Four Powerful Promises Found in the Prophecies of Jesus' Birth
God's assurances are comparable to the stars; they shine brighter in the darkest of nights.
During my most fearful or painful moments, I find solace in the promises written in the Scriptures, especially those prophesying the birth of God's Son. He is the visible representation of our invisible God, the beacon of hope, who came on that first Christmas morning to bring healing to the brokenhearted and liberation to the oppressed.
Among the prophecies of Christ's birth, there are several promises that I hold dear:
1. We Are Never Alone
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14).
Matthew, the author of the Gospel bearing his name, identified this prophecy as a reference to Jesus' birth, explaining its meaning as "God with us" (see Matthew 1:23).
Jesus embodies this truth in various ways. Though He came to earth in human form, He was fully divine. Through His death and resurrection, He granted us perpetual access to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit from the moment we put our faith in Him. On the eve of His crucifixion, He assured His disciples, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age]. (Matthew 28:20). In essence, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit dwell within us and accompany us throughout eternity. To experience the benefits of this reality, we must: (1) Embrace it as a reality, even when His presence may not feel close, recognizing that He is closer to us than our next breath. (2) Learn to discern His presence, especially during challenging times. (3) Make time for communion with Him through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, and meditation. This intimacy with God allows His Spirit to work within us, making us more attuned to His voice, and comforting our hearts with His boundless love.
2. He Maintains Complete Authority Over Everything
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7).
This Scripture confirms that the Messiah will have an eternal reign and establish a kingdom of righteousness and justice. When we consider this, we often imagine someone with political power ruling over all nations. While this perspective is not entirely wrong, it does not capture the whole picture. Christ is exalted above all forms of authority, both in the present age and in the age to come (Ephesians 1:21).
Despite this truth, it may be difficult to reconcile it with the existence of evil forces in the world, such as dictators and tyrants. How do we understand this apparent contradiction?
We must recognize that we are currently living in what is commonly referred to as the "already but not yet" kingdom of God. This means that we have access to spiritual blessings through faith in Christ, yet we eagerly anticipate the day when Christ will return to defeat all His enemies, including death itself (1 Corinthians 15:25-26).
In the meantime, we cling to the promise that God will use all our trials and sorrows for His ultimate good and glory (Romans 8:28). Despite our struggles, doubts, and hardships, we find comfort in the assurance Jesus gave us on the eve of His crucifixion.
We find peace by trusting in His unwavering care and sovereignty, knowing that He surpasses any challenge we may face on earth, whether corrupt leaders or oppressive laws.
Moreover, we recognize that God's kingdom primarily resides within us, as the King of kings dwells in our hearts (Luke 17:20-21). His presence gives us inexplicable peace amid life's chaos. Ultimately, our connection with Christ has the ability to calm even the most intense inner storms we encounter.
This brings us to our third promise which reminds us that our relationship with Christ calms the most intense storms that are brewing inside us.
3. Jesus Provides Healing and Comfort for Our Souls.
. . . and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6b).
Jesus exemplified these divine qualities in a metaphor from John 10, where He identified Himself as our caring shepherd. He expounds how this translates to our everyday lives. Assuming the roles of a remarkable guide and counselor, He leads us away from harm and towards wide open spaces. Despite being the Almighty God and the Creator of all things, He humbly sacrificed Himself for our sins to thwart the thief seeking our destruction, allowing us to experience a vibrant and abundant life (John 10:10).
This does not mean that we will be exempt from challenges and suffering. However, even amidst our most trying times, we can have faith that God is gradually healing the broken parts of our souls. He is in the process of restoring everything, including us, to its intended state. This concept is defined as peace, shalom, in Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus' gift of peace is not merely the absence of conflict but rather a steadfastness within us that keeps us grounded in Him. It is a journey towards wholeness that unfolds as we listen to His wisdom, rely on His strength, draw closer to the Creator, and follow the guidance of the Prince of Peace. At times, He may guide us to seek counseling, while other times He may bring healing through a song, a sermon, a meaningful encounter with a friend, or through a miraculous intervention. Regardless of the unique path we walk with Him, John 10:10 assures us that His desire is for us to flourish.
When the path ahead seems daunting and unclear, we can find solace in His promise in Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. The greater our alignment with His purpose for our lives, the deeper our sense of peace. This doesn't mean that we will be free from pain and adversity. In fact, Jesus warned us to expect challenges. Our external circumstances may deteriorate before they improve due to the pervasive influence of darkness and sin in the world. Nevertheless, the Bible assures us that our suffering on earth will not endure forever, as we are destined for enduring and unshakeable joy.
This leads to a profound promise, subtly embedded within an early chapter of the Bible.
4. God will Permanently Eradicate Evil from Our Existence.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed [offspring] and her seed; it [he] shall bruise [crush] thy head, and thou [you] shalt bruise [strike] his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
The first part of this verse illustrates our increasing hostility towards the devil. The following section refers to Jesus, who was born of a woman and will ultimately defeat our spiritual adversary decisively. His initial victory occurred through his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Colossians 2:15 expands on this truth, And having spoiled [disarmed] principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it [cross].
In Isaiah 61, God prophesied that the Messiah would bring freedom to captives and release to prisoners, symbolizing deliverance from sin and empowerment given to His followers through Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. As His redeemed children, we have been granted the authority to resist the devil and await his eventual condemnation to eternal damnation.
Christmas goes beyond mere celebrations and nostalgic reflections on events from the past millennia; it serves as a reminder of the profound gifts bestowed on us by God through His Son, motivating us to hold onto hope for the future. Let's claim these promises.
During my most fearful or painful moments, I find solace in the promises written in the Scriptures, especially those prophesying the birth of God's Son. He is the visible representation of our invisible God, the beacon of hope, who came on that first Christmas morning to bring healing to the brokenhearted and liberation to the oppressed.
Among the prophecies of Christ's birth, there are several promises that I hold dear:
1. We Are Never Alone
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14).
Matthew, the author of the Gospel bearing his name, identified this prophecy as a reference to Jesus' birth, explaining its meaning as "God with us" (see Matthew 1:23).
Jesus embodies this truth in various ways. Though He came to earth in human form, He was fully divine. Through His death and resurrection, He granted us perpetual access to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit from the moment we put our faith in Him. On the eve of His crucifixion, He assured His disciples, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age]. (Matthew 28:20). In essence, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit dwell within us and accompany us throughout eternity. To experience the benefits of this reality, we must: (1) Embrace it as a reality, even when His presence may not feel close, recognizing that He is closer to us than our next breath. (2) Learn to discern His presence, especially during challenging times. (3) Make time for communion with Him through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, and meditation. This intimacy with God allows His Spirit to work within us, making us more attuned to His voice, and comforting our hearts with His boundless love.
2. He Maintains Complete Authority Over Everything
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7).
This Scripture confirms that the Messiah will have an eternal reign and establish a kingdom of righteousness and justice. When we consider this, we often imagine someone with political power ruling over all nations. While this perspective is not entirely wrong, it does not capture the whole picture. Christ is exalted above all forms of authority, both in the present age and in the age to come (Ephesians 1:21).
Despite this truth, it may be difficult to reconcile it with the existence of evil forces in the world, such as dictators and tyrants. How do we understand this apparent contradiction?
We must recognize that we are currently living in what is commonly referred to as the "already but not yet" kingdom of God. This means that we have access to spiritual blessings through faith in Christ, yet we eagerly anticipate the day when Christ will return to defeat all His enemies, including death itself (1 Corinthians 15:25-26).
In the meantime, we cling to the promise that God will use all our trials and sorrows for His ultimate good and glory (Romans 8:28). Despite our struggles, doubts, and hardships, we find comfort in the assurance Jesus gave us on the eve of His crucifixion.
We find peace by trusting in His unwavering care and sovereignty, knowing that He surpasses any challenge we may face on earth, whether corrupt leaders or oppressive laws.
Moreover, we recognize that God's kingdom primarily resides within us, as the King of kings dwells in our hearts (Luke 17:20-21). His presence gives us inexplicable peace amid life's chaos. Ultimately, our connection with Christ has the ability to calm even the most intense inner storms we encounter.
This brings us to our third promise which reminds us that our relationship with Christ calms the most intense storms that are brewing inside us.
3. Jesus Provides Healing and Comfort for Our Souls.
. . . and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6b).
Jesus exemplified these divine qualities in a metaphor from John 10, where He identified Himself as our caring shepherd. He expounds how this translates to our everyday lives. Assuming the roles of a remarkable guide and counselor, He leads us away from harm and towards wide open spaces. Despite being the Almighty God and the Creator of all things, He humbly sacrificed Himself for our sins to thwart the thief seeking our destruction, allowing us to experience a vibrant and abundant life (John 10:10).
This does not mean that we will be exempt from challenges and suffering. However, even amidst our most trying times, we can have faith that God is gradually healing the broken parts of our souls. He is in the process of restoring everything, including us, to its intended state. This concept is defined as peace, shalom, in Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus' gift of peace is not merely the absence of conflict but rather a steadfastness within us that keeps us grounded in Him. It is a journey towards wholeness that unfolds as we listen to His wisdom, rely on His strength, draw closer to the Creator, and follow the guidance of the Prince of Peace. At times, He may guide us to seek counseling, while other times He may bring healing through a song, a sermon, a meaningful encounter with a friend, or through a miraculous intervention. Regardless of the unique path we walk with Him, John 10:10 assures us that His desire is for us to flourish.
When the path ahead seems daunting and unclear, we can find solace in His promise in Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. The greater our alignment with His purpose for our lives, the deeper our sense of peace. This doesn't mean that we will be free from pain and adversity. In fact, Jesus warned us to expect challenges. Our external circumstances may deteriorate before they improve due to the pervasive influence of darkness and sin in the world. Nevertheless, the Bible assures us that our suffering on earth will not endure forever, as we are destined for enduring and unshakeable joy.
This leads to a profound promise, subtly embedded within an early chapter of the Bible.
4. God will Permanently Eradicate Evil from Our Existence.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed [offspring] and her seed; it [he] shall bruise [crush] thy head, and thou [you] shalt bruise [strike] his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
The first part of this verse illustrates our increasing hostility towards the devil. The following section refers to Jesus, who was born of a woman and will ultimately defeat our spiritual adversary decisively. His initial victory occurred through his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Colossians 2:15 expands on this truth, And having spoiled [disarmed] principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it [cross].
In Isaiah 61, God prophesied that the Messiah would bring freedom to captives and release to prisoners, symbolizing deliverance from sin and empowerment given to His followers through Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. As His redeemed children, we have been granted the authority to resist the devil and await his eventual condemnation to eternal damnation.
Christmas goes beyond mere celebrations and nostalgic reflections on events from the past millennia; it serves as a reminder of the profound gifts bestowed on us by God through His Son, motivating us to hold onto hope for the future. Let's claim these promises.