Prophecy, Fulfillment, and Our Call to Dedication

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Appointments in Our Lives

Our lives are filled with divine appointments orchestrated by God. The fulfillment of over 300 prophecies by Yeshua is a testament to God's meticulous planning and His desire for us to be part of His grand design. This is not blind faith but a faith grounded in the revelation of God's plan for humanity. The improbability of these prophecies being fulfilled by chance highlights the divine nature of Jesus' mission and life. As believers, recognizing these divine appointments in our own lives can deepen our faith and understanding of God's purpose for us. [52:32]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify a moment in your life where you felt God's divine appointment? How did it shape your faith journey?

Day 2: The Symbolism of Bethlehem

The birth of Christ in Bethlehem, the "house of bread," symbolizes the arrival of the Bread of Life. This event fulfills the prophecy of the Passover lamb and reminds us of God's meticulous planning. The celestial signs, such as the star of Bethlehem, were divine signals of the Messiah's arrival. These signs were not mere coincidences but were orchestrated by God to announce the birth of His Son. Understanding the significance of these symbols can enrich our appreciation of the Christmas story and its profound implications for our faith. [54:46]

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." (Micah 5:2, ESV)

Reflection: How does the symbolism of Bethlehem as the "house of bread" deepen your understanding of Jesus as the Bread of Life?

Day 3: Standing Firm Against the Spirit of Antichrist

Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees' victory over Antiochus Epiphanes, a tyrant who desecrated the temple. This historical event foreshadows the end times, where the spirit of the Antichrist will rise again. As believers, we are called to stand firm against this spirit, just as the Maccabees did. The festival of Hanukkah is a call to rededicate ourselves to God's purposes, to be a light in the darkness, and to prepare for the coming challenges. This call to action is as relevant today as it was in the past, urging us to remain vigilant and faithful. [01:09:03]

"Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you stand firm against the spirit of deception in today's world, and how can you be a light in your community?

Day 4: Witnessing a Global Spiritual Awakening

We are witnessing a global spiritual awakening, with revivals happening in unexpected places like Iran. This is a sign of God's movement, calling us to rise and shine, to be a beacon of hope and truth in a world filled with deception. Our dedication to God's plans is crucial in these times. As we see these revivals, we are reminded of the power of God's Spirit to transcend boundaries and bring about transformation. This awakening is an invitation for us to participate in God's work and to be open to His leading in our lives. [01:36:04]

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the spiritual awakening happening around the world, and what role do you believe God is calling you to play?

Day 5: The Call to Dedication and Revival

The festival of Hanukkah is a call to rededicate ourselves to God's purposes, to be a light in the darkness, and to prepare for the coming challenges. As we move forward, let us dedicate ourselves to God's plans, knowing that He is orchestrating a revival that transcends denominational lines and geographical boundaries. This call to dedication is a reminder of the importance of aligning our lives with God's will and being open to His transformative work. By committing ourselves to His purposes, we can be part of the revival that God is bringing about in the world. [01:34:43]

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to rededicate yourself to God's purposes and be a part of His revival work?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of prophecy and its fulfillment through the birth of Yeshua, Jesus Christ. Living in Israel for over two decades has given me a unique perspective on the divine appointments God orchestrates in our lives. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we recognize it as a prophetic event, not just a historical occurrence. Yeshua fulfilled over 300 prophecies, a mathematical improbability that underscores the divine orchestration of His life and mission. This is not blind faith; it is a faith grounded in the revelation of God's plan for humanity.

The birth of Christ is intricately linked to the celestial signs, such as the star of Bethlehem, which guided the wise men. This star, a conjunction of planets, was a divine signal of the Messiah's arrival. Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread," is where the Bread of Life was born, fulfilling the prophecy of the Passover lamb. This event is a reminder of God's meticulous planning and His desire for us to be part of His grand design.

We also delved into the significance of Hanukkah, a festival of dedication and light. It commemorates the Maccabees' victory over Antiochus Epiphanes, a tyrant who desecrated the temple. This historical event foreshadows the end times, where the spirit of the Antichrist will rise again. As believers, we are called to stand firm against this spirit, just as the Maccabees did. The festival of Hanukkah is a call to rededicate ourselves to God's purposes, to be a light in the darkness, and to prepare for the coming challenges.

In our current times, we see a parallel with the events of Hanukkah. The geopolitical shifts, the revival in places like Iran, and the spiritual awakening happening globally are signs of God's movement. We are living in a time of divine appointments, where God is calling us to rise and shine, to be a beacon of hope and truth in a world filled with deception. As we move forward, let us dedicate ourselves to God's plans, knowing that He is orchestrating a revival that transcends denominational lines and geographical boundaries.

Key Takeaways

1. Divine Appointments and Prophecy: Our lives are filled with divine appointments orchestrated by God. The fulfillment of over 300 prophecies by Yeshua is a testament to God's meticulous planning and His desire for us to be part of His grand design. This is not blind faith but a faith grounded in the revelation of God's plan for humanity. [52:32]
2. The Significance of Bethlehem: The birth of Christ in Bethlehem, the "house of bread," symbolizes the arrival of the Bread of Life. This event fulfills the prophecy of the Passover lamb and reminds us of God's meticulous planning. The celestial signs, such as the star of Bethlehem, were divine signals of the Messiah's arrival. [54:46]
3. Hanukkah and the Spirit of Antichrist: Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees' victory over Antiochus Epiphanes, a tyrant who desecrated the temple. This historical event foreshadows the end times, where the spirit of the Antichrist will rise again. As believers, we are called to stand firm against this spirit, just as the Maccabees did. [69:03]
4. Revival and Awakening: We are witnessing a global spiritual awakening, with revivals happening in unexpected places like Iran. This is a sign of God's movement, calling us to rise and shine, to be a beacon of hope and truth in a world filled with deception. Our dedication to God's plans is crucial in these times. [96:04]
5. The Call to Dedication: The festival of Hanukkah is a call to rededicate ourselves to God's purposes, to be a light in the darkness, and to prepare for the coming challenges. As we move forward, let us dedicate ourselves to God's plans, knowing that He is orchestrating a revival that transcends denominational lines and geographical boundaries. [01:34:43]
** [94:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[52:32] - Divine Appointments and Prophecy
[53:54] - Understanding Prophecy's Role
[54:46] - The Significance of Bethlehem
[55:30] - Symbolism of the Gifts
[58:40] - Celestial Signs and the Star
[60:17] - The Wise Men's Journey
[61:09] - The Birthplace of the Passover Lamb
[69:03] - Hanukkah and the Spirit of Antichrist
[70:23] - The Meaning of Hanukkah
[71:00] - Yeshua at the Feast of Dedication
[72:45] - Jesus Declares His Divinity
[74:16] - Prophetic Events in Modern Times
[76:52] - The Jubilee Cycle and Jerusalem
[78:45] - The Rebuilding of the Temple
[94:43] - The Call to Dedication and Revival

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What is the significance of Bethlehem in the prophecy of Jesus' birth, and how does it relate to the title "Bread of Life"? [54:46]
How did the wise men interpret the celestial signs, and what role did these signs play in the fulfillment of prophecy? [58:40]
What historical event does Hanukkah commemorate, and how is it connected to the spirit of the Antichrist? [01:09:03]
What are some modern-day signs of spiritual awakening mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to the concept of divine appointments? [01:36:04]

Interpretation Questions

How does the fulfillment of over 300 prophecies by Yeshua strengthen the argument for divine orchestration in His life and mission? [53:54]
In what ways does the festival of Hanukkah serve as a call to rededicate oneself to God's purposes, and how can this be applied to contemporary believers? [01:10:23]
How does the sermon suggest that current geopolitical events parallel the historical events of Hanukkah, and what implications does this have for believers today? [01:14:16]
What does the sermon imply about the role of believers in the face of deception and spiritual darkness, and how can they be a light in such times? [01:34:43]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced a "divine appointment" in your life. How did it impact your faith journey, and how can you be more open to recognizing such moments in the future? [52:32]
The wise men followed a celestial sign to find Jesus. What "signs" or guidance do you seek in your spiritual journey, and how do you discern their authenticity? [58:40]
Hanukkah is a call to stand firm against the spirit of the Antichrist. What are some practical ways you can stand firm in your faith amidst modern challenges? [01:09:03]
The sermon mentions a global spiritual awakening. How can you contribute to this movement in your community or personal life? [01:36:04]
Consider the call to be a light in the darkness. What specific actions can you take this week to be a beacon of hope and truth in your environment? [01:34:43]
How can the story of the Maccabees inspire you to take action in your own life when faced with spiritual or moral challenges? [01:33:41]
Reflect on the significance of prophecy in your faith. How does understanding fulfilled prophecy affect your trust in God's plan for humanity? [53:54]

Sermon Clips

And God sets up divine appointments. If you're here today, it's a divine appointment. For those that are not familiar, I run a Christian news agency. We actually have journalists in Jerusalem, Budapest, Rome, throughout the United States. I send out a daily. A daily devotion, Monday through Friday, along with what's happening in the world. Because the reality is we live in a day and an age where there's so much fake news. [00:51:10] (26 seconds)

And as the world is celebrating the birth of Christ, what they do not understand is that we're actually celebrating a prophetic event. That Yeshua, that Jesus fulfilled 300 promises. Now, Dr. Sterner, a mathematician, took eight of Yeshua's prophecies and quantified the odds of it being one to the 10th to the 17th power. [00:54:09] (33 seconds)

what we are celebrating the birth of Christ is a prophetic event we do not have blind faith we have a God that is trying to reveal himself to us because this plan is so great and he wants you to be part of this great plan so as we celebrate the birth you know the birth is it we're celebrating a season that God puts in the stars and the heavens and the moon to mark seasons the word seasons moedim is the same word for feast so we're going to look at two major events the first is the birth and every year there's always an article about trying to find the star of Bethlehem and the star of Bethlehem comes from you know this prophecy that was given in numbers that there be a star come out of Jacob and so the whole story as everyone goes around as the wise men and they go and they're they're they're anticipating waiting and waiting and so all of a sudden there's a star that arises and now they go and look and they look at Bethlehem Bethlehem in Hebrew is Bethlehem literally is the house of bread that's how it's translated that the bread of life was born in the house of bread and so now as you go through they they go and they say and Herod says hey what time did the star appear because now he's going ahead and we realize the story is not only about the the birth of Yeshua but Herod's such a crazy dictator and such a crazy king thinks there's a king coming to replace him so he actually slaughters all the newborns it's called you know the the days of of it's a picture of the days of Jacob's trouble and this is all the life of Jacob's people who were born in the house of the King and so you know it's a beautiful question the Bible tells us that Jacob is the father of all of the angels and he had this beautiful gift of gold and he came to come at the temple to pray and give him this heart and he said well what are they giving him and they say well this is a great gift of love I can do anything I can do anything he's not going to give him anything he's saying I don't care I'm going to give him a heart he has to give this to him both of them and he came and he offered him this heart and he said well you know his heart is full of love I don't know where it's going and I'm going to give him that heart This fragrance, this life would be just a holy fragrance before the Lord. [00:55:30] (154 seconds)

And so now another major thing that we talk about that most people, even the people that study Hanukkah don't realize that inside of this feast, what really enraged the Maccabees, the Maccabees were this small group of Jewish men that said we will not stand, we will not, we will go ahead and fight. And they fought against an army. [01:09:35] (28 seconds)

The whole Feast of Hanukkah is about men who saw and rose up against the spirit of Antichrist. And if there is a past, there's also a present fulfillment that we are called the sons of Maccabee. We're called the ones to stand up against the spirit of Antichrist. They that know their God shall what? Stand firm and take action. [01:33:41] (23 seconds)

They're the ones that drove them out. It comes to this place that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a power of love and a sound mind. That we're warring now in the spiritual war. The spirit of Antichrist is coming upon us. What shall we do? Shall we cower? Shall we know? We shall stand firm. We should know that know our God. [01:34:43] (17 seconds)

Because it's time now to arise and shine. It's time now because your light has come. The glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Yes, darkness shall cover the earth. Yes, thick darkness shall cover the people. But, I love this, but God will rise over you. For what reason? And his glory will be seen upon you. For what reason? [01:36:04] (24 seconds)

That nations come to your light. The whole festival. The whole festival of Hanukkah is lighting a menorah. It's about lighting your light. It's about rededicating yourself. It's about saying, I'm gonna consecrate myself to the plans of God. I'm gonna go ahead and do what I'm called to do. I'm gonna stand firm. [01:36:40] (17 seconds)

God is gonna free Iran from the Ayatollah so the gospel can go forth. And the reason why God is freeing Iran, what most people don't realize, in the last 10 years, 50,000 mosques have closed in Iran because the revival is so strong. Over three million believers now live in Iran. It's the fastest growing church in the world. [01:36:49] (17 seconds)

So, Father, I ask you, Lord, that you would seal this word. I ask you, Father, that you would overwhelm this congregation with just a fresh revelation of how true you are, how you did send your son, how he did die on a cross, how he did rise again from the dead, how we have eternal life. [01:38:50] (19 seconds)

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