Prophetic Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021
Pastor Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
#1 BOTH MARY AND JOSEPH HAD A PROPHETIC GIFT / LANGUAGE WITH THE LORD
Mary: prophetic encounters
Luke 1:26-38 – “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. 27 To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; Blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
Joseph: Prophetic Dreamer
Joseph is namesake of Joseph the Dreamer / Dream interpreter from Exodus
Matthew 1:20 – But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
LATER DREAM, ANGEL SAID FLEE TO EGYPT
#2 THE TOWER OF THE FLOCK IS THE ACTUAL PROPHESIED BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS
Micah 5:2 – But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Another obscure prophecy takes it down to the square foot where the baby Jesus would be born.
Micah 4:8 – And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
“Tower of the flock” AKA “Migdol Eder” – the place Jacob buried Rachel in Genesis 35:19-21
King David’s family land where he protected his family’s sheep from the bear and the lion.
Just outside of Bethlehem city, spotless passover lambs were kept by specially trained and purified shepherds.
Wrapped in special swaddling clothes–the leftover priestly garments–white robes stained with the blood of past sacrifices.
These priestly robes were torn into strips and used for two purposes
1. The making of wicks for the Menorah
2. To wrap perfect sacrificial lambs – like Jesus.
Luke 2:12 – This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
JESUS AS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB:
John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Revelation 17:14 – These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
#3 THE ACTUAL DAY JESUS WAS BORN WAS ASSUREDLY PASSOVER OR 1 NISSAN ON THE JEWISH CALENDAR
Luke 2:8-14 –Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Shepherd living in the fields at night meant it was lambing season—the spring. Ewes generally gave birth at night and needed help so the lambs would not get damaged, deformed, hurt or worse.
Jesus also died on 1 Nissan – Passover
In the Vatican vaults is a writing by an early church father named Hippolitus. The Catholic Church says he fixed the date to December 25, but, if you dig further you find a censored writing showing Hippolitus crossed that out and said “No, He was born Nisan 1.”
#4 GOD IS VERY ORDERLY – HE USES THE JEWISH FEASTS TO ILLUSTRATE THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS – THEY ARE HIS PROPHETIC CALENDAR OF EVENTS. THIS IS HOW WE CAN KNOW THE DATES.
The central events of Jesus’ life take place on Hebrew Holy days.
The very first Jewish holiday was Shabbot HaGadol (Palm Sunday) when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on 10 Nissan. The Jewish law was to “take a lamb into your home on the tenth of Nissan.” Jesus came into Jerusalem—the Jewish “home” on the tenth of Nissan as the Lamb of God.
“Kill the lamb on the fourteenth of Nissan” (Passover), the Lamb of God was killed on the fourteenth of Nissan (Passover).
He became the Bread of Life (the feast of unleavened bread) on the fifteenth of Nissan (a High Holy sabbath) and was resurrected on the feast of Firstfruits (on the seventeenth of Nissan).
#5 THE SHEPHERDS WERE AT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, THE WISE MEN WERE NOT
Matthew 2:1-2 – Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (another clue to the timing of Jesus’ birth), behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Wise men; Magi (magician); astronomers
From the East: Persia / Iran – taught by Daniel in Babylon 400 years earlier to look at the stars for the birth of the Jewish Messiah and King of the Universe
How many wise men? Nobody knows! There were three gifts, but could have been dozens of wise men.
Matthew 2:9-11 – When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
House – not Tower of the Flock
Young child – not baby
Research shows up to 2 years after Jesus’ actual birth (possibly late December)
THE STAR: In the spring of 6 BC, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars converged to make a bright light in the sky. Jupiter: the King Planet. Venus: the Mother
Ancient Astronomer named Ptotleme said, “The land of Judea and its surrounding region was linked to the Constellation Aries the Ram.” So when the star linked Jupiter with Aries, they recognized the sign of Daniel’s King being born in Judea.
#6 GOD PROVIDES: THE PROPHETIC GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN BANKROLLED MARY, JOSEPH & JESUS FOR 10 YEARS, MAYBE MORE
Matthew 2:11 – And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh
Strange gifts for a toddler, but not for a King
Gold: God’s manifest presence—God with Us—Immanuel
Frankincense: used in perfumes and medicines. A picture of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Myrrh: Song of Solomon calls this “tears from a tree.” It is a spice made from resin from the cutting of a tree. Used in embalming.
Frankinsence & Myrrh: ingredients of the sacred anointing oil.
Matthew 2:13 – Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
#7 JESUS IS THE 77TH GENERATION FROM ADAM IN MARY’S BLOODLINE
Luke 3:23-38 – Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli… the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz…34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham… the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
77 is the number of the Church or Body of Christ
Church in Bible 77 times
House of God in Bible 77 times
77th verse of Old Testament
Genesis 2:31 – Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
77th verse of New Testament
Matthew 4:12 – (Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry) – Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.
77 in Scripture
Ezra 8:35 (offerings by those returning from Babylon to Jerusalem) – The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord.
#8 ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 1:7:
14 GENERATIONS FROM ABRAHAM TO DAVID
14 GENERATIONS FROM DAVID TO THE DIVINE DISRUPTION OF BABYLON
14 GENERATIONS FROM CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON TO KING JESUS
14 is about generational promises
14th verse in NT
Matthew 1:14 – Joseph’s genealogy
14 in Scripture
Genesis 31:41 (Jacob works another 7 years for Rachel – 14 altogether) – Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Genesis 46:22 – These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.
Numbers 28:16 (The firstborn of Israel under the blood are spared from the Destroyer) – ‘On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 25:5 – All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
#9 JESUS IS THE RIGHTFUL KING OF ISRAEL
Luke 1:6 (Geneaology of Jesus through Joseph) – … and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
Matthew 1:20 – But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Only other person in scripture called “Son of David was Jesus”
Reference to fact both Joseph and Jesus were rightful heirs to the throne
THE BIG RIPOFF
Herod, the King, was not even a Jew. Edomite– descendant of Esau who sold his birthright (God’s promise) for a bowl of beans. Esau only person is scripture God said he despised.
SELLING BIRTHRIGHT WAS AKIN TO BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John the Baptist was the rightful High Priest of Israel
Priesthood passed down from father to son. His daddy was Zacharias, a high priest.
John 1:19-20 – Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
They didn’t ask because they didn’t know who John was. They knew exactly who he was and who his daddy was. They asked to see if he knew who he was.
John could have demanded his place in the priesthood at any time. The Pharisees feared him.
Instead, he willingly gave the title of High Priest over to Jesus at the Baptism, where he diminished himself.
#10 – SINCE JESUS IS THE FINAL TRUE KING OF THE WORLD AND WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD (HEIRS) BY FAITH, HE SHARES WITH ROYALTY WITH US. THAT MAKES US BOTH PRIESTS AND KINGS!
Galatians 3:26 – For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:7 – Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Romans 8:14 – For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:16-17 – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
2 Corinthians 6:18 – “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 1:6 – and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 20:4-6 (The Saints Reign with Christ 1,000 Years) – And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for [a]a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.