1. The Prophets & The Christ December 2 nd, 2012

2. Defining ‘Christ’  ‘masiach’ – Hebrew word – means ‘anointed one’. (English word Messiah comes from this Hebrew word).  ‘christos’ – Greek word for ‘anointed one’.  Christ – English word for Greek word ‘Christos’.  Christ is a title not a name.

3. So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,“Cursed” are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15 The ‘protoevangelium’

4. The Messiah Story  Eve gives birth to Seth, (Gen 4:25) the lineage of the anointed one begins – as Gen 3:15 predicted.  Abram promised that he would be made a great nation, all people would be blessed through him. (Gen 12)  In Bethlehem, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David]… and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. (1 Sam 16:13)

5. The Messiah Story “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, (Solomon) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever…..16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

6. The Messiah Story  Isaiah prophesies the anointed one will be born of a virgin. (Chapter 7)  Then Isaiah says that the anointed one will bring justice to the nations, he will open the eyes of the blind, free the captives and release those in captivity. (Chapter 42)  Later in his book, Isaiah predicts the anointed one will suffer, and die. (Chapter 53)  Jeremiah predicts that God will raise up a great King from David’s lineage, this king will lead people to serve God. (Chap 30).

7. The Messiah Story  Ezekiel prophesies of God taking a tiny plant, planting it on a lofty mountain, it will grow, produce great branches, fruit & become a splendid tree of Cedar. (Chapter 17)  Micah prophesies of the anointed one being born in Bethlehem, the town of David. (Chapter 5)  Zechariah prophesies of the anointed one being considered the worth of a slave and sold for 30 pieces of silver. (Chapter 11)

8. The Messiah Story  Zechariah also prophesies of the anointed one being ‘pierced’ (Ch 12) and being a great shepherd that is struck down with his sheep scattering. (Ch 13)  Malachi closes his book and the OT with a prophesy of ‘an Elijah’ coming as a forerunner – a reference to John the Witness (Baptist). Nothing  Then Nothing for over 400 years – God was silent.  But God was Active & Working – the story continued!

9. The Christmas Story Begins  The angel Gabriel appears to the priest Zechariah, Elizabeth would give birth to a son – John – he would make ready the people. (Luke 1)  The angel told Zechariah that John would have the spirit and power of Elijah – just as Malachi prophesied over 400yrs prior.  Then…6 months later Gabriel the angel of God appears to a young Jewish woman named Mary…

10. The Christmas Prophecies … Fulfilled Christ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ [the Messiah}, the Lord. Luke 2:11

11. 2 Momentous Messages 1.The wait is over, today is the day - the long anticipated wait is finally over. 2.The child born is the Messiah and the Lord.

12. Article 4 EFCA Statement of Faith We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus-Israel’s promised Messiah- was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary…

13. Your Response 1) Are you in a place where you feel that God is silent? You must believe that just as sure as Jesus came the first time just as he had promised, he is coming again. 2) Is he Your Messiah? Have You embraced this Jesus as the Christ? As the Messiah? As Your Messiah and Lord?