December | 2014 | Center for Evangelists

Archive for December, 2014

Joseph, Husband of Mary

December 11, 2014

Joseph was a good man. Engaged to Mary and most likely looking forward to taking her for his wife, when an angle came to him and told him to not fear to take Mary as his wife as the Child she was carrying was conceived by the Holy Ghost.
He was a brave and righteous man to believe God and take on that great responsibility. He was an obedient person, Joseph took care of Mary and Jesus and we know from scripture that he was still living when JESUS went to the temple at twelve years old.
That is the last mention Joseph in the Bible and he must have died before Jesus started His public ministry.

Matthew 1:24-25
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:and he called his name Jesus.

Tags:Angel, Joseph husband of Mary, Obedience
Posted in Jesus, Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242, Something to Think About | Leave a Comment »

Mary, Mother of Jesus

December 10, 2014

Mary, a young virgin, was engaged to Joseph. God chose her to be the mother of the Lord Jesus. When Gabriel came to her she was frightened at first, listened to his message and then was humble and honored. In those days being pregnant without marriage was a great disgrace but Mary was willing to obey.
When the angel told her of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, Mary, went to stay with her. Elisabeth confirmed what the angel had told her because the baby leaped in her womb.
If you have not read and thought about the people in the unfolding Christmas story it would be good to read it again. We learn much about obedience and love of God as we realize that every person was human and had the same emotions, fears, joys and problems we do. Mary is a great example to us and she surely was blessed among women.

Luke 1:30-31
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

Tags:Christmas story, Luke 1, Mary, Obedience
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

Zacharias, Faithless

December 9, 2014

Zacharias, husband of Elisabeth, was a righteous and blameless person was childless!
Zacharias was also a priest. One day as he was serving in the temple the angel Gabriel appeared to him and announced that his wife would have a child.
Although Zacharias was moved by the awesome presence of the angel, he could not accept that his aged wife could still give birth. In order to stop him confessing his unbelief he was unable to speak and remained speechless until the day that the baby should be given a name.
The custom was to name the baby after his father but Zacharias asked for a tablet and wrote, his name is John as instructed by the angel. Then he was able to speak.

Luke 1:63-64
And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Tags:Birth of John, Gabriel, Zacharias
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

Barren Elisabeth

December 8, 2014

Elizabeth was well beyond child bearing age but God gave her a child in answer to many years of sadness and grief because she was barren. He used miracle baby to be the forerunner of Jesus.
Elizabeth and her husband had dearly longed for a child. They had prayed for one and the culture of the day had demanded they needed one. Yet no child came.
The miracle eventually happened and a pregnant and rather embarrassed Elizabeth hid herself for 5 months.

Luke 1:7
And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Tags:Barren, Childless, Elisabeth, miracle
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

Gabriel’s Message to Mary

December 7, 2014

God sent Gabriel again, this time to Mary. The first message was now being fulfilled, Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Now Mary was given the news that she would be the mother of the Lord and His Name was to be called JESUS.

Luke 1:26-27
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Tags:Gabriel, good news, Mary, Prophecy, Virgin
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | 2 Comments »

The Angel Gabriel

December 6, 2014

In the Bible, the angel,Gabriel, is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, he appeared to the prophet Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel’s visions. In the Gospel of Luke, Gabriel appeared to Zecharias, and to the virgin Mary foretelling the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. The name Gabriel means man of God.
In the Christmas story he appeared first to Zacharias.

Luke 1:13
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias:for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Tags:Angel, Gabriel, John the Baptist, Prophecy, Zacharias
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | 1 Comment »

Jesus Came to Comfort

December 5, 2014

Yesterday we had the opportunity to comfort a widow whose husband went home to be with the Lord just before Christmas last year. They had been married for over 60 years. The Holidays can be especially painful for those who are left behind.
If you have friends who have lost a loved one, make a special effort to call them and encourage them during the holidays. Let them talk about the person they lost if they want to, it brings comfort to be able to talk to someone.
Remind them that Jesus is the one who can bring solace to their heart.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Tags:Christmas comfort, Death, jesus
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

The Greatest Christmas Gift

December 4, 2014

Many people are looking forward to Christmas, shopping for gifts, thinking about family and friends and expecting many joys of the Holiday season.
In the busy time keep your mind on the true meaning of Christmas and the gift that God gave to you and me.
The greatest gift ever given was Jesus. To receive it, invite Him into your heart today. Ask Him to forgive your sins and make your life new.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Tags:Birth of Jesus, Greatest Christmas Gift
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

Silent Night, Christmas Carol

December 3, 2014

This is a photograph of the Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Oberndorf, Germany. The beautiful Christmas hymn lyrics were written in German by Joseph Mohr in 1816. The music composed by Franz Xaver Gruber for the guitar and was first preformed on Christmas Eve in 1818.
The hymn became so well known that during a Christmas truce in World War I the troops on both sides sang it together in French, German and English. It has been translated into 140 languages.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.

Tags:Christmas Carol, Peace, Silent Night
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

Bethlehem

December 2, 2014

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus was foretold by Micah 700 years before Christ’s birth. Micah named the exact town and Matthew records the event.
Bethlehem is still standing today and both Biblically and historically is proven to be the actual place where Jesus was born.

Micah 5:2
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;
whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Matthew 2:1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Tags:Bethlehem, Jesus Birthplace, Micah, Prophecy
Posted in Need prayer: Call Tom 813-784-8242 | Leave a Comment »

Center for Evangelists