Isaiah – Word of Prayer

8. John the Prophet

Post author:Ron
Post published:December 17, 2014
Post category:Praying God's Word Starting a Journey with Jesus (Matthew)

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 8 (Matthew 3:1-6)

Our picture of prophets is a little skewed. Most of us think of prophets more as oracles or fortune-tellers. The Bible is filled with prophets who boldly proclaim God’s Word to in a timely way to people who need to hear it. Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah are all great prophets from ancient days who did just that. Now in our journey we meet another prophet who prepares the way for those who will journey with Jesus.

While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”

John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy:

Thunder in the desert!  Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!

John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life. (Matthew 3:1-6, MSG)

We have heard about prophetic fulfillment and we have already seen several pretend kings. Now we hear from a real life prophet. (more…)

3. Misgivings, Grace and Name-giving

Post author:Ron
Post published:December 11, 2014
Post category:Praying God's Word Starting a Journey with Jesus (Matthew)

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 3 (Matthew 1:18-25)

Jesus’ birth took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being righteous, did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he planned to put her aside quietly.

While he was thinking it out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Marry as your wife. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus–‘God saves’–because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring to fulfillment the prophet’s message given by the Lord:

Watch–a virgin will become pregnant and bear a son;  They will call his name Immanuel (it means in Hebrew “God is with us”).

Joseph woke up from his sleep and did just as the Lord’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not know her intimately until she had the son. He named the baby Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25)

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