Integrity- People of God

The Story of Jesus’ Birth that Issued in A New Birth and A New Beginning for Many
In the beginning of time God created a beautiful and perfect world for mankind to live in and enjoy. God’s love for mankind was displayed when He created them in His image and gave them a will and the ability to choose their destiny. Man and woman lived in perfect harmony with God their creator and all His creation until Satan the deceiver, tricked them into believing his lie and they rebelled against their God and King. All humanity fell into sin and the world fell into corruption.

God was not taken by surprised because He knew their hearts. Even with the foreknowledge that they would rebel against Him, God had a plan to send His Son to redeem humanity and to give them another chance. Before God formed the earth, He knew they would be deceived into believing a lie. God’s love was shown in while knowing mankind would reject Him but yet His love would not leave without hope. God promised the woman’s seed would crush the serpent’s head though the serpent would bruise His heel. The Messiah would come to give those who believed in Him another chance to be in fellowship with God their Creator.

The angel Gabriel visited young Mary and told her that she was chosen by God to give birth to the promised Son of God, Jesus. The Son of God came to pay a debt all mankind owed for their rebellion and would save all who by faith believed Him to be the Son of God and the Light in this dark world. Mary did not understand how this would happen, because she was engaged to Joseph but had not known him as a wife. The angel Gabriel explained the Holy Spirit of God would come over her and she would conceive and give birth to the Son of God.

Mary left her betrothed to visit her cousins Elisabeth, she was told that she was having a baby who would be the forerunner to tell the people of the coming of Christ. As Mary entered the house the young baby Elisabeth was carrying leaped inside her and she began praising God saying, blessed is she, the mother of our Lord and Savior. Mary was blessed in she believed the word of God and did not doubt. Mary begins praising God saying, my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoice in God my Savior.

God chose Mary one of low means and being a girl, some may consider her of little value and yet, God All Mighty did a great thing through her with the birth of Jesus who is the Son of God and the Son of Man.

Mary went back home to Joseph after being gone for months and she is pregnant. He betrothed and those around were apprehensive when she returned from visiting family with child. Great blessing from God can make those of the world distrustful and skeptical. Those who trust in God and His world may often times stand firm in the word they received from God, though all others may doubt.

The greatest thing that had ever happen to her now became the event that caused her fiancée to consider leaving her and others whispering about her. God undertook for her and gave her intended a word and a vision that she was in His will and she was faithful. As true believers we too must learn how to trust God to undertake for us when the world scorn and revile us when we are in God’s will. We will have trouble in this world but we are told to be of good cheer, Jesus has undertaken for us and we are to wait and see how the Lord settles the matter.

Mary and Joseph were required to travel to Bethlehem for the census and to pay their taxes. People from all over had gone to Bethlehem because the emperor had ordered everyone to return to their place of birth. Many people were sad because their trip was hard and some people had to travel a long way even though they did not have much money or much food. God would turn this sad and hard situation into a glorious event with the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.

One night, Shepherds were in a field feeding their sheep and the dark sky opened with a great light and an angel appeared and told them not to be afraid because he was bringing good news of Great Joy for all the people in the world! In the city of David, a Savior, Jesus Christ the Son of God was born in Bethlehem. A great multitude of angels appeared singing and praising God, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will toward all men. They began singing a new song of God’s Glory and Majesty while praising Him for His loving kindness and His tender mercies toward humanity in sending a Wonderful Savior.

Shepherds were viewed by many people of that time to be of the least in their society because they were people who live outdoors and guarded sheep. They were the first to receive the good news of the Messiah. God sent a Savior for all mankind and not for just the rich those highly esteemed by society because all humanity was created in His image and He has sent Jesus to redeem the human race. God will still use those who are lowly esteemed to do great things.

Even though Jesus is a Great King, He was lying in a manger swaddled in strips of cloth. The Son of God, was born of lowly means, in a stable and laid in a feeding trough for animals that was His bed. There was no room for Mary and Joseph for all the inns were filled.

A child was born and a Son was given to humanity and a new government was put on His shoulders one that is just, fair and undertake for everyone. People call Jesus Wonderful because He has done marvelous things. They call Him Counselor because He advise, instruct and resolve advertises without prejudice or favoritism. He is The Mighty God who is powerful and a valiant One who protects and defends His people. Jesus the Prince of Peace, the Lord and Keeper of our peace that we may have health and wellbeing. Because of Jesus we have Favor with God the everlasting Father.

Wise men from a Far East country saw the Messiah’s star and came to worship Him. Some believe these men were of the family of Keturah, the wife of Abraham, who he married after the death of his wife Sarah. She bore him six sons and before Abraham his death he gave them gifts and sent them to live in the east country. Isaac was the promised heir to inherit the promised land of Israel. Abraham taught his sons the promise of God to send a King, a Messiah to redeem all mankind. Abraham became the father of many nations both physically and spiritually for those who trusted in God and Jesus Christ His Redeemer. The children of Keturah were not of the tribes of Israel but they were children of Abraham and they sent to live in the east country and they too were waiting the salvation of God the promised Messiah.

Genesis‬ ‭25:1-2, 6‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
“Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.”
Genesis 18:19 For I have known him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteous and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him. NKJV
‭‭‬‬Wise men from the east country came bringing riches to honor the King of all kings, the Messiah. They asked Herod where is He that is born King of the Jews? Because they had seen His star and had come to Judaea to worship Him. Herod and all Jerusalem were very troubled. Israel had lost sight of the promise of God to send their Redeemer and Messiah and it appeared none in Judaea were awaiting His birth. The priests were asked where the Christ would be born and they answered in Bethlehem of Judaea. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Herod questioned the wise men regarding the time the star appeared to know how old the baby would be. He sent them to Bethlehem and told them to come back and tell him that he too might worship the child. Herod wanted to destroy the child born to be King to protect his position.

The wise men followed the star to Bethlehem they all rejoiced with exceeding great joy to have found the Messiah and King of kings. When they saw the young child with His mother they bowed down at His feet and worshipped Him and began opening their treasures. They presented Him with great gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh all of this was the great provision God had made for His Son. Today wise men, women and children are still seeking Jesus so that they too may worship and bring Him gifts the treasures of their heart, soul and spirit.

The wise men were warned in a dream by God to go another way and not return to Herod. They left going to their own country a different way and return to their home land to spread the good news of the birth of the Messiah the Savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ.

God also told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus into Egypt to hide Him from Herod. Though He was just a young child Herod wanted to destroy Jesus because of jealousy and feared He would
someday become King. When the wise men did not return to Herod to reveal where the Messiah was, he sent his solders to slay all the children who were two years and younger according to the time the wise men had given him.

There was a great cry in Israel of all the parents who lost their children at the hand of Herod being use by Satan, who wanted to once again destroy hope of salvation for all mankind. God provide a way for Jesus and His family to flee to Egypt and where not destroyed. Even today God provides a way for His people to keep them from total destruction of the enemy. The is sin and pain in this world but God has provided away out hard situation for those who know and follow His word they will not be totally destroyed.

When Herod was dead God told Joseph to returned and they lived in a city called Nazareth. Jesus grew and increased in strength filled with wisdom. At the age of twelve He was found sitting with the doctors and teachers hearing them and asking them questions. Those who heard Him were amazed and wonder at His understanding and His answers. Jesus grew in wisdom and
Favor with God and the people. He went about doing His Heavenly Father’s business, saving and healing the people.

The grace of God’s salvation has appeared to all humanity in the life of Jesus teaching them to live soberly in this present world. Jesus came to redeem God’s creation; every child and every person so they can choose to have a new birth a new beginning as children of God. Everyone has the choice to use their consciousness to accept or reject God. Every person will choose say yes or no to God by their actions. By faith they can receive Jesus as their Savior looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ who gave Himself for all, that He might redeem us from the curse and destruction of this world.

Titus 2:11, 13-14KJV
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬This is the story of birth of Jesus and every true follower of Christ have a story of their new birth as children of the Most-High God. We all were saved from the destruction of the enemy as he tried to come and destroy our lives in this world but became a child of God in the Highest! ‬‬‬‬‬‬
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
…the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.
The unfathomable love of God has by His grace given everyone a chance at a new beginning, be able to come to God by faith in Jesus and to live a new life where the old way of living is passed away and they become a new creation in Christ Jesus.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17-18 KJV “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬