Nativity Theme The Nativity presents numerous powerful proofs regarding God and displays them for all who would see them.

17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Introduction The amazing part of this story is that some of the prosecutors are still convinced that the accused – now completely exonerated prisoner – is still guilty!

How can someone stubbornly hold on to such a position when the facts tell otherwise? 1. They failed to do adequate homework: finding truth takes digging 2. An unwillingness to adequately investigate something they don’t want to be true 3. Making a judgment on a subject they knew little about 4. A refusal to accept information contrary to personal wishes/desires 5. Failure to acknowledge a mentally disabling prejudice

Love is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1Cor 13:6

Truth changes people. Truth is powerful. Certain facts ARE life changing.

The Following are Three prophetic truths about Jesus that are changing the world.

1. The Truth that Transforms: “God With Us”

THE PROMISE: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Is. 7:14 THE EVENT: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means, God with us. Matt 1:23 Surrounded by miraculous events: predictions (35 in all), hosts of angels, miraculous events, royal bloodline, traveling star, etc. THE IMPACT: God cares enough about us that he would actually come down here to save us in person.

2. The Truth that Transforms: “The Eternal King”

THE PROMISE: The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. Gen. 49:10 After more than 10 generations from King David, the legitimate King of the Jews would be born and ascend to the throne forever. (Jer. 22:28- 30) THE EVENT: The genealogies of Luke & Matthew. The Magi asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Mt 2:2 THE IMPACT: God has amazing power. He designs the destiny of men & kings &nations

3. The Truth that Transforms: “The Traveling Star”

The Prophecy Matthew 2:1-6 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east & have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” (Micah 5:1-3)

Symbol for the King of Judah – Lion

The fixed King star is Regulus (Regulus-Sharu)

The wandering King star was Jupiter (“wander” is the Greek word planao, “planet”)

The King planet was moving straight for the King star – moving east to west

The two converged to become the brightest object in the sky on a moonless night

Pause: Is this astrology? Astrology is the worship of stars as Gods Astrology is the belief that stars determine your destiny These ideas were so off base and dangerous they required the death penalty in Israel The Truth, the Bible reveals the exact opposite as true: God is God and he controls the stars The stars tell us about His nature and pour forth speech giving us information

Psalm 19 NLT 1 The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; 4 yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. They are declarative not predictive, they are road signs on life’s highway.

THE PROMISE: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17b THE EVENT: The unique conjunction of the “stars” attracted the urgent attention of the Magi. When they saw a fascinating series of conjunctions during a two-year period of time, they related it to the Biblical teaching that God would use the stars as "signs" and seasons Genesis 1:14 The Magi asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Mt 2:2 THE IMPACT: The Magi understood the prediction and the message better than the Jews. They gathered their resources and put them at the feet of the young child.

Challenge