TEXT: Matthew 2:19-23:
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
After preaching the Gospel every day for 367 days straight throughout the 2016 presidential campaign season, I am preaching the Gospel every day throughout the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s term. If you think a new president being in office is the only thing needed to save America and ‘make America great again’, you are woefully deceived. The church must follow through and “keep the main thing the main thing: and that is reaching unbelievers with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for their salvation, for the problem in America is not only disobedient presidents, politicians, and people, but disobedient pastors, preachers, and parishioners who have refused to obey the Lord’s Great Commission which is to, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,’ and who have refused to obey God’s repeated commands to ‘pray without ceasing’ for unbelievers, believers, and political leaders.” So, we encourage you to pray for the new president, but not to get caught up in the political happenings like the world does. Nothing much is going to change until people get saved and get their hearts right with the Lord. And that is what this campaign is all about.
This campaign is inspired by the following three verses: 1 Corinthians 2:2 which says, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Acts 5:42 which says, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” And 2 Timothy 2:4 which says, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
This series is not for Christians necessarily. However, I do hope you are one of those saints who still loves to hear the “Old, old story of Jesus and His love” — As another hymn says, “For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.” This series is primarily for unbelievers, so they can hear and understand the Gospel and be saved from sin and the punishment of sin which is hell. This is message number 46, day 413 since Jan. 1, 2016.
John Fletcher said, “Only look to Jesus. He died for you, died in your place, died under the frowns of heaven, that we might die under its smile. Regard neither unbelief nor doubt. Fear neither sin nor hell. Choose neither life nor death. All these are swallowed up in the immensity of Christ and are triumphed over in His cross.”
The Child Jesus remained in Egypt until Herod was dead. Matthew’s Jewish audience would have immediately recognized the Mosaic parallels in the life of the young Messiah. Moses, the appointed deliverer of his people, left Egypt to escape the wrath of Pharaoh. He returned forty years later, after that Pharaoh had died, and led his people out of slavery. Jesus, the anointed deliverer of all people, left Judea and went to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. He likewise returned after Herod had died.
In Jesus’ deliverance from Herod, we see the sovereignty of God over all human rulers. Just as Pharaoh could not prevent God from delivering the Jews from slavery in Egypt, Herod could not prevent God from bringing His Son, the King of Kings, into the world. Craig S. Keener said, “Although Jesus would face more persecution in his adult years, Herod’s death granted him a time of relative respite until his public ministry. Although Matthew mentions Herod’s murder of the children, he notes Herod’s own death three times — indicating that God alone holds the ultimate power of life and death.”
More significantly than Herod being unable to stop Jesus’ arrival is the fact that Satan could not stop Jesus’ arrival. Satan was the one truly behind Herod’s massacre of innocent babies. He thought that he could stop God’s plan to save humanity from slavery to sin before it even got started. But God intervened and the Savior of the World was safely incubated from the hatred and violence directed against Him even as a Child. God’s deliverance of Moses from Pharaoh and His deliverance of Jesus from Herod reminds us that, even though the powers of this world may be arrayed against God and His people, God will always win, and those who belong to Him will always be delivered.
Bob Gotti wrote this poem titled ‘God’s Deliverance’:
When your back is against the wall, trust in The Lord, Who is over all,
It is God, Who knows all things, when in a trial deliverance He brings,
During those times, it’s understood, all things work out for our good,
In that time when we’re concerned, we can trust in what we’ve learned.
Whenever we want to complain, we must seek God, simple and plain,
Lifting our heart to God in prayer, to The Lord above, with every care,
For God is the One to deliver us, and our only task is, to in Him trust,
Knowing God does what He may, during our trial, He will make a way.
God’s omniscient, there’s no denial, so He knows all about every trial,
We may see only a darkened wall, but, The Savior will never let us fall,
For God has delivered many before, we in His plan, are just one more,
Life, to show His power and purpose; in those who know Christ Jesus.
God watches over His own even now. And though it may seem like sin and evil have the last word, history shows that, in the end, God and His people always triumph. The question for you is: Which side are you on? Will you join the side of truth, salvation, and deliverance? Or will you remain in your sins and perish with the rest of the world?
Jesus came in order that we all might be saved from our sins and the punishment of sin. Here is how you can place your faith and truth in Him for your salvation.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to GospelLightSociety.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Saitama Light News 