rulers who ever ruled . . . Add the ten wisest men who pondered life's questions. Throw in the mightiest generals who ever went to battle . . .
Add the ten ten strongest athletes in every sport . . . And the ten most mesmerizing orators . . .
Plus the ten greatest political leaders . . .
And any ten other great men and women left on the earth . . .
Throw in ten top Super Heroes
Calculate their accumulated wealth . . . power . . . influence . . . skill . . . genius . . . wisdom . . . insight . . . ability.
Whatever that vast sum comes to, Jesus had more in heaven.
-No man or collection of men could come close to him.
- He was rich.
- He didn't leave heaven in search of riches.
- All the money in the universe was his for the asking.
- Theologians speak of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ. That simply means that before Bethlehem, the Son of God existed from all eternity in heaven.
- Not as a pauper or a beggar, but in glorious splendor. That's the A of the ABC's of Christmas--He Was Rich.
- But that is only part of the story. Christmas begins with what happens next.
 
  B — He Became Poor
What does it mean? He was rich in eternity. He became poor in time.
He left heaven for a remote village in a forgotten province, to join a despised race, to be born of an obscure teenage peasant girl in a stable, wrapped in rags, placed in a feeding trough instead of a crib.
This much we all know.
-But notice the verb—He became poor. Not, he was made poor. That's what happens to us. We are made poor by circumstances.
- But he himself, of his own free will, became poor. That's something we would never do.
- He voluntarily gave up the riches of heaven for the poverty of earth.
- He who was richer than any man has ever been gave it up freely and became poorer than any man has ever been.
- We understand riches. And we understand poverty. But to choose poverty is beyond us and something we would never do. 
- But that is the heart of the gospel. The richest person in the universe, of his own free will, became poorer than the poor.

-Theologians also have a word for this. They call it the incarnation.
-The idea comes from John 1:14 which says, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." I love how The Message puts it: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”
-Jesus left the glories of heaven to move into our neighborhood and become just like us.
-He knows what we’re going through because he has lived here himself.

-In what sense did Christ become poor?
- He left the glories of heaven for the sadness of earth. - He stooped to enter the world through a mother’s womb.
- He became a dependent creature.
- He endured rejection and ridicule.
- He refused to return evil for evil.
- He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Read this from Ray Pritchard:
Two thousand years ago, a man was born contrary to the laws of life. He lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He was the child of a peasant woman and worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was 30. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home, never wrote a book, never held public office. He never went to college and never set foot in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born.
He possessed none of the usual traits that accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. In his infancy he startled a king; in childhood he puzzled doctors; in manhood he ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if on pavement, and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for his service.
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed on a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth—his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed tomb.

-Why would Jesus choose to live this way? The answer is simple and profound. He became like us because that was the only way he could save us.
- He didn't mail a letter or shout from heaven.
- He did the one thing we could understand. God himself came down and entered the human race.
- He became poor like us so that forever we would hear him saying, "I love you."
- No one forced him to do this. No one took the crown of heaven from his brow.
- No one removed him from the throne.
- No one stripped him of his royal robes.
- He removed his crown of glory that he might wear the crown of thorns.
- He left his heavenly throne that he might lie in a feeding-trough.
- He exchanged his royal robes for swaddling clothes.
- No one forced poverty upon him.
- He gave up the glories of heaven for the misery of earth that we might share the glories of heaven with him. 
- If Christ had been born in a palace, the poor would always wonder if God cared about them.
- If Christ had been born with the riches of the world, we would think he took advantage of being God’s Son.
 
- What do we see at Bethlehem?
- A frightened father, an exhausted mother, a dirty stable in wintertime, swaddling clothes and a feeding trough.
- There he is, ignored by the mighty and powerful—the Deity in Diapers.
- Immanuel—God with us. It's so simple that you know it must be true.
- Only God would have done it that way. That's the B of the ABC's of Christmas—He Became Poor There is one more truth about Christmas we must know if we are to discover the true meaning of this day.
 
C  — That We Might Become Rich
Here is the purpose of Christmas. He came so that we who were poor might become rich. How does that happen?
Abraham was credited grace.
We were given the gift of grace.
All the grace of God is available to me by virtue of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Think of it. All the riches . . . all the power . 
- All the prestige of his good name is mine.
- But someone will say, "You don't deserve that."
- Indeed I didn't. That's the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. If I deserved it, I wouldn't need Jesus. But through my life in Jesus Christ & Jesus Christ in me, suddenly I am a rich man.
 
- The theologians have a word for this as well. They call it the doctrine of imputation. It's what happens when I come to Jesus Christ.
- He takes my sin, and I take his righteousness. I don't earn it; it is imputed to me. It is gifted to my account. That's grace by association.
- When I come to Jesus Christ, I come as a pauper in the spiritual realm. My hands are empty, my pockets bare, I have nothing to offer, no claim to make.
- All my good works are as filthy rags; my resume is filled with failure.
- All my life I have gone two steps forward and three steps back.
 
-But when I come to Christ, I am fed, clothed, filled, forgiven, crowned with every good thing. He takes away my rags and puts around me the robe of his righteousness.
- Everything that was against me is gone.
- Everything I lacked, I now have.
- Once I was poor. Now I am rich.
- That's the grace of God.
- And it happened because of Christmas.
- He who was rich became poor for my sake that I through his poverty might become rich.
- Most of us don’t feel rich. I have already mentioned that my name is nowhere on the list of billionaires. But what of it?
 
Here, then, are the ABC's of Christmas: A — He was rich B — He became poor C — That we might become rich That's the true meaning of Christmas. Let us rejoice this year that these things are true, and let us teach them to our children and grandchildren that they may know what this season is all about.
 
Because Christ became poor, we are now the richest people in the world. 
 http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/the-abcs-of-christmas-2015-edition

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 
Alpha and Omega.
Desire of All Nations.
Firstborn from the Dead.
Master.
Light of the World.
Bread of Life.
Water of Life.
I Am.
The Door.
The Way, the Truth, the Life.
The Resurrection and the Life.
Chief Cornerstone.
Captain of our Salvation.
Lord of the Hosts of Heaven.
Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Faithful and True Witness.
Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
King of Kings.
Lord of Lords.
 
He’s the King of Righteousness.
He’s the King of Glory.
No means of measure can define His limitless love.
He’s enduringly strong.
He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s Saviour.
He’s the centrepiece of civilization.
He is the loftiest idea in literature.
He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides. He heals the sick.
He cleansed the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He blesses the young.
He’s the key to knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
His life is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…
He’s indescribable!
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.
(Adapted from "My King" sermon by Dr. S.M. Lockridge)
 
Lord Jesus, what miracles you have done.    We were naked, and you clothed us.    We were hungry, and you fed us.    We were thirsty, and you gave us living water.    We were poor, and you made us rich.    We were guilty, and you forgave us.    We were lost, and you found us.    We were dying, and you saved us. Glory to your name forever!  Amen.  

2 Timothy 4
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:

• “Before God and Jesus Christ” – they are watching you
• Judge the living – Judgment Seat of Christ
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.
• “good” = righteousness or “bad” = self righteousness
• Judge the dead – Great White Throne Judgment
• Revelation 20:11-15 - Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. [12] I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, *(Rev 3:5) and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. [13] Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. [14] Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
• “his appearing” – Everything had to be prepared to perfection.

2 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

• “proclaim” – aloud, publicly in all seasons
• “rebuke” those in sin (an appeal to the mind).
• “correct” (point out) those in error (an appeal to the emotions).
• “encourage” those living in harmony with God's will (an appeal to the will).
• Christian reproof without the grace of long-suffering has often led to a harsh attitude intensely harmful to the cause of Christ.

3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

• Who is “they” – those who are following his teaching now. (believers)
• In the future “they” would only listen to speakers who told them what they wanted to hear (false doctrine, entertainment, etc.).
• They would choose to believe myths rather than the truth (e.g., evolution, humanism, reincarnation, legalism, etc.)

5 But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

• JOB OR MINISTRY?
• A job is one you choose;
• A ministry is one Christ chooses for you.
• A job depends on your abilities;
• A ministry depends on your availability to God.
• In a job you expect to receive;
• In a ministry you expect to give.
• A job done well brings you self-esteem;
• A ministry done well brings honor to Jesus Christ.
• In a job you give something to get something;
• In a ministry you return something that has already been given to you.
• A job well done has temporal remuneration;
• A ministry well done brings eternal rewards.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

• Paul believed that he would die very soon.
• "poured out" - like the daily drink offerings in Judaism
• After the Jewish priest offered the lamb, ram, or bull in this ritual, he poured wine beside the altar.
• Symbolized the dedication of the believer to God in worship.
• The apostle believed that Nero would not release him from prison but would execute him.
• Christian tradition confirms that Paul died as a martyr in Rome.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

• Paul probably meant that he had run in the noblest race of all, namely, the ministry of the gospel
• NOT that he had done his best in the contest.

8 There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

• This reward will go to all Christians like Paul who, by the way they lived, demonstrated a longing for the Lord's return.
• Not all Christians are anxious for the Lord to return since some know they need to change their way of living.

BELIEVERS' CROWNS
Title                      Reason              Reference

• An Imperishable Crown    For leading a disciplined life           1 Cor. 9:25
• A Crown of Rejoicing        For evangelism and discipleship      1 Thess. 2:19
• A Crown of Righteousness   For loving the Lord's appearing    2 Tim. 4:8
• A Crown of Life       For enduring trials                James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
• A Crown of Glory     For shepherding God's flock faithfully       1 Pet. 5:4

Final Instructions
9 Make every effort to come to me soon, 10 for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

• The constitutional method of inflicting capital punishment on a Roman citizen was by the lictor's (emperor’s bodyguard) axe.
• The criminal was tied to a stake; cruelly scourged with the rods, and then beheaded."

11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

• Luke is most likely transcribing for Paul
• Mark had just previously left Paul & Barnabas.
• Mark had caused division between Paul & Barnabas.
• This is a statement of encouragement & affirmation after the incident.
• Tychicus was sent to relieve Timothy who Paul was requesting and his cloak… winter was coming… he was frail… looking for some comfort.
• Parchments – OT, or even his own writings… still wanted to study.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

• Possible reference to 1 Timothy 1:20 – Turned him over to satan.
• Not a salvation issue.

16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

• Customarily under Roman law accused prisoners underwent a preliminary hearing before their trial.
• At this hearing, witnesses could speak on behalf of the accused.
• In Paul's case no one had come to his defense.
• This was probably because when Rome burned in July of 64 AD
• Nero blamed the Christians.
• From then on it was dangerous to be a known Christian in Rome.
• Neither local Christians nor Paul's fellow workers were willing to stand with the apostle.
• Paul hoped the Lord would not hold their failure against them.

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

• Evidently Paul was able to give a word of witness at his hearing that furthered his mission to the Gentiles.
• He had so far escaped death, though he was ready to die as a martyr.
• The "lion's mouth" may be a reference to the lions in the Roman Coliseum that were then devouring Christians.
• However the Romans would have beheaded Paul rather than thrown him to the lions since he was a Roman citizen.
• More a general allusion to Satan's instruments of evil that have always sought to destroy God's faithful servants.

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

• Paul knew he would die a martyr's death (vv. 6-8) but he saw death as God's vehicle to deliver him from an evil deed (his execution) and to bring him into his Lord's presence.
• For this prospect he glorified God.

Benediction
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

• Greetings to his old friends Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila who then lived in Ephesus.
• He also greeted the loyal family of Onesiphorus of whom he had written earlier (1:16).

20 Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.

• Erastus and Trophimus were old associates of Timothy

21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

• Winter severely restricted travel in some parts of the Roman world.
• Timothy needed to leave Ephesus soon so he could reach Rome without undue difficulty.
• Paul relayed the greetings of four other brethren, probably local, who Timothy evidently knew, as well as the greetings of all the local Christians.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.[1]

• Paul first wished the Lord's ministry of grace on Timothy's spirit, perhaps to encourage him to remain faithful.
• Paul’s last recorded written words.
• Then he wished God's grace for all the readers (plural "you" in the Greek text) of this epistle.
• Paul avoided indulging his disappointments.
• Paul could rejoice in the victory won in the life of Mark.
• Paul found no room for vindictiveness toward those who hurt or opposed him."

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“Understanding the Spirits role, how would you communicate this message if your eighteen-year-old son had made up his mind to walk away from everything you have taught him, morally ethically and theologically, unless he had a compelling reason not to?”

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (2 Ti 4:1–22). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.