Ephesians 6:10-20

Our fight on this earth is spiritual not physical. Evil is overcome by good…the God kind. We are protected in this fight by the spiritual weapons that God prepared before hand in Christ Jesus. Put on the whole armor of God and go out to do spiritual warfare. Be prepared with the truth of the Scriptures in the salvation of the Cross, shielded with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, in faith believing that all things are possible by the power of the Holy Spirit when we ask praying in His name.

Be strong may also be translated “be made strong.” The passive voice would suggest that we cannot do it ourselves.Without prayer, all the armor in the world would be of no use. Arrows could not penetrate the fireproof shield of the ancient Roman soldier, nor can the assaults of Satan penetrate to the believer who places his or her faith in God.

Ephesians 6:10-20

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

⁷ by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 

2 Corinthians 6:7

³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

Romans 8:38

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 

2 Corinthians 10:4

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Hebrews 4:12

⁵Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. 

Isaiah 11:5

¹⁷For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. 

Isaiah 59:17

⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 

1 John 5:4

Matthew 3:7-10

God will not leave you in the same state that He found you. You will be constantly maturing, precept upon precept, into the image of His only Son. He sees Jesus’s righteousness when He sees you so that it is not by works but by faith in Him and the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what we cannot. Anything in your life that does not show the fruit of the Holy Spirit…love. peace. mercy. kindness. He will remove. He will give you empathy where before only sympathy or disdain existed.

John likened his ministry to God’s ax, clearing His orchard of dead wood—especially that which did not bear the fruit of repentance.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were two prominent groups in Judaism during the time of Christ. Both groups claimed to be true followers of Judaism, but their beliefs were considerably different. The Pharisees were primarily associated with the laymen of Israel. In doctrine, they held not only to the Law of Moses and Scriptures, but also to a whole body of oral tradition. Their activities were centered in the synagogue. On the other hand, the Sadducees were associated with the priestly caste, for whom worship was centered in the temple. Extremely conservative, they based their beliefs essentially on the Pentateuch—the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy.

Matthew 3:7-10

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

^34 bBrood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

Matthew 12:34

⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 

Romans 5:9

¹⁰ and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 

1 Thessalonians 1:10

1 Corinthians 1:2-3

We are all one in Christ. We are One Body. One Mind. One Spirit. We are made up of many parts and when we are using the gifts and talents that God gave each of us individually each part is working according to His great plan…together we make up the whole Body Of Christ and we can be doers of the Living Word….so that all glory belongs to God!

In this letter Paul proclaims the relevance of Christ Jesus to every area of the believer’s life. In the writer’s words, Jesus “became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”. Paul goes on to assert that Jesus is living out His life in the world through the church. According to Paul, we are the body of Christ with individual gifts. As we discover our gifts and invest them in mutual ministry, Jesus continues to touch the world for which He died.

The work of Jesus Christ makes a believer holy forever in God’s eyes. But in everyday living, sanctification involves small, daily changes.

1 Corinthians 1:2-3

² To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

Acts 15:9

⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 

1 Corinthians 8:6

²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 

Romans 3:22

Matthew 21:34-36

There is so much going on in our everyday life that we can place our relationship with God at the back of our mind…thankful for our salvation and the hope of our calling but at the same time not front and center each and every day. This is a dangerous spiritual place to be. Jesus knew that it was expedient that He leave this world so that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to abide in us and guide us until we pass from this life into the eternal. He is our teacher and constant companion as we walk this earth and He will take the things of God in Christ and explain them to us. He will get us safely home.

Though the events of the end times may not come to pass for a long time, believers should continue to look for their arrival. The Day of Jesus’ return should not take us by surprise. We should live as if it is imminent.

Matthew 21:34-36

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

1 John 2:28 

Jesus encouraged His disciples to be persistent in prayer and faith, looking for the day when the Son of Man exonerates the faithful in the judgment, so that they are able to stand before Him.

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

Matthew 24:42–44

and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

Mark 4:19

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 

Romans 13:13

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 

1 Peter 4:7

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 

Revelation 16:15

Matthew 26:30-35

The hardest person to forgive is ourself. For our mental sanity we see ourselves as better than we are. When we are forced to see the reality of a situation we are shattered and incapable of accepting our failure except through Christ. When we acknowledge our sinfulness to ourself we cannot help but come to the reality  that we are not worthy to have the spotless Lamb of God die for our sins. Then and only then can we humbly beg for His forgiveness and mercy. Our pride masked as self hatred can stop us from doing the will of God in our life. Let the blood of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit clean up the mess that you have made and give you His righteousness. There is no one worthy NO.NOT.ONE.

All the disciples, not just Peter, would fall away.

Matthew 26:30-35

³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,

And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” ³³ But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” ^34 hThen He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” 

Luke 22:31–34

⁵⁶ But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. 

Matthew 26:56

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. 

Zechariah 13:7

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. ²Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” ³ Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” ⁴Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” ⁵ I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

Psalm 118:1–29 

Isaiah 27:1

God wins. Nothing that comes against Him will stand. 

In the Father, as He sees Jesus in us, we are kept safe through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Leviathan was mythological, dragon-like deity who symbolized chaos and who battled unsuccessfully against God. Isaiah borrows the imagery of this battle myth to teach that God will triumph over all who oppose Him.

Isaiah 27:1

    In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong,

Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,

Leviathan that twisted serpent;

And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 

Genesis 3:1

You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. 

Psalm 74:13

You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. 

Psalm 74:14

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. ²Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.

Psalm 93:1–2

Amos 5:14-15

When you ask God into your life expect change. When we stray from the path that He has prepared for us God will do whatever it takes for us to return. When we call upon His name in our life He will prune whatever is not producing good fruit. If and when we sin… repent quickly and trust Him to get you back on track. What does He require of us? To be fair. To remain humble. To forgive easily. Micah 6:8

The prophet interrupted himself, as it were, to plead with Israel to return to God and avoid the judgment He otherwise would bring upon them.Worshiping in the Lord’s name, the Israelites invoked the Lord’s presence with them in their spoken prayers and blessings. If they began to live as God had taught them in the Law, He would indeed be with them.

Amos 5:14-15

¹⁴     Seek good and not evil,

That you may live;

So the Lord God of hosts will be with you,

As you have spoken.

¹⁵ Hate evil, love good;

Establish justice in the gate.

It may be that the Lord God of hosts

Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

“I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning;Yet you have not returned to Me,”Says the Lord.

Amos 4:11

Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.” 

Micah 3:11

You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 

Psalm 97:10

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 

Romans 12:9

Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God? 

Joel 2:14

Luke 21:25-28

Every sin that was or will be committed pierced the One who loved us enough to die in our place for those very sins.

There will come an end to the world as we know it. This ending will usher in a new beginning for  those who have chosen salvation through Jesus Christ. No person knows the time but in these twilight hours it is our calling to spread the Word of God because He wants no man to perish and all to come into His house. Do not fear for He is near to those who call upon Him in the righteousness of His Son and all the power of the Holy Spirit is ours to accomplish the desires of His heart.

Jesus shifts His focus to the end times with His second mention of cosmic turmoil. The terror of cosmic chaos will cause apprehension about what is coming.The Son of Man has divine authority to judge the world.The Son of Man acts on behalf of those who have suffered in His name.

The tender buds that appear every spring on trees show that summer is approaching; the appearance of the signs Jesus describes will warn of the coming of the end times.

Luke 21:25-28

²⁵ “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the Lord of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger. 

Isaiah 13:13

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 

Daniel 7:13

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 

Matthew 24:29

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 

Revelation 1:7

Proverbs 12:25

There is so much anxiety in the world today and I have no desire to add to it. Please Father guard my heart so that out of my mouth flow healing words. We need to build up the family of God by our words and our actions. It should start in our homes!

Anxiety loses some of its force in the face of a positive, encouraging word.

Barnabas’s encouragement of Paul is a great example of this.

Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But a good word makes it glad.

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 

Proverbs 15:13

“The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 

Isaiah 50:4

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 

Acts 4:36

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 

Acts 9:27

Luke

The simplicity of the Gospel by faith in Jesus Christ for salvation underscores the complexity of the plan that God provided from the foundation of the world…..beyond our comprehension but within our grasp by the one thing that pleases God…..FAITH. We have the ability through the power of the Holy Spirit to love others and share HIStory with them because He first loved us….all of us. Jesus is the line drawn in the sands of time.We either accept God’s gift of salvation in Jesus or we die in our ignorance.

The Book of Luke

Just like we’d expect from a family doctor, Dr. Luke sensitively describes Jesus as One who reaches out personally and heals those who are mercilessly caged by devastating illnesses. As a person, He is concerned with people. Whereas Matthew likes to refer to Jesus as the Son of David and Mark refers to Him as the Son of God, Luke’s favorite expression is “the Son of Man.”

Because Jesus is the only perfect person born of a woman and because He identifies compassionately with the plight of suffering sinful people, He alone is qualified to carry our sorrows, bear our sin, and offer us the priceless gift of salvation.

The book ends with Jesus telling the disciples to wait for the coming of the Spirit. By now, they should have realized that everything that had taken place in Jesus’ life was promised in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Jesus is the promised Messiah. Forgiveness of sin can be obtained only through Him. The disciples were witnesses to this fact; their mission was to share this Good News with all nations, not merely the Jews. Jesus gave them this task, but He also provided them with the power through the Holy Spirit to carry it out. Thus it is clear that Luke’s Gospel centers on God’s plan to provide salvation to the world. It closes anticipating the spread of the gospel that is recorded in its sequel, the Book of Acts.

Luke

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, ² just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, ³ it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. 

John 20:31

to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

Acts 1:3

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 

2 Peter 1:16

 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 

Hebrews 2:3

Matthew 2:7-12

Wise men still seek Him!

Wiser men heed His word made flesh!

Gold symbolized royalty; frankincense was a fragrance; myrrh was the ointment of death.

Matthew 2:7-12

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. 

Numbers 24:17

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. 

Psalm 72:10

The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. 

Isaiah 60:6

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 

Matthew 2:10

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Matthew 2:11

Daniel 9:16-19

We who are called by His name represent the Godhead. Our lives should be a reflection of not only His grace, mercy and love but also of our ability to do what is right because we love Him and He loves His creation. He is kind to the unkind and merciful to those who do not merit mercy (such as we once were). My hope and prayer is that in doing His will and abiding in His love we will be living examples of the transformation that comes to all who accept His salvation in Christ Jesus. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and collectively we are the Body of Christ… we should see His reflection in both.

It is important to note that the only basis for Daniel’s appeal was the grace of God.

Daniel 9:16-19

¹⁶ “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. ¹⁷ Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers: 

1 Samuel 12:7

In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. 

Psalm 31:1

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 

Jeremiah 29:7

and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name: 

1 Kings 8:48

O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name’s sake; For our backslidings are many, We have sinned against You. 

Jeremiah 14:7

yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’; 

1 Kings 8:47

Ezekiel 47:7-12

Out of the word of His mouth will flow living water that all may partake of God’s gift to man. Jesus, the Christ, gives life to anyone who believes in Him and they will never thirst again. The fruit of the Spirit that God will give to believers has healing in its wings. 

Jesus is the only way. the only truth. the only light.

The water becomes a river of healing and the source of abundant life for everything and everyone. This is an amazing picture—the Dead Sea is the saltiest body of water and is presently unable to support life. It is also the lowest point on earth, with its surface 1,300 feet below sea level and the water itself 1,300 feet deep. The living water that God will provide has immeasurable power to renew, restore, and resurrect life. This sea which is dead will teem with life all along its shores—from En Gedi to En Eglaim. Great volumes and variety of vegetation, everlasting and perpetually productive, will result from this river which flows from the sanctuary.

Ezekiel 47:7-12

⁷ When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. ⁸ Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. ⁹ And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. ¹⁰ It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. ¹¹ But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. ¹² Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” 

Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified. 

Isaiah 60:21

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 

Isaiah 61:3

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 

Psalm 46:4

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, ^bCome, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 

Isaiah 55:1

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 

Psalm 1:3

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

John 7:37–39

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 

Revelation 22:17

Matthew 2:1-12

HIStory was written before the foundation of the world and HIS word will be fulfilled in God’s timing. In order to spiritually survive we need to be able to hear the Spirit of Christ and listen to what He tells us. The Scriptures are not just Holy Spirit inspired they are the living and breathing Word of God made flesh. His words are sharper than a double edged sword for dividing the spirit of man from his soul. We need to get into His story instead of making up our own….before we were in our mother’s womb He knew us and He alone knows the path He created us to walk in.

The Jewish leaders were alerted early to the coming of the Messiah. Matthew clearly records how the Jewish religious authorities, who became Christ’s enemies later, unintentionally affirmed that Jesus had fulfilled a messianic prophecy in His birth. God sometimes uses the words of His opponents to speak the truth. 

Gold symbolized royalty; frankincense was a fragrance; myrrh was the ointment of death. These gifts provided the financial resources for Mary and Joseph’s flight to Egypt.

Five dreams of divine guidance emphasize God’s orchestration of these perilous events.

Matthew 2:1-12

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be ^fRuler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” 

Micah 5:2

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Luke 2:11

In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 

Job 33:15

Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. 

Job 33:16