The Heights Fellowship

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Christmas Miracles - How the Grinch Almost Stole Christmas


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  • Matthew 2:1-20 (New American Standard Bible)

    The Visit of the Magi

    1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
    2"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."

    3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

    4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

    5They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
    6'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
    ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
    FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
    WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"

    7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.

    8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

    9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

    10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

    11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

    12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

    The Flight to Egypt

    13Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."
    14So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.

    15He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."

    Herod Slaughters Babies

    16Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
    17Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
    18"A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,
    WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,
    RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;
    AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,
    BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."

    19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

    20"Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."

    New American Standard Bible (NASB)
    Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Christmas Miracles - Unwrapping One Gift Early


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  • 2 Corinthians 9:15 (New American Standard Bible)

    Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!


    Isaiah 40:5 (New American Standard Bible)

    Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
    And all flesh will see it together;
    For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."


    Romans 6:23 (New International Version)

    For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


    Romans 6:16-18 (New Living Translation)

    Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.


    Romans 3:23 (New King James Version)

    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,


    2 Corinthians 5:21 (New American Standard Bible)

    He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.



    New American Standard Bible (NASB)
    Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

    New International Version (NIV)
    Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

    New Living Translation (NLT)
    Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

    New King James Version (NKJV)
    Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.