Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Isaiah 9:6&7 "6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." The prophets revealed God’s plan and His promises. The Bible—both Old and New Testaments—is the storehouse of God’s Word, giving us the fullest understanding possible. Isaiah wrote these words about 700 years before Jesus’ birth. Without divine inspiration, he could never have foreseen such details. Yet even with these clear prophecies, God’s full perspective remains beyond our grasp. Generations of believers have studied Scripture and left us a rich legacy of hymns and writings to help us ...

Isaiah 9:2 "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." This week, we’ve explored how Christmas resembles John the Baptist: both boldly proclaim Jesus’ arrival to the world. The world’s response is often mixed—sometimes celebrating, sometimes trying to silence or imprison the message. Like John, we want to steadfastly praise and worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day and every day! Jesus praises John as “a prophet? Yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:9). John is unique as the direct forerunner who announced “He is here!” while pointing to the personally present Jesus. In Jesus’ view—rooted in the Old Testament He often referenced—a prophet is God’s spokesman or messenger, tasked with: • Calling for repentance and faithfulness. • Foretelling future events or consequences (often judgment for sin or hope for restoration). • Speaking aut...

Matthew 11:8&9 "8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." Christmas is much like John the Baptist: it boldly announces Jesus’ arrival to the world. Sometimes the world celebrates; sometimes it tries to silence or imprison the message. May we remain steadfast—like John—in praising and worshiping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day and every day! In these verses, Jesus asks the crowd why they went into the wilderness to see John. He dismisses the notion that they expected a man in fine royal clothing. He then affirms that they went to see a prophet—yes, and more than a prophet—highlighting John's unique role as the Messiah's forerunner, fulfilling Malachi 3:1. This week's study reminds us that our experiences shape expectations, and John's interactions with Jesus va...

Matthew 11:6&7 "6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?" Merry Christmas! This season stirs all kinds of emotions—joy for some, deep suffering for others. Our expectations are shaped by our experiences. In Matthew 11, after a year in prison, John the Baptist has a moment of doubt and sends disciples to ask Jesus, “Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" Jesus replies by pointing to His works—echoing Isaiah 35:5–6: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor hear good news. These are not just miracles; they are proof of His messianic identity and the arrival of God’s kingdom of healing, justice, and salvation. Once John’s messengers leave, Jesus turns to the crowd and asks what they went into the wilderness to see: “A reed s...

Matthew 11:4&5 "4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Christmas is here—whether you're experiencing joy or deep suffering this year. Your expectations often shape your experience. In these verses, John the Baptist—once boldly proclaiming Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and witnessing the Spirit's descent at His baptism—is now imprisoned for over a year in Machaerus after condemning Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias. From his cell, he sends disciples to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come?” This question reveals John's tension between faith and doubt. Jesus responds by pointing to His works, directly echoing Isaiah 35:5–6 and other prophecies: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised...

Matthew 11:3 "And said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" Christmas is near, and our anticipation builds as we prepare our hearts. Like us, the Jewish people at Jesus’ incarnation held varied expectations for the Messiah. John the Baptist had once boldly declared Jesus the “Lamb of God” and witnessed the Spirit descend at His baptism. Now, imprisoned for over a year in the fortress of Machaerus after denouncing Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias, John sent disciples to ask this question. The inquiry reveals a moment of tension between faith and doubt. Prolonged suffering and Jesus’ ministry—focused on healing and preaching rather than political or military deliverance—prompted John to wonder if Jesus truly was the promised Messiah. This verse highlights a key Gospel theme: faith often coexists with doubt, especially in hardship. Yet God meets us in our uncertainty with grace and evidence. It also contrasts human expectations of a triumphant,...

Matthew 11:2 "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples," We are in the fourth week of Advent, and Christmas is almost here! Our anticipation is building as we prepare our hearts and minds. Last week, our study from Psalms strengthened our love for righteousness and hatred of wickedness. God calls us to share His heart by pursuing compassion and justice, opposing evil, and aligning with His ways—because “The LORD reigns forever!” Let us renew our commitment to praise our Lord and Savior in worship that echoes heaven’s eternal chorus, now and always. All our preparations come with hopes and expectations. The Jewish people at the time of Jesus’ incarnation similarly held varied expectations for the Messiah. John the Baptist, who had earlier identified Jesus as the Messiah and seen divine confirmation at His baptism, was now imprisoned in the fortress of Machaerus—likely for over a year—after condemning Herod Antipas’s marriage to He...