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If you want to send me a Christmas card it would take only five data points to single me out from the billions of others who live on this vast planet.

COUNTRY

TOWN/CITY

STREET

HOUSE NUMBER

NAME

Scripture provides over 300 data points that point to Jesus as the unique and only begotten Son of God, Messiah.

He alone is the only candidate for the Christ.

In one recollection from the great Book we find the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus where He bumps into to quizzical disciples, reasoning over the tragic events and mysterious happenings of the past few days.

Jesus doesn’t whip up a few post-resurrection magic tricks, or perform other-worthy feats to prove His place. Instead He opens the book, and then their minds and hearts to the wonder that is written in there…

“Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27 KJV)

One of the most astounding studies is the prophetic word concerning the promised Messiah. Hundreds of such prophecies are given in the Old Testament between 4000 to 400 years prior to His birth (Sixty major prophecies and 270 ramifications).

The early church often justified their preaching of Jesus by stating what was written in the Scriptures concerning Him. The Scriptures they referred to were Old Testament Scriptures (the New had not even been written!).

If we consider how little information is required to pinpoint one individual among billions (country, town/city, street, house number, name), the multiplicity of these signposts to the identity of Messiah leaves no doubt as to who the Person they point to really is – Jesus.

The prophecies are like an address pointing to one individual in history. Approximately forty major claims to be the Messiah have been made in Jewish history, but only Jesus Christ appealed to fulfilled prophecy to substantiate His claims, and only He carried the credentials to back up those claims.

The prophecies includes details of His family line, the place and miraculous nature of His birth, His life of miracles, the place, the time and the mode of His death. They also tell of His resurrection from the dead.

To view a full list and have your heart burn within you with the wonder of the Scriptures go to https://davidleemartin.com/go/messiah

“In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). So I ask you not to lose heart [not to faint or become despondent through fear] …” (Ephesians 3:12–13 AMP)

Bold, naked prayers are invited in Heaven. No-hiding, no-excuse, no-worry requests are welcomed.

In Christ, we have boldness, because when we request we do so as if He Himself were standing in our place. His blood speaks on our behalf, removing any spot of sin, shame, or fear. His sacrifice says “yes” to every promise.

Your approach to God is unreserved.

In Christ.

While the world runs itself ragged with fear, you are urged not to faint. Don’t become despondent. The story’s written, the end is certain. You win!

For now, your free access is secure. Entrance to God’s realm is open through prayer. Boldly approach the throne of grace and pray on earth as in Heaven.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV)

Through Christ, prayer is the doorway that makes impossible things possible.

Last time, in Advent 17, we enjoyed a surprising glimpse of God’s grace hidden in a genealogy.

As the children of God, you too have a pretty crazy family line!

You have a rich creative heritage.

Right the way down your family line, brimming, bubbling, mind-blowing, creative courage flows like a mighty river.

It all began with Adam.

Sure, we all know he messed up in a royal manner.

And even Adamic ambitions and fallen genius can perform remarkable feats. Take the Babel-ing billionaires building their rockets, proudly scaling the heavens as they build their towers. It’s nothing short of amazing.

But there’s a world far beyond this world that’s far more impressive.

Abraham sought a city so magnificent all the kingdoms of this world paled in comparison.

Joseph dreamed of a promise so much greater than the accolades of earth that even the throne of Egypt did not satisfy his hunger. Even if just his aging bones he wanted to cross the threshold of God’s promised land.

Jacob dreamed a dream that stretched beyond any space station, a ladder reaching beyond the planets.

Andrew, Peter, James, and John willingly left a profitable earthbound and seaworthy business for a fishing trip that reached every corner of the populated planet (and beyond).

Paul jacked in a promising seminary career and his religious reputation knowing that the road beyond Damascus would now bring rewards that made all the crowns of man look like dung in comparison.

Yes, you are in good company!

Your family line is one of risk-takers, eternal hopers, and endless dreamers. It’s a line of no regrets and boundless belief in a better world.

And at the head of the charge, the author and the finisher of your faith, the Man who will pen the final flourish to your story, and usher you into a creative life so vibrant, so colourful, so beyond human belief it will take an eternity to explore.

Jesus. The King of your heart. The manger boy and Maker of all. His story and yours forever one.

When the Holy Ghost wrote the Bible, He must have used wet ink. His fingerprints are on every page!

Even the boring bits.

Take for example this list of begats nestled inconspicuously in the fifth chapter of the book of Genesis. It tells the unfolding story of Adam through Noah, but a bigger story is actually being told that is not immediately apparent to the eye.

In this chapter of the Holy book, you’ll find a list of ten names.

Welcome to a Christ-massive Countdown to the Saviour for your delectation, the story of Christmas thousands of years before the story was ever seen by human eyes or heard by human ears.

Adam

adomah, means “man.”

Seth

seth, which means “appointed.”

Enosh

which means “mortal,” “frail,” or “miserable.” It is from the root anash, to be incurable; used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness.

Kenan

which can mean “sorrow,” “dirge,” or “elegy.” (The precise denotation is somewhat elusive; some study aids unfortunately presume that Kenan is synonymous with “Cainan.”) Balaam, looking down from the heights of Moab, uses a pun upon the name of the Kenites when he prophesies their destruction. (Num 24:21, 23).

Mahalalel

which means “blessed” or “praise”; with ‘El”, the name for God = “The Blessed God”

Jared (Yared)

from the verb yaradh, meaning “shall come down.”

Enoch

which means “commencement,” or “teaching.” Enoch was a prophet, who amazingly prophesied the second coming of Christ. Part of this prophecy is recorded in the book of Jude, verse 14-15. He also gave his son, Methuselah, a prophetic name which meant “His death shall bring” or “when he dies, it shall come”. It was directly after the death of Methuselah (notably the oldest recorded man in the Bible at 969 years, speaking of the long-suffering of God (2 Peter 3:9), that the flood of Noah occurred.

Methuselah

muth, a root that means “death”; shalach, which means “to bring,” or “to send forth.” = “His death shall bring.”

Lamech

a root still evident today in our own English word, “lament” or “lamentation” = “Despairing.”

Noah

which is derived from nacham, “to bring relief” or “comfort,” = “Comfort, or Rest.”

This is the story behind the story…

Man (is)
Appointed
Mortal
Sorrow; (but)
The Blessed God
Shall come down
Teaching
His death shall bring
The Despairing
Comfort and Rest

Dear friends, He gives the despairing rest.

History is His story, hidden in our own.

No one is lost in the list. Your name is known and significant to the Saviour!

God has given each one of us a gift that keeps giving.

It is an endless well of wisdom.

A light that shines brightly on our path to freedom and fullness.

An anchor that holds us steady in any and all storms.

More precious than rubies.

More valuable than gold.

Better than silver by far.

A hammer that shapes our character and demolishes every mountain that prevents us moving forward.

A flaming fire to cleanse and to purge.

A mirror in which we see our best self.

A sword that slices through to the heart of our existence.

Sweeter to the taste than honey, more satisfying than fresh baked bread.

Milk for a hungry infant, and meat for the man.

Inspired in totality.

Complete and perfect in every way.

Like the blazing sun scaling the heavens, brightening our lives.

A sure word of prophecy, reaching to eternity.

More enduring than the mountains.

Endless in its application.

From another realm, perfectly communicating the Father’s heart.

As perfect as the One who wrote it.

The Bible!

John Wesley said:

“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book! Oh, give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be: “A man of one book.”

Spurgeon rightly observed:

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.”

Tozer made it clear:

“Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”

Augustine reminded us:

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.”

Of this matchless book, Smith Wigglesworth wrote:

“Let go of your own thoughts, and take the thoughts of God. If you build yourself on imaginations you will go wrong. You have the Word of God and it is enough. A man gave this remarkable testimony concerning the Word: “Never compare this Book with other books. Comparisons are dangerous. Never think or never say that this book contains the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, inspired in totality. Read it through. Write it down. Pray it in. Work it out. And then pass it on…And truly the Word of God changes a man until he becomes the epistle of God. It transforms his mind, changes his character, moves him on from grace to grace, makes him an inheritor of the very nature of God. God comes in, dwells in, walks in, talks through, and sups with him who opens his being to the Word of God and receives the Spirit who inspired it.”