For Unto You Is Born This Day A Savior Which is Christ the Lord.

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1 Roy Matlock The Monthly Mission Messenger Volume V, No. 55 December 2018 Roy Matlock Ministries The Messenger is free for those who love to study God s Word. The Messenger is supported by free love offerings from those who wish to help spread the Word. Go to web page for purchases or donation. May God Bless You. My friends, Please send this link to all your contacts. The Monthly Mission Messenger is available on site with all other materials written by Pastor Roy. Nov. 1, 2018 It s seven O clock in the morning. I turned on the TV for morning news and the first thing I hear is commercials about Christmas. What happened to Thanksgiving? The commercial stated that businesses were glad for the early advertisements. They are looking for great profits as Christmas approaches. Oh! What happened to the truth about Christmas? For Unto You Is Born This Day A Savior Which is Christ the Lord. Glory To God In The Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men!!! Truly, the above describes the truth about Christmas. Jesus came into this world about 2000 years ago. He was in heaven with God the Father throughout eternity before that (Jn. 17:5). He came and sacrificed Himself for the atonement of sin for mankind (Matt. 27:26-50). All who believe in and accept Him as Savior will be saved and go to heaven. Giving God praise for this will give you a great Christmas. Have a Very Merry Christmas 1

2 The True Christmas Story When God created man in the Garden of Eden, man was perfect. He was without sin. Satan hates God and he hated the man created in the image of God. Therefore, Satan set out to destroy man whom God had created. Christians know the record of Genesis chapter three. This tells about the fall of man into sin. When this happened God said to Satan: Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. God said that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of Satan. This will happen when Satan is finally cast into hell at the end of time. God also said that Satan would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman. This is referring to the crucifixion of Christ when the time would come. This is referring to the time when Jesus, the Son of God, would come into the world through the Virgin Mary and ultimately go to the cross of Calvary to make the sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. His birth, of course, is what ultimately brought about Christmas. The birth of Christ, coming through the seed of woman, was a promise that the people of the Old Testament looked for in the future. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6 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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. The Prophet Micah told where the Christ Child would be born. 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. Many years after these promises the angel Gabriel appeared to a virgin named Mary and gave the annunciation of the birth of this promised Savior. Luke 1:26-35 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. 29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered in her mind what manner of greeting this should be. 30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. 31. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. 32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. God has a way of moving His people to the place where He wants them to be for certain events. He said through the prophet that the birth would take place in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. Nine months after the announcement by the angel, God used a natural event at the right time to get them to Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2. (And this taxing was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being 2

3 great with child. 6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. At the same time there was a group of shepherds watching their flocks by night near Bethlehem. Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were much afraid. 10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Thus, the prophecies of old were fulfilled that night. God sent His Son to be the Savior of men. John made some wonderful statements about this. John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness overcame it not. 6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9. That was the true Light, that lights every man that comes into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11. He came unto his own, (Israel) and his own received him not. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. The birth of Jesus Christ affected the whole world. Time has been counted upward since His birth. We are at the count of 2018 A.D. This Christmas season came into existence because of His birth. Christians accept all this as a reality. We rejoice as we remember His birth. May these scriptural facts enlighten your mind and heart as you remember the birth of Christ... This is Christmas. NEW TESTAMENT STUDY A VERSE BY VERSE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS We began this study last month and looked at the history of the city of Philippi. Then we looked at the movement of the New Testament Churches as the gospel began to be spread across the area throughout Israel, Syria, and westward throughout the country we know today as Turkey. After going through Galatia and the other regions there, the Apostle Paul who was the missionary, along with his team, went to the city of Troas. Acts 16:7-8. After they were come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit permitted them not. 8. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 3

4 At Troas, Paul had the vision and call to come to Macedonia to preach the Word of God there. Jesus said: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matt. 24:14 The Macedonian Call and trip to Philippi. Acts 16:8-12 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, beseeching him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel unto them. 11. Therefore setting sail from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12. And from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. Paul, being the educated historian he was, no doubt recalled the words of Daniel as he viewed this Macedonian city and thought, God must move upon this city to take it again. The Persian Ram could not take it but the Holy Spirit can. The Church at Philippi Organized. Mission started, People saved, Church organized. Acts 16:13-16 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was accustomed to be made; and we sat down, and spoke unto the women who met there. 14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, so that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul. 15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she prevailed upon us. Note Paul s remembrance of them in his letter. Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. 16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain maid possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: Demons cast out. 17. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who show unto us the way of salvation. 18. And this did she many days. But Paul, being troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 1. Note here that the girl stated that these men had shown her the way of salvation. 2. The devil thought he would start something to stop Paul, but it didn t work. 3. What Satan starts God finishes. It has always been that way and will continue to be that way until Satan is finally destroyed in hell Rev. 20:10. Paul and Silas cast into prison Acts 16:19-24 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20. And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates tore off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: 24. Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. The Jailor was saved. Acts 16:25-34 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were 4

5 opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm: for we are all here. 29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Note that this is the only place in the Bible where this question is asked. What must I do to be saved? Every human being needs to ask this question. Now note that the answer is given in the next statement. 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house. 32. And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. 34. And when he had brought them into his house, he sat food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. This is the first place where we have a record of a New Testament Church being organized in Europe. However, there was one already at Rome which was probably the result from the Day of Pentecost. Philippi was a Roman colony at this time, and a distinctive Roman city. Paul made use of his Roman citizenship and demanded to be treated accordingly. This was granted by his release. Acts 16:35-40 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, Let those men go. 36. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out secretly? nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out. 38. And the officers told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Years later Paul wrote a letter back to these people as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so. God saw to it that this letter was placed in the Bible. We call it, THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS. More next month BIBLE QUIZ FOR THIS MONTH What miracle did Jesus perform the third time He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection? Give scripture for your answer, ANSWER TO LAST MONTH S BIBLE QUIZ Whatever happened to the Brazen Serpent Moses put upon a pole in the wilderness? (Num. 21) Answer The Israelites kept it for about 700 years. Somewhere during that time they began to worship it and burn incense to it. Can you imagine what God thought of that. It had been given them as a sign of what God would do for humanity in the future. Jesus said about it: John 3:14-18 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him `should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 5

6 18. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Here s what happened to the serpent Moses made: 2 Kings 18:1-6 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. 3. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. 4. He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the idol poles, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made: for until those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. 5. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. 6. For he clung to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH Nehemiah chapter 10 records a great revival and rededication in Israel after the city of Jerusalem and the walls around it are rebuilt. They read the laws of God and responded positively to them. All scripture is given that God s people of all ages might read and learn His will. (2 Tim. 3: :15). Let us take the lesson, and determine that we will be obedient. God promises blessings if we will. NEHEMIAH CHAPTER ELEVEN (11) V,1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine tenths to dwell in other cities. V,2-29 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. These verses name the people who dwell in the city of Jerusalem. For lack of space we will not print all the names here. You can read the names in the Bible. V,30-36 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and its fields, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. These verses name the people who dwell in other cities. We will pick up the study of Nehemiah next month. END TIME THINGS AS PROPHESIED IN EZEKIEL CHAPTERS 34 THROUGH 39 We looked at chapter 35 last month. In Ezek. 34:1 Ezekiel was called to prophesy against Israel. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel In 35:1 He is called to prophesy against Mount Seir. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, son of man set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it. In Ch. 36 he is to prophesy unto the mountains of Israel. UNTO has quiet a different meaning than AGAINST. Here we will find many promises from God to the nation of Israel. He is talking about the land here. V,2. Thus says the Lord GOD; Because the enemy has said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession: The enemies had taken the land that God gave to the seed of Abraham. Genesis 12:6-7 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto your descendants will I give this land: and there built he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. God even told Abraham what the borders of the land he would possess were. 6

7 Genesis 13:14-15 And the LORD said unto Abram, after Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15. For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your descendants forever. Genesis 15:7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it. Genesis 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your descendants have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Ezekiel s prophesies came many years after the promise to Abraham, but it is the same land, and God promised it to the descendants of Abraham. In verses Ezek. 36:3-15, Ezekiel calls attention to the Israelites who are in bondage in Babylon that it grieved God s heart because He had to let them be captives. But it was because of their own rebellion toward Him that He did so. In the fire of His jealousy He spoke against those who captured the land. Then He said: V,6 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations: V,7. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; I have lifted up my hand, Surely the nations that are about you, they shall bear their shame. V,8-11 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are soon to come. 9. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and you shall be tilled and sown: 10. And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be built: 11. And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you according to your former times, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and you shall know that I am the LORD. In these verses God promises Israel that He will return them to their land again. We know how long they had to be in bondage from the pen of Jeremiah the prophet. Jeremiah 29:10 For thus says the LORD, That after seventy years are accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. These prophecies have a twofold meaning. They are speaking of the return of Israel from bondage, and also reaching out to the time of the Millennium, as described in the Book of Revelation. You are encouraged to read all of chapter 36. Chapter 37 next month. FINANCIAL SUPPORT SINCE LAST ISSUE Thank you so much and May God bless Randy & DeAnna Staton,...Sheridan, AR Liberty Trailer Co..N. Little Rock, AR Peggy Ross. Hensley, AR Dan Booth.... Hazen, AR Jeanetta Johnson.... Floodwood, MN William Stinnett.. Clarendon, AR Self examination 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are counterfeits? (Reprobates). 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 7

8 HELPS AND HINTS FOR DEEPER STUDY OR YOU SPIRITUAL ENJOYMENT REVELATION COMMENTARY A description of the evil beast. The Antichrist exposed. The woman on the scarlet colored beast explained. Second Coming of Christ. Battle of Armageddon. The Millennial Kingdom. The Holy City and the glories of heaven. THE BIBLE QUIZ Hundreds of Bible questions with an answer section that will guide you to the answers to many things of the Bible. Sharpen your Bible skills. Increase your Bible knowledge. A BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY OF MAN A detailed study of the scriptural links with dates from Adam to the birth of Jesus. HEAVEN, WHERE IT IS AND HOW TO GET THERE Hell, where it is and how to avoid going there. A study about the eternal Holy City and the Ne Earth, about hell, that place that all unsaved people wish, or hope, doesn t exist. THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY a study of God s plan for younger children who, for some reason may die from infancy through a very young age when they have not made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A must for all parents with young children. THE MOST POWERFUL FOUR BIBLE DOCTRINES There are certain fundamental doctrines taught in the Bible that are very important and should be known by all believers. This study covers the four most important doctrines for mankind to know in order to have perfect peace with God. MIRACLES AND TONGUES These teachings go into deep detail about what the Bible teaches on these subjects. They give the Old Testament prophecies concerning them and the New Testament fulfillment of them. There is much confusion in religious circles today about these subjects. A good Bible knowledge about them will remove such confusion. LAW & GRACE A detailed study primarily of why most Christians do not keep the 7th Day Sabbath, but worship on the first day of the week. A VERSE BY VERSE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. All the Beasts of Daniel explained. The Little Horn on the beasts as the Antichrist of the Tribulation Period, explanation of what will happen to Him. Many End Time Prophecies explained. C D I LL SEE YOU SOON Your editor plays the guitar and sings Country Gospel. We have completed our first recording of a CD entitled I ll See You Soon. This is the first of a series of Country Gospel P songs written by your Editor. It somewhat tells the story of me and my wife who went to be with the Lord on March 27, Available also on the You Tube App. THE OLDEST BOOK IN THE BIBLE It is concluded by Bible scholarly persons that Moses wrote the Book of Genesis. It records the beginning of things. But Moses lived 2500 years after Adam. Were there writings of the Bible before his time? A scriptural study of this subject will reveal the truth of the subject. VERSE BY VERSE COMMENTARY OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS Order info on web page or Roy Matlock P.O. Box 95 Redfield, AR U.S.A. royamatlock@gmail.com