Fulfilled: Time of Jesus' Birth

Thank you for tuning into the radio ministry of community church had cleared our focus is making Christ visible providing an atmosphere, worship, community come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online activities.

He.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop that sometimes pastors get some really funny letters here just a couple of them written by kids to their pastors. The first one says dear Pastor I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won't be there so if you have brothers, you know how that works dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody, but you never met my sister in this one. I can truly understand this child dear pastor, are there any devils on earth.

I think there may be one in my class I get some funny letters to the sometimes I get some really thought-provoking letters. In fact, Facebook messages and I received one couple weeks ago from a young man in our church and asked his permission to share this with you. He wrote he said Pastor Shaw.

I greatly appreciated your message today. I've been working on several questions lately that I had can't seem to find an easy way to answer questions of faith I have found can't necessarily be resolved by scientific journal databases your sermon today.

On the other hand, help me in getting one of those questions to and articulate state. Would you mind either helping me with one of these are pointing me toward some resources where I can research the topic. Thank you. And of course I answered. Of course anything I can do I'll be more than glad to help and guide you. So he wrote back and said also what evidence is there for the supernatural and then he went on to explain what he meant by that. What evidence is there for the supernatural of this young man is asking how do we know that there is another world. How do we know that there is a world that you can see with your eyes can feel with your hands but it is just as real. In fact, it's more real than the men.

The material world in which we live.

Tough question, but a great reminder that our young people have not given up on Christianity. Now there's a reason why I brought this up is very easy to get up and preached very honest with these easy to preach very easy to make a message. Something about shepherds and wise men or something like that patch it up together couple of jokes couple some things to entertain you fee applications and go home. Have a good day. We have come across the generation we have left that generation where people just believe because we told him to believe were living in a generation where people have access to the Internet have access to information they have professors who are standing in their college classrooms and this is happening for decades, not just something started last week and and watching television with experts there who are telling them that the Bible is not the word of God. The Bible has many mistakes and it's the na飗e who just like your little grandma who goes to church and tries to believe church is for those people, the burden is on the charts, the burden is on us to give a reason for the whole that is within us, with meekness and fear to be able to look our young people in the face and and say this and I may not have all the answers but let me tell you this I will find it for you. But the Bible is the word of God without any errors in the Jesus Christ is the way truth in life and that's the reason for this series fulfilled fulfilled the timing of Jesus's birth.

So if you have your Bibles with you, turn to Matthew chapter 1 verse 17 when look at only one verse this morning, this verse is jampacked with so much and hopefully that will encourage you to stand for your faith.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are 14 generations from David until the captivity in Babylon are 14 generations and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are 14 generations. That is probably the oddest opening verse of ever read is pregnant with information is powerful.

You may not realize it, but this verse that we just read Matthew 117 is the John 316 of the gospel of Matthew was John 316 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. If I was in a situation, but where I can only tell one verse to somebody I would say John 316. Once you but if I had to pick a John 316 and Matthew this is it. One scholar called it is the gospel in miniature.

It may not seem like it right now. But as we unpack it hopefully will realize how powerful does versus because there are several things that are happening in this verse to start with Abraham. There is a promise given David. There is blessing God raised his people. But then David's sin and following him every one of them fail and judgment came because they rejected God they lost the land but then there was a promise that was given to them that at the right time God will send his son promised blessing rejection, salvation. You see, that is the story of God's people and that should be our story has Jesus saved you.

Is he the king over your life. The passage we just read has been a porn acorn in the side for many evangelical scholars.

In fact, this passage has been used, probably more than any by those who are against Christianity to say that the Bible is not the word of God. By the way, this is not to be your typical message. This message is just as apologetic, not apologizing, but apologetic, as in defending the truth. At the same time helping you submit to Christ, so it's a different message I want to hear again.

This verse, Matthew 117 so all the generations from Abraham to David are 14 from David into the captivity in Babylon are 14 and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are 14 generations three issues in particular are in this passage, you may not know this but I want to make you aware of it. The first issue is this three sections, but the time between those three sections is not equal. The time between Abraham and David. David and the exile exile in Christ is not equal between Abraham and David. There was at least how many years 1000 years at least. How about between David and the exile, only 400 years about the last section would been exiled to Christ 600 years so the sections are 1400 600.

They're all over the place. What is complicated is this if there were 14 generations in each section, as Matthew says that the average generation in the first section is 78 years, the average generation. The second section is 28 years, the average generation in the per section is 42 years as unit if there's only 14 generations and 1000 years.

If there are 14 generations and 400 years. You see, it's all over the place.

By the way, does anybody know what is the average generation is typically only 25 years so all over the place so people have said something is not right with this picture is all women in the first generation the time of Abraham, people lived a long time. Not as long as you would think if you go back to Adam and Methuselah and all those people then maybe they lived eight, 900 years, but by the time of Abraham, the agent dropped.

He lived about hundred 40 some years. So something is not right in this picture but in things get more complicated. Here's the second thing in the first two sections from Abraham to David and from David to the Babylonian exile.

There are 14 names you can look it up. Matthew one read it at home. Take a highlighter and mark out the names in the first section 14 names in the second section 14 names if you come to the per section hoops is only 13 names what people do is they detained the last name from the second section and bring it back again into the per section to make it 14 of this is very interesting to you guys hang in there so people say okay we get it.

So this is how you make it 1414 14 but is so subjective within their something else.

When you compare Matthew genealogy} Matthew getting his names from where is he getting the list from well one source we have is the Old Testament he's finding them in first Chronicles is finding them in the book of Ruth. He's finding them in first and second if you take Matthew's list, Matthew 11 through 17 and compare it with Chronicles and Ruth Ann for second Kings what you realize very quickly. In fact, this faculty can do that at home that Matthew skips over several names. So when you say 14 generations 14 generations 14 generations.

There is a little bit of issue there because he is skipping over names to make them 14 and something else. If you take Matthew's genealogy and compared with Luke's genealogy unit located genealogy as well. In chapter 3.

What you find it.

Of course they are going to different sides of Joseph of their something again is an issue because Luke has far more names and Matthew. So here's the thing, did Matthew not realize that now do you understand why people who don't believe like we do say the Bible has errors does Matthew not know how to count. Does he not have an accurate list from which to copy. Is he trying to manipulate and forget stuff.

Here's the bottom line question. Does the Bible have mistakes in the answer is of course not. The Bible is the word of God. We believe that this book has been given by the inspiration of God and what he means by inspiration that God breathed through the Holy Spirit and the men of God wrote the book down through their personalities through their education, but he was still the word of God and if it's God's word.

God doesn't make mistakes in the Bible is not filled with mistakes. If I come across. Matthew 117 not see a problem.

What I do them. Should I just ignore it and turn over gargling just move on. I don't know. We can afford to do that specially because our young people are being told that the Bible has mistakes, it is imperative that we give them a reason why is it this way. It's imperative that you and I do the research that needs to be done to come back and say I know it may look like a mistake when we explained to you why it's not believe the Bible every single word of it is the word of God without any errors. And with that as my basis.

I am willing to check this one out and figure out what we explained this way, what happens when a traffic light goes out is that ever happened to you in the weather changes the storm is coming. I'll send this one traffic light. You can see is completely blank or stars blinking what you do when you come to the traffic light will you do you slow down you stop, you look for this traffic pattern to see what's what exactly is happening you're okay so we're keep rolling. Let's keep on rolling make him stop.

You know we would get selfish at the point but we we operate under the assumption that if the traffic light was operating that this is how we need to move know what happens when you leave that traffic light that is not working at the moment and go to the next traffic light that is working what you do at that point the you say why don't believe in traffic lights in the morgue that one didn't work. What you do when you come to a traffic light that is working you. You stop and you follow the rules because it does work. Do you ever go home and say to your wife or your husband or your children sale from this day on, I believe in traffic lights with that one did not work and none of us are going to believe it. Is that what you do now you say well there was a problem. Hopefully somebody must've called and somebody calls a come and fix it and everything is back folks when it comes to the Bible same things. There are times you come across things that will not make sense. That may seem to be a mistake but they are not so let me give you two possible solutions very quickly.

The first is this the number seven is a very important number in the Bible. The going up a new number seven is special and oh I remember Coach asking me what number you want is seven taken as God's number.

If I have God in my assignment on winning this game why we believe that number seven is special. Wealth comes from the Bible. Listen to Genesis chapter 2 verse three after God made the heavens and the earth in six days what happened on the seventh day. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.

Seven they will special. Here's another one.

Genesis chapter 8 verse four. Remember, no one in the flood seven days it rains water is coming down water is coming up. There is a flood. What happens then the ark rested in which month, seventh month, the 17th day of the month on the mountains of Ararat here comes another one in Exodus chapter 13 verse six God's people are leaving Egypt the last plague is the plague where God told his people sacrifice a lamb and take the blood and put it over the doorpost in the lintels of the house.

If I see the blood, I would pass over the house. If there is no blood. The first male boy, the first male child will die man and beast. What happens here. Listen to Exodus 13, six, seven days you shall eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day there shall be a feast of the Lord move on to Leviticus 46 the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood. How many times will you do that 7󬱟 time in front of the veil of the sanctuary here comes another one numbers 28 verse 19 and you shall present an offering made by fire as a burnt offering to the Lord to young bulls, one ram, and what and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. Does that sound familiar is that remind you of somebody else who was a lamb without spot and blemish. Who was he Jesus Christ.

Let me jump over this book of Psalms number 12 verse six the words of the Lord are pure words like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Jump over the last book, the book of Revelation chapter 2 verse one to the angel of the church of Ephesus write these things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, the number seven was a very important number in the Bible it was considered to be God's number. It was a number of completion. It was a number of wholeness. Now what is 7+714 not think with me for a moment how many sections. Matthew said that three sections Abraham to David David to exile exile to Christ in each section. There are 14 certain the first one there is the first seven in the second seven in the second section, there is the part seven and the fourth seven and the parts section. There is the fifth seven and the sixth seven Christ comes.

Who is the 77 you'll get most why do you think why do you think we have tough time understanding this body thing I preached so much from the Old Testament because the Old Testament is the soil in which the New Testament has been planted.

You and I may have trouble with the Bible, but the Jewish people who are reading Matthew's gospel goes is directed to them. They're going that's the ultimate. Matthew's purpose was not to give us the genetic DNA bloodline going back if you want that goal go to synagogue go to the temple. You'll find your family tree. His purpose was to convince his people first, that Jesus Christ was the ultimate he came. He is the true self to guess what he does. He picks certain people something else. The number seven is very important but also the number 14 is very important to give a couple of examples. Not as many as the number seven but you do find some numbers 20 and verse 16.

What is essay on the 14th day of the first month is what Passover what happens on the Passover lamb to sacrifice. Jesus became our Passover lamb member the previous one on the seventh day, the real feast begins. But the feast actually starts on the 14th day of the month for second, third, fourth, fifth, six, seven, seven day is that hive note in the feast, numbers 29 verse 13 you shall present a barn offering an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to the Lord. Guess what you gonna do in this offering 13 young bulls to rams and how many lambs, 14 lambs in their first year.

I see this sounds familiar, shall be without both the number seven in the number 14 were considered to be the perfect number pointing towards the Lamb of God who is Jesus Christ. I'll give you one more. This is found in first Kings chapter 865. At that time. Solomon held a feast and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hemet to the brook of Egypt before the Lord our God, how long do you celebrate this feast, you can watch the people come together, man is the feast of the Lord, seven days man that was amazing and we have seven more yell as the seven more because we really want to celebrate we can do 14 days 11 Matthew picks 14 generations. He is telling his people. The real deal has come. Those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, will see and hear it something else. David's name according to his system called the Montr閍l, you said what was that again sound like you cursed, I didn't give Manchuria was a system in ancient system where every Hebrew letter had a number. For example, I'm going by the Hebrew alphabet, a was 1B was to G and English. It is see. But in Hebrews G was 3D was for. Remember that D was for next comes H was five. Then comes the which is six David is DVD for six how many for how much is 4+6+4 is a too early to count hello how much 14 is a come on Pastor that's that's way too much gymnastics. I don't believe the Bible is anything like this can Manchuria stuff you talking about.

This is not in the this is not biblical. Now, I haven't read the book of Revelation chapter 13 verse 18 there's a number there that is very famous that I'm guarantee you you will not put it on your license plate was that number 666666 and read it to you. It says let him who has understanding calculate the number of the bees but it is the number of a man.

His number is 666 is give Manchuria and the people who are reading Revelation back there knew that's Caesar Nero is the man who crucified Christian set them on fire just to persecute them see what Matthew's doing here is he is putting. In fact, listen to the very first words in the Gospel of Matthew. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Was he say he doesn't say the son of Abraham. Even though Abraham came for sees is what the son of David. Then he says, the son of Abraham. What is David's number 14.

By the way, all you have to do is go home and count the number of the name starting with Abraham, guess who the 14th person is David Matthews telling his people. Is this he is reminding them that Jesus came through the line of David to claim his rightful throne.

I don't have time to do this but I challenge you go home and read the Gospel of Matthew in every place it says the son of David, underline it, you will be shot is one of the keys to understanding the gospel of Matthew for Matthew. Jesus Christ was the true King of Israel, where David failed. He will do what's right where David could not save his people. He came to save his people and he is telling all Israel bow before your true King by the way, when Jesus hung on the cross.

What did Pilate put on the black king of the Jews and the Pharisees describes the high priest said to me, take that dongle. He is not our king. Is that what I have put up I've done you can change that. What is the point.

The first point is this. When someone says oh the Bible has mistakes. The Bible is not the word of God, the Bible was made by the church.

Look, the mistakes all over. At that point.

Do realize you looking at someone who hasn't done their home. The Bible for centuries since the beginning of time has stood the test of time. It is the word of God, the burden is not on the Bible, the burden is on us were the ones who are ignorant and we think there is a mistake when there isn't number two. Jesus is the true King. He has come. Not only does not only to save us from our sins, but he has come to take the rightful throne in our hearts is not enough to say why say I'm safe I'm going to heaven. Now every part of you should also be submitted to him, my mind belongs to him. Which means this.

I cannot sit there loud junk to going to my mind it is not mine anymore. It's his my money belongs to him is no longer my money and I do what I want to. It's his money is no longer my time.

It is his time.

Everything that I am he is the king overage to the question this morning. Number one is are you saved have you received the one who was promised and came in the fullness of time.

Have you received them as your Savior. You said oh yes I have the second question is, is your king is even a master of your life. Is he the boss of your life. If not, today is a day to say God I want you to rule over my life. I'm submitting everything over to you no longer my will be done, but your will be done this morning as we go on a time of invitation. The message is simple.

God's word will endure forever. Everything will fade. People will fail. Governments will fall kingdoms will rise and be an and come down but as the word of God that endures forever. It is the truth and bother me listen very carefully to me this morning. The matter who you are where you come from what you think. There is no other book like the Bible is the only true word of God is that what how do you object. I have checked is the word of God you can trust it with your life you can trust it with your home, you can trusted with this church. It is the work.

It is our final authority number two if you never given your life to Jesus Christ. There is no one else coming to save.

There is no one else were waiting on because he is the one who did it all is completes its done. If seven was not enough. Matthew says 7+7. It is not completely done with three using the king over your life. Is he the boss of you give it all felt thank you so much for joining us for this message. The Bible is the inerrant word of God shows us how Jesus God son was the one who was promised to come to save us from our sins. Trust in Christ for salvation today for more information visit us online@clearviewv.org for this sermon's notes. Check out Pastor Shaw's blog that I would on shot.com