The Magi were wise men, probably Jews
The Magi were like the Prophet Daniel
The Magi were most likely believers in Yahweh and the Coming Messiah
The Magi believed God spoke in Dreams
They came from a country in the East
There might have been more than 3 Wise Men
Herod feared and respected the Magi
The Magi were not at the Birth of Jesus,
they came to the house (up to 2 years later)
The gifts gave Joseph and Mary money to flee to Egypt
In the 3rd Century, is When the Magi Were Considered Kings
Only the Gospel of Matthew Mentions the Magi
Some of the Scripture the MAGI could have based their trip on:
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Isaiah 7:14 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 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
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.
Psalm 72:10-11 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Category: Holidays
LABOR DAY
A federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.
Beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation, Labour(s) is mentioned.
Genesis 31:42 … God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
Revelation 14:13 … Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
From Romans to Hebrews Paul mentions Labour 31 times.
Yes, we are to Labour (work) so we can earn a living and help others:
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
In several epistles Paul commends those who laboured with him.
Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Paul reminds Timothy sharing the Gospel is worthy Labour.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
God will not forget your Labour.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Again remember what the Apostle wrote in Revelation:
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Parents Day
Made an American holiday in 1994, Congress unanimously passed the fourth Sunday of July as PARENTS DAY.
Matthew 15:1-9 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
DAD and MOM first… In 1979 the United Nations announced the International year of the Child.
Now don’t misunderstand. We are to love our children. We are to parent them, feed them, provide for and help them with their problems. And a firm believer of children’s rights: THEIR RIGHT TO OBEY THEIR PARENTS.
Every year we hear a lot about child abuse, and I believe all child abusers should be punished, to the full extent of the Law. But let’s define abuse:
In Sweden a parent cannot spank or even speak harshly to a child or they will suffer the consequences of going to jail.
In USA some parents are in jail, awaiting jail terms for correcting their child.
But what about Parents, what about the 5th Commandment,
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: …
Family was (and s) God’s Idea, His plan for mankind.
It is not the result of evolution.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
FATHER, MOTHER, CHILDREN, FAMILY!!!
How does God view obeying parents?
Leviticus 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, …: I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27:16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Young people … You want to please God? Obey your parents … Do what they ask.
You who no longer live under your parent’s roof … Respect your Parents…
Speak kindly to and about them… Forgive them …… You are not perfect either!!!
Fathers Day (2)
Father’s Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph’s Day since the Middle Ages. In the United States, Father’s Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd, and celebrated on the third Sunday of June for the first time in 1910. The day is held on various dates across the world, and different regions maintain their own traditions of honoring fatherhood.
Most of the references in the Gospels and Acts are to the early Jewish leaders, from Abraham and continuing to the New Testament. Even Paul in his epistles many times refers to these FATHERS (Jewish Leaders). I.E. Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Hebrews and Peter also refers to these fathers.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
THE ROD (a paddle) properly applied gently, in Love will accomplish much in raising your children.
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
1 John 2:13-14 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
One final word: You are the Father, your children look to you for love, instruction and guidance. Be stern and friendly. BE THEIR FATHER.
When they become adults then you can be their friend.
Mothers Day
Mother’s Day … A day, once a year, set aside to honor Mom!
Some Great Mother’s in Scripture:
EVE ………….… 1st Mom and called the Mother of All
Noah’ Wife ……Mother of Shem, Ham and Japhet
Sarah ……………Mother of Isaac
Hanna …………..Mother of Samuel
Elisabeth ……….Mother of John the Baptist
Mary ……………..Mother of the Lord Jesus
But let’s consider a mother who was paid to raise her own child.
Exodus 2:1-10 Her name is Jochebed … Mother of Moses.
Exodus 2:2-4 The love of a mother …not to be confused with what is happening today, where some women don’t want families … abortion runs rampant. Babies are discarded in rubbish piles, abandoned.
The key to this mother’s love is found in verse 1 .. a man took to wife, marriage .. a family (the old fashioned way).
What were this mother’s wages … a gold piece .. a few pieces of silver …food…?
Her wages were far greater … her wages were in the life of her son and in what he would become.
That’s the REAL wages of a mother.
We all are familiar of the story of MOSES:
Used by God in freeing the children of Israel from Bondage.
From Egypt, through the Red Sea, to Mount Sinai.
Deliverer of the LAW, Through 40 years of wilderness wanderings and to the promise land.
But have you ever considered:
Who taught him to love his people? Pharaoh’s daughter? …. NAY!
Who taught him to believe in God? Pharaoh? …. NAY!
Who gave him value of fellow humans, of life itself? The Egyptians? …. NAY!
It was his mother’s love…. His family.
How long did she have to teach him?
Exodus 2:10 … About 5-6 years …until he was weaned. 1 Samuel 1:23-24
How did she teach him … by loving him .. by example … by songs of love
A Mother’s Wages … Dollars … Cents?
Only time and eternity will reveal the true value of a mother.
Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
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Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in the United States and on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox occurs throughout the rest of the world.
Read the Bible.
God created earth and named it.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
God gave dominion over it.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
God flooded it because of man’s evilness.
Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
God promised not to flood it again.
Genesis 7:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
But earth and heaven will be destroyed, because of man’s sin.
2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
God will give us a new heaven and earth.
2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
When we know these things WHY does man think he can control the climate?
His Cross
What do you know about the Cross? The Cross that the Lord died upon.
It’s interesting that it was made of wood AND that God chose NOT to save it …
What did it look like> A “T” or “t” or “X” or “I” .The word Cross only appears in the New Testament.
28 times. 17 times in the Gospels and 11 times in the epistles.
Jesus mentioned the cross 6 times BUT not to His cross.
Matthew 10:38, 16:24, Mark 8:34, 10:21, Luke 9:23, 14:27 As a burden.
The cross has been immortalized in song: “The Old Rugged Cross”.
What was THIS Cross?
To the Mob … it was an instrument of punishment and death. One of the cruelest forms of execution devised by man. It wasn’t around very long, used by the Romans. Yet 1000 years before the Psalmist wrote Psalm 22.
To the Jew … His cross was a curse! On the way to Calvary, the Lord stumbles and Simon the Cyrene was compelled to take up the cross.
Why compelled? Matthew 27:32
Simon was a Jew, on a pilgrimage to the Holy City, Jerusalem.
He knew Hebrew Law,
Deuteronomy 21:23, And the cross was a tree.
YES, to the mob, an instrument of death, to the Jew a curse.
But to God, it was an altar. Since the days of Adam, innocent blood has been shed to cover the sins of man. Now, the final sacrifice was to be given to forgive the sins of man.
The Lamb of God would offer His blood for the Sin of all.
1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 9:28, 10:12,14
To the mob, an instrument of death, to the Jew a curse, to God an altar.
EASTER (2)
Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Easter, Latin Pascha, Greek Pascha, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier.
Acts 12:4 SHOULD NOT contain the word EASTER since the earliest recorded observation was in the 2nd century.
Despite its significance as a Christian holy day, many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observances actually have roots in pagan celebrations—particularly the pagan goddess Eostre—and in the Jewish holiday of Passover. Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, as described in the Old Testament. These links are clearly seen in the Last Supper, which occurred the night before Jesus’ arrest and the sufferings Jesus endured following his arrest. The Last Supper was essentially a Passover feast.
Easter is not a federal holiday.
⇛ continue reading Easter (2) Part 2
⇛ checkout List of TopicsNational Day
There are over 1500 National Days, Weeks and Months in the USA.
Many of them are laughable.
Just get on the internet and search National “…. “ to find them.
Here are just three of them:
August 11th, National Sons and daughters Day. First celebrated in 1944.
Fourth Sunday in July, National Parents Day. First celebrated in 1994.
First Sunday after Labor Day in September, National Grandparents Day an official holiday in 1988.
These are really not necessary. God has already given us instructions on how we should treat our Children (Sons and Daughters), our Parents, and our Grandparents. There are too many verses to list them here. But start with the 5th commandment. Read Ephesians 6 for starters. Psalm and Proverbs also contain many great verses of instruction. We don’t need our government to tell us how to honor our family members.
Oh Yes, Happy National Day …
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Consider Christmas
First observed in Rome, 354 A.D.
First observed in Jerusalem 385 A.D.
December 25th was chosen in Rome to coincide with the Pagan Holiday of Sun Worship so that Christians might perform their sacred rites undisturbed, while the Pagans celebrated their Holiday.
In 1647, the Puritans, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Quakers so opposed Christmas that it was outlawed in North America.
CHRISTMAS … formed from the word’s Christ’s Mass.
Occurred in English Language as early as 1038.
ADVENT … the time of preparation, preceding the coming of the Lord.
EPIPHANY … the Festival in the Christian Church honoring the visit of the Magi.
Occurs on January 6th, the 12th day after Christmas.
NOEL … French word – A word shouted or sung as an expression of Joy.
Originally to honor the birth of Christ.
YULE … of pagan Teutonic Origin … the idea of noise or clamor accompanying some feast. In old English it’s used to denote the time of December, January.
CANDLEMAS … the feast celebrating the purification of the Virgin Mary.
Or the presentation of Christ in the Temple. It occurs on February 2nd.
The real reason for Christmas … The birth of the Saviour of the World.
The Old Testament is full of His coming. Consider:
Born of a Woman
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Seed of Abraham
Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
From the Tribe of Judah
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Born of a Virgin
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Heir to David’s Throne
Isaiah 9:7 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.
Time of His birth (fulness of Time)
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Place of His birth
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.
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