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The Winter Christmas Story
Matthew 2 Living Bible
{Paraphrased} 1 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship Him.” 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors. 4 He called a meeting of the Jewish religious leaders. “Did the prophets tell us where the Messiah would be born?” he asked. 5 “Yes, in Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet Micah wrote:
6 ‘O little town of Bethlehem, you are not just an unimportant Judean village, for a Governor shall rise from you to rule My people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them, 8 “Go to Bethlehem and search for the Child. And when you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him too!” 9 After this interview the astrologers started out again. And look! The star appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem. 10 Their joy knew no bounds! 11 Entering the house where the Baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before Him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way. 13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord {the angel Gabriel} appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up and flee to Egypt with the Baby and His mother,” the angel said, “and stay there until I tell you to return, for King Herod is going to try to kill the Child.” 14 That same night he left for Egypt with Mary and the Baby, 15 and stayed there until King Herod’s death. This fulfilled the prophet’s prediction,
“I have called My Son from Egypt.”
16 Herod was furious when he learned that the astrologers had disobeyed him. Sending soldiers to Bethlehem, he ordered them to kill every baby boy two years old and under, both in the town and on the nearby farms, for the astrologers had told him the star first appeared to them two years before. 17 This brutal action of Herod’s fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah,
18 “Screams of anguish come from Ramah, Weeping unrestrained; Rachel weeping for her children, Uncomforted— For they are dead.”
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord {the angel Gabriel} appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and told him, 20 “Get up and take the Baby and His mother back to Israel, for those who were trying to kill the Child are dead.” 21 So he returned immediately to Israel with Jesus and His mother. 22 But on the way he was frightened to learn that the new king was Herod’s son, Archelaus. Then, in another dream, he was warned not to go to Judea, so they went to Galilee instead 23 and lived in Nazareth. This fulfilled the prediction of the prophets concerning the Messiah,
“He shall be called a Nazarene.”
The Love of God
Christ Is the Sun of Righteousness that Melts the Winter Cold Death in Man's Heart
Through the Holy Spirit
1 John 4:17-19 Living Bible
{Paraphrased}
Afraid to Love
God's Love Cures Our Fear of Being Rejected by Him
And Everyone Else 17 And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the Day of judgment but can face Him with confidence and joy because He loves us and we love Him too. 18 We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that He really loves us. 19 So you see, our love for Him comes as a result of His loving us first {on the Cross}.
Malachi 4:1-3 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 1 "For, behold, the Day comes {the Day of Judgement when Christ returns}, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the Day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch {2 Pt. 3}". 2 "But to you that fear My Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall {return}", says the Lord of hosts.
Song of Solomon 2 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
A Prophecy About the Rapture
1 Cor. 15:50-58 & 1 Thes. 4:13-18 1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am {lovesick}. 6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand does embrace me. 7 I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that you stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. 8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold, he stands behind our wall, He looks forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice. 10 My beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up {from the dead - Rev. 11}, My love, My {beautiful} one, and come away {to Heaven in the resurrection}. 11 For, lo, the winter {of sin & death} is past, The rain {of affliction - Isa. 30:20, 21} is over and gone; 12 The flowers {of the resurrection} appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds {Angels - Lk. 15} is come, And the {cooing} voice of the {turtledove - the Holy Spirit} is heard in our land {about the Spring Celebration of Christ our Passover - the resurrection from the dead - new life from Heaven through faith in Christ - Jn. 19} 13 The fig tree {Israel} puts forth her green figs {has gotten saved by faith in Jesus - that which you sow is not resurrected until it first dies - Jn. 12:23-26}, And the vines {the Gentile nations} with the tender grape give a good smell {are also right with God through faith in Jesus, God's Son}. Arise {from the dead - Rev. 11}, My love, My {beautiful} one, and come away {to heaven in the resurrection}. 14 O my Dove {the Holy Spirit - Mt. 3:13-17} that {is} in the clefts of the Rock {Christ - God's Son - Mt. 3:13-17/ 1 Cor. 10:3, 4}, in the secret places of the stairs {to Heaven in Christ - Jn. 14:6}, Let me see your {Face - Ps. 91}, let me hear your Voice {Ps. 91}; For sweet is your Voice {Ps. 91}, and your {Face} is {handsome - Ps. 91}. 15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: For our vines have tender grapes. 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feeds among the lilies. 17 Until the day break {1 Jn. 1/ 2 Pt. 1:19} and the shadows flee away {1 Jn. 1/ James 1:17}, Turn {repent and return to the Lord - Isa. 55}, My beloved, and be like a {wife - the Bride of Christ} a roe, Or a young hart {Pr. 5:18, 19} upon the mountains of Bether {in Heaven - the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Jesus, to His Bride, to every Christian, the Bride of Christ - Rev. 21 & 22}.
Eternal Life is Resurrection from the Dead
Growing in the Spring Time of the Love of God
John 3 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
Eternal Life Is
Born Again by the Holy Spirit
Through Faith in Jesus
Born Again by the Holy Spirit 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 the same came to Jesus by night, and said to Him,
"Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that You do, except God be with Him".
3 Jesus answered and said to him,
"Verily, verily, I say to you, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God'".
4 Nicodemus saith to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say to you, 'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said to you,' You must be born again {by the Holy Spirit}'. 8 The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit {you cannot tell which way He will go to make someone born again because like the wind, the Holy Spirit moves suddenly upon you without first telling you" - Acts 2:1-4}.
Born Again through Faith in Christ
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you a Master of Israel, and {you} know not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say to you, 'We {Father, Son and Holy Spirit} speak that we do know and testify that We have seen; and you receive not Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not {in Me}, how shall you believe {in Me}, if I tell you of Heavenly things? 13 And no man has ascended up to Heaven, but {I} that came down from Heaven, even the Son of man which is in Heaven {through the Presence of God in Me}. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness {on a branch - Num. 21:1-9}, even so must the Son of man be lifted up {on a branch - the Cross}: 15 {so} that whosoever believes in Him {through the eyes of faith} should not perish {in the Lake of Fire - Rev. 20} but have eternal life {restored as it was in the beginning}. 16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through {faith in} Him might be saved {from the Lake of Fire}. 18 He that believes on Him is not condemned {to eternal fire}: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of {Jesus} the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that Light {1 Jn. 5} is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone that does evil hates the Light, neither comes to the Light, lest his deeds should be {exposed}. 21 But he that does Truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God".
To Be Born Again through Faith in Christ
Means to say that you Believe Jesus is Lord
When you Believe it
Romans 10:6-17
Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 6 But {being right with God} which {comes from} faith {from the Bible} speaks on this wise {in the Bible}, "Say not in your heart, 'Who shall ascend into heaven?' {Dt. 30:12} (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 or, 'Who shall descend into the deep?' {Dt. 30:13} (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what says it? 'The Word is near you, {it is} in your mouth, and in your heart: {Dt. 30:14} that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead {for you}, you shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes {God and gets right with God by believing in Him}; and with the mouth confession is made {and gets Jesus' salvation}. 11 For the scripture says, 'Whosoever believes on {the Son of God} shall not be ashamed' {Isa. 28:16}. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek {nor between any other nation}: for the same Lord over all is rich to all that call upon Him {for salvation}. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord {Jesus} shall be saved {Joel 2:32}. 14 How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a Preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent {by Jesus}? as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace {with God through faith in the Son of God} and bring glad tidings of good things {Isa. 52:7}!16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our {prophecies about Your Son, the Lord Jesus in the Bible - Isa. 52:1}? 17 So then faith {in Christ} comes by hearing, and hearing by {what} the word of God {the prophecy's in the Bible say about Jesus}.
The Love of God
The Resurrection of Life & Love
from the Dead
Like A Blossoming Rose...
John 12:24-25 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 24 {And Jesus said} "Verily, verily, I say to you,
'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone:
But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.
25 He that loves his life shall lose it;
And he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal'".
"The Voice of the Turtledove Is Heard in Our Land
Solving A Lifelong Passover Mystery" (by FORWARD - Jewish. Independent. Nonprofit)
Christ Our Passover
Was Sacrificed for Our Sins
Because He Is the Resurrection
John 11:25-26 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 25 Jesus said to {Martha},
"I am the Resurrection, and the Life:
He that believes in Me,
Though he were dead,
Yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
{Do you believe this}?
John 14:6 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 6 Jesus saith to {Thomas},
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
No man comes to the Father, but by Me".
Acts 4:10-12
Authorized (King James) Version
10 "Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you {healed & healthy}. 11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as the grave: The coals thereof are coals of fire, Which has a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can the floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
Proverbs 5:15-23 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 15 Drink waters out of your own cistern, And running waters out of your own well. 16 Let your fountains be dispersed abroad, And rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only your own, And not strangers' with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed: And rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And be ravished always with her love. 20 And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his goings. 22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
World without end.
Amen.