After Bethlehem | Trust the heart of God | Pastor Jason Henderson

#christmas #lifechange #disruption
Sunday Christmas Message 2nd Service

When you go through a life change, a disruption, a side road, a different turn, what do you do? How do you handle it? When life comes at you with curveballs, how do you adjust, and who do you trust?

Answer: Keep doing what you know to be true. Trust that God’s plan and path for you. Trust that He has been there before you and knows you more than you know yourself.

Joseph and Mary had to eventually leave Bethlehem and be in the “real world.” What was their “go-to” formula? Answer: Obedience. They trusted in what they knew to be true, God’s Word.

Luke 2:21-26 (ESV)

Joesph and Mary Obeyed And Trusted God’s Word In Three Areas:

1) The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus Was Followed

Circumcision Was Required For 3 Reasons:

1. It is medically proven that circumcision gives health benefits. By cutting away the flesh of the foreskin, it protects the wife from bacteria and infections.

2. It is a sign and reminder of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 17:9-14)

3. It is a spiritual object lesson that we need to cleanse from sin

Q. If Jesus was born sinless, why was He circumcised? Because He came to fulfill the Law.

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)

His name “Jesus” is the Hebrew equivalent “Joshua” which means “Yahweh Saves”

This is what sets Christianity apart from all other faiths, Our God seeks and saves those who are lost. (Luke 19:10).

2) The Time of Purification Was Allowed And Followed

Leviticus 12:1-5 (ESV)

After a son’s circumcision on the eighth day, the Mother was considered to be ceremonially unclean for 33 more days. (40 Days)

If she had a daughter, then the mother was considered unclean for 66 days.

Q. Why is it longer for the girls? There are 2 possible ideas;

1) It was Eve who led Adam into sin and this stigmatism was a reminder to all.

2) The extra time was given to take the place of circumcision.

The Bible never tells us, we can just assume.

Q: Why Did God Require at least 40 Days of “Purification?”

I read an article on postpartum. The title was, “Why are the first 40 days of postpartum so important?” “Traditionally, the 40-day period is believed to be the right amount of time needed for you to recover from delivery and for your baby to gain strength and immunity…These 40 days are needed for your body to heal, reenergize, and get back to pre-pregnancy mode. At the same time, this period helps your baby adjust to life outside the womb and bond with you face to face.”

The First Born Son Needed Was To Be Redeemed And Followed

Exodus 13:1-2 and 11-15 (ESV)

The Levites' first-born males became priests who served in Israel. All other tribes needed to purchase their firstborn back from the Lord or they were given to the Temple for service. Like Samuel. (1 Samuel 1:22, 22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever.” )

The same principles apply to our first fruits (money). The first is his. When you give to God, pay him first. Proverbs 3:9-10, 9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

What does their offering show and teach us?
The Offering was given after she was declared clean shows us that she was a sinner in need of a Savior.

The Offering of the birds and not the lamb shows us that they were a poor couple and that the wisemen had not yet appeared to them.

Application

When you are diverted, disrupted, or on a different path that was not in your plans, Trust the heart of God. Trust the Words of God. Trust the Plans of God.

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