WEBVTT - Michele Jackson - Oct 14 - 3:30 pm

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<v Speaker 1>Today on the Converge Network, Apostle Michelle Jackson will be

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<v Speaker 1>sharing God's heart with you through the Word of God.

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<v Speaker 1>Before she ministers to you, Apostle Michelle serves as Senior

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<v Speaker 1>Pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland. She's the

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<v Speaker 1>founder of the Converge Network, which is home to Harry

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<v Speaker 1>Jackson Ministries' Hope Connection and her podcast for women, Life

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<v Speaker 1>in the Overflow. Today's teaching will explore how the Lord

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<v Speaker 1>is using people like you and me to build His

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<v Speaker 1>Kingdom today. and usher in a new era of glory.

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<v Speaker 1>But before we get started, we have a promotion exclusively

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<v Speaker 1>for you. Grab your free gift today. Just go to

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<v Speaker 1>our channel, The Converged Network, and order your free resource,

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<v Speaker 1>a manifesto by Bishop Harry Jackson, while supplies last. Now

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<v Speaker 1>for today's message from Apostle Michelle, here we go.

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<v Speaker 2>Hi everyone, this is Michelle Jackson. So excited that you're

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<v Speaker 2>back today. We are in a series this month of

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<v Speaker 2>December where we are discussing Advent, which means to anticipate

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<v Speaker 2>or to have faith, to have expectation of the coming

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<v Speaker 2>of Jesus Christ. And so this month, we know that

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<v Speaker 2>through the church, there's liturgy and tradition where we focus

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<v Speaker 2>our hearts and anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. And

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<v Speaker 2>many of us in different traditions that may look different

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<v Speaker 2>for us. But I remember being a kid growing up

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<v Speaker 2>and we would make Christmas bags for everyone at the

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas Eve service. So, um, I don't know if you

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<v Speaker 2>had this growing up where you would get nuts and

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<v Speaker 2>fruit and candy canes, but that's what we would do.

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<v Speaker 2>That was a tradition. My grandmother grew up in the depression.

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<v Speaker 2>She was born in 29 and, um, That was what

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<v Speaker 2>we used to do every Christmas Eve.

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<v Speaker 3>We would crack nuts. She loved pecans.

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<v Speaker 2>So that was definitely something that was a part of

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<v Speaker 2>our Christmas tradition. But on our Christmas Eve service at

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<v Speaker 2>our church, we would have a candlelight service. And our

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<v Speaker 2>gift to everybody who came to that service from our

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<v Speaker 2>family were these gift bags that my sister and I

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<v Speaker 2>would make with our grandma of mixed nuts, oranges, and

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<v Speaker 2>candy canes. Back in the day, like in the 80s

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<v Speaker 2>and 90s, I don't even know if they still do this.

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<v Speaker 2>Y'all can send me an email if they still do

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<v Speaker 2>this in your community. But they used to sell these

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<v Speaker 2>boxes of citrus fruit as like school fundraisers. So you

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<v Speaker 2>could buy a box of like organic Florida oranges or

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<v Speaker 2>like organic Florida grapefruits or different citrus fruit. And so

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<v Speaker 2>my grandmother would always order two crates of oranges and

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<v Speaker 2>we would eat them and everything because she stopped eating sugar,

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<v Speaker 2>white sugar in like 1970 something, like before I was born, right?

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<v Speaker 2>She was on organic before it was Vogue, right? And

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<v Speaker 2>so she'd buy these crates of oranges. So then we

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<v Speaker 2>would pack those with the mixed nuts and the candy

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<v Speaker 2>canes and we would hand them out to each person

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<v Speaker 2>and tell them Merry Christmas as the service was over.

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<v Speaker 2>That was our little job and contribution to make sure

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<v Speaker 2>everybody had a gift and something healthy.

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<v Speaker 3>To eat and celebrate.

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<v Speaker 2>But I bring that up because we all have family

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<v Speaker 2>traditions and memories around the holidays. I hope that this

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<v Speaker 2>is a joyous time for you this year. Statistics show

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<v Speaker 2>that oftentimes the holidays can be a very challenging time.

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<v Speaker 2>and that many people are not merry and jolly, but

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<v Speaker 2>I'm grateful that we have joy in Jesus, that no

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<v Speaker 2>matter what our circumstances are, no matter what the happenings

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<v Speaker 2>are of our life, we don't have to rely on happiness.

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<v Speaker 3>We have the joy of the Lord.

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<v Speaker 2>So today I want to pick up where we left

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<v Speaker 2>off from Matthew 2, and I want to talk about

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<v Speaker 2>the wise men from the East that came and just

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<v Speaker 2>kind of what all of that meant and what was happening.

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<v Speaker 2>So we know that Jesus, Matthew chapter 2 tells us

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<v Speaker 2>that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the

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<v Speaker 2>reign of King Herod. And about that time, some wise

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<v Speaker 2>men from the eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem asking, where

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<v Speaker 2>is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his

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<v Speaker 2>star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.

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<v Speaker 2>King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as

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<v Speaker 2>was everyone in Jerusalem. he called a meeting of the

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<v Speaker 2>leading priests and teachers of the religious law and asked,

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<v Speaker 2>where is the Messiah supposed to be born? In Bethlehem

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<v Speaker 2>of Judea, they said, for this is what the prophet wrote.

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<v Speaker 2>And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, and

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<v Speaker 2>not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a

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<v Speaker 2>ruler will come to you who will be the shepherd

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<v Speaker 2>for my people. Then King Herod called a private meeting

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<v Speaker 2>with the wise men and Learn from them the time

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<v Speaker 2>when the star first appeared. Then he told them, go

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<v Speaker 2>to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when

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<v Speaker 2>you find him, come back and tell me so that

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<v Speaker 2>I can go and worship him too. After this interview,

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<v Speaker 2>the wise men went their way. The star they had

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<v Speaker 2>seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went

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<v Speaker 2>ahead of them and stopped over the place where the

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<v Speaker 2>child was. When they saw the star, they were filled

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<v Speaker 2>with joy. They entered the house and saw the child

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<v Speaker 2>with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

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<v Speaker 2>And they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts

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<v Speaker 2>of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And when it was about

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<v Speaker 2>time to leave, they returned to their country by another route,

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<v Speaker 2>for God had warned them in a dream not to

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<v Speaker 2>return to Herod. So I love the story of Jesus'

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<v Speaker 2>birth in the early because there's so many interventions and

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<v Speaker 2>dreams and the miraculous that's happening, not just the immaculate

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<v Speaker 2>conception of Jesus in Mary's womb, but the Holy Spirit

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<v Speaker 2>overshadowing her, but God really intervening at every turn, even

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<v Speaker 2>in this political moment where you have dignitaries coming from

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<v Speaker 2>a foreign country, right? who are looking, they have their delegation, right?

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<v Speaker 2>And they're looking for the king of the Jews. And Herod,

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<v Speaker 2>who is on the throne, feels threatened politically of what

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<v Speaker 2>this power is going to look like. And the religious rulers,

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<v Speaker 2>they're expecting a move of God, but it's more in

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<v Speaker 2>the realm of prophecy right now, right? And so it's

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<v Speaker 2>interesting because Herod took the threat seriously and wanted to

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<v Speaker 2>make sure that he could protect his throne at all costs.

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<v Speaker 2>And so we know that, I can't think of who

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<v Speaker 2>said it right now, might have been Winston Churchill or somebody,

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<v Speaker 2>somebody of that caliber that said absolute power corrupts absolutely, right?

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<v Speaker 2>And so we see in this moment that King Herod,

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<v Speaker 2>he is angry. He's threatened. He is full of self-justification

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<v Speaker 2>for his actions, and he's conniving, and he's manipulating. He's

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<v Speaker 2>trying to figure out from the religious leaders what's happening,

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<v Speaker 2>but then he's also trying to figure out through the

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<v Speaker 2>wise men what's going to happen. And then he lies, right?

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<v Speaker 2>He says, come back and tell me so that I

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<v Speaker 2>can go worship him too. Well, we know that That's

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<v Speaker 2>not Herod's intention because later in the scriptures tell us

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<v Speaker 2>that he sent his soldiers when he realized that the

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<v Speaker 2>wise men had outwitted him and had been either knew

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<v Speaker 2>or were told. We know that it was God who

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<v Speaker 2>told them. But he sent his soldiers to kill all

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<v Speaker 2>the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years

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<v Speaker 2>old and under based on the wise men's report of

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<v Speaker 2>the star's first appearance. And so the star had guided them.

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<v Speaker 2>And so it's interesting that the Lord uses the stars

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<v Speaker 2>to tell Abraham to count his descendants. And the same

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<v Speaker 2>family line is used and the stars are used for

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<v Speaker 2>the wise men to find Jesus.

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<v Speaker 3>It's just, it's like, wow, God, your wisdom is so amazing.

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<v Speaker 2>And when I think about the three kings, it reminds

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<v Speaker 2>me of Proverbs. And it's in Proverbs where the Bible

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<v Speaker 2>tells us that it's God's privilege to conceal things or

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<v Speaker 2>to cause things to be difficult to find. And it's

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<v Speaker 2>the king's privilege to discover them. No one can comprehend

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<v Speaker 2>the height of heaven, the depth of earth, and all

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<v Speaker 2>that goes on in the mind of a king, Proverbs 25,

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<v Speaker 2>2 and 3. And I think about that when it

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<v Speaker 2>comes to the king of kings. I mean, he's put

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<v Speaker 2>all of the stars in the sky and knows them

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<v Speaker 2>all by name, right? He has orchestrated who's going to

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<v Speaker 2>be born at what time and the things that the destinies,

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<v Speaker 2>the plans that he put in every single person that

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<v Speaker 2>is breathing in this moment, right? You and I are

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<v Speaker 2>listening— are together on this podcast.

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<v Speaker 3>You're listening. I'm speaking. But God knows everything.

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<v Speaker 2>That's happening, and in this story, in this moment in Scripture—

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<v Speaker 2>He knew that the wise men would be faithful to

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<v Speaker 2>follow the star and that the testimony of Jesus would

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<v Speaker 2>even echo to their land that the Messiah had been born.

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<v Speaker 2>And so there's an anticipation and a swelling of faith

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<v Speaker 2>even in the earth before Jesus goes to the cross

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<v Speaker 2>of what Jesus was sent to do. And so to me,

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<v Speaker 2>that's powerful. It's magnanimous. It's beyond, right? And so also

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<v Speaker 2>we notice in the story here, in the scriptures that

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<v Speaker 2>we read today, that Jesus is beginning to fulfill scripture.

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<v Speaker 2>He's beginning to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. And so the

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<v Speaker 2>religious leaders are now alerted to what's happening in the

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<v Speaker 2>move of God that's coming. Even now, we are seeing

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<v Speaker 2>the fulfillment of scripture. We're seeing the fulfillment of prophecy.

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<v Speaker 2>of national events that are happening. We're seeing even modern

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<v Speaker 2>day apostles and prophets that have declared words of times

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<v Speaker 2>and seasons that those are being fulfilled. That we're seeing

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<v Speaker 2>the outworking of God's plan being unfolded. And all of

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<v Speaker 2>this should point us back to Jesus, which is why

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<v Speaker 2>I felt like it was so important for us to

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<v Speaker 2>take this time this month to really come back to

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<v Speaker 2>the place of focusing our hearts on anticipating the coming

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<v Speaker 2>of Christ during this Advent season. We can get so

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<v Speaker 2>caught up.

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<v Speaker 3>In so many things at the holidays.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's the end of the year, and I

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<v Speaker 2>know that a lot of people are working on those

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<v Speaker 2>year-end reports and all of the things that have to

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<v Speaker 2>happen for the fiscal year to end, if your fiscal

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<v Speaker 2>year ends during this month. Some of us are already

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<v Speaker 2>in first quarter, but, you know, whatever your context would

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<v Speaker 2>look like, there are unique pressures that happen at this time.

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<v Speaker 2>And yet the Lord is still moving on all levels

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<v Speaker 2>and in all ways and at all times, even when

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<v Speaker 2>sometimes we don't necessarily see it. So I hope that

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<v Speaker 2>you're taking time to kind of slow down the rhythm

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<v Speaker 2>of your life and focusing on him. and gain his perspective.

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<v Speaker 2>And so what's powerful is that the wise men, they

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<v Speaker 2>come to see Jesus, and they brought him gifts. They

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<v Speaker 2>brought him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They brought him kingly gifts.

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<v Speaker 2>And we know that frankincense and myrrh are powerful, very

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<v Speaker 2>heavy scents, and gold is a gift that you bring

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<v Speaker 2>to a king. And so these gifts that they gave

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<v Speaker 2>the Christ child recognize his authority, his deity, and they

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<v Speaker 2>worshiped him because they knew that he was a representation

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<v Speaker 2>of God's movement in the earth. And so even now,

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<v Speaker 2>there are unbelievers who are looking for signs of God's

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<v Speaker 2>move in the earth. And we have to be sensitive

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<v Speaker 2>to that. We have to be sensitive because the heavens

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<v Speaker 2>declare the majesty of God. And sometimes we get caught

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<v Speaker 2>up on, we forget that they're still searching for the

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<v Speaker 2>Lord and we get caught up on some other things,

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<v Speaker 2>you know? And so we want to be sensitive in

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<v Speaker 2>this time with when we go to the grocery store,

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<v Speaker 2>when we go to the Target, when we talk to people,

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<v Speaker 2>because people that do not know the Lord are still

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<v Speaker 2>searching for Him. And wise men find Him. Just like

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<v Speaker 2>I was saying to you that Proverbs 25, verses 2

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<v Speaker 2>and 3 tell us that it's the honor of kings

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<v Speaker 2>to conceal and that wise men find it, right? And

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<v Speaker 2>so it's important that we remember that. Sorry, it's God's

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<v Speaker 2>privilege to conceal things, and it's the king's privilege to

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<v Speaker 2>find them. Wise men find things. They discover things. And

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<v Speaker 2>so even in small conversation, find the treasure, the treasure

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<v Speaker 2>for us, the true treasure of the kingdom are the

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<v Speaker 2>souls of men. And God, He really wants everyone to

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<v Speaker 2>come into the saving knowledge of Him. And so that's

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<v Speaker 2>why He's slow to act, slow to move, as the

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<v Speaker 2>scriptures tell us. And so I don't know where you go.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you go to Target this Christmas? Do you go

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<v Speaker 2>to Starbucks this Christmas? Do you go to Publix? But

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<v Speaker 2>there are treasures right next to you every time you

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<v Speaker 2>go into the store.

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<v Speaker 3>They're people.

0:15:05.980 --> 0:15:08.480
<v Speaker 2>We want to be sensitive to the fact that people

0:15:08.520 --> 0:15:13.260
<v Speaker 2>are still searching to find Jesus. And I love that

0:15:14.600 --> 0:15:19.230
<v Speaker 2>the stars still encourage the wise men to continue their search.

0:15:19.850 --> 0:15:26.830
<v Speaker 2>Herod did not continue. sincerely encourage them to continue their search, right?

0:15:27.620 --> 0:15:30.940
<v Speaker 2>And so oftentimes people that are searching for the Lord,

0:15:30.960 --> 0:15:35.700
<v Speaker 2>in seasons until they find Him, they're going based on

0:15:36.140 --> 0:15:39.180
<v Speaker 2>an inward push, the pulling of the Holy Spirit, the

0:15:39.300 --> 0:15:42.620
<v Speaker 2>nudging of the Lord, but then also based on who

0:15:42.640 --> 0:15:47.490
<v Speaker 2>they interact with. the circumstances of their life. Remember, I

0:15:47.670 --> 0:15:50.610
<v Speaker 2>was sharing at the beginning of this podcast that the

0:15:50.650 --> 0:15:55.780
<v Speaker 2>holidays are not often the most pleasant time for people.

0:15:56.180 --> 0:16:00.880
<v Speaker 2>People are hurting. People are struggling. And these are moments

0:16:01.020 --> 0:16:04.500
<v Speaker 2>where people hit different rock bottoms and they're open to

0:16:04.560 --> 0:16:08.260
<v Speaker 2>hearing the story of Jesus. And they begin, when they

0:16:08.300 --> 0:16:11.010
<v Speaker 2>receive him, they lavish their love on him because they

0:16:11.030 --> 0:16:14.350
<v Speaker 2>were searching for him. And so I love that the

0:16:14.390 --> 0:16:18.070
<v Speaker 2>star continued to tell them to keep moving, keep the

0:16:18.110 --> 0:16:25.080
<v Speaker 2>search going, keep looking, keep anticipating. And you may have

0:16:25.100 --> 0:16:29.800
<v Speaker 2>a conversation with someone this week, today, this week, next week,

0:16:30.240 --> 0:16:33.320
<v Speaker 2>where someone has been searching and looking and something has

0:16:33.360 --> 0:16:35.940
<v Speaker 2>been guiding them this whole time and they have been

0:16:35.980 --> 0:16:39.140
<v Speaker 2>looking and you can have the answer. And we know

0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:43.880
<v Speaker 2>that answer is Jesus Christ. So I just want to

0:16:43.920 --> 0:16:46.820
<v Speaker 2>pray with you that even in this time of anticipating

0:16:47.380 --> 0:16:51.840
<v Speaker 2>the return of the Lord, even as we celebrate Christmas

0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:54.500
<v Speaker 2>and we celebrate all that it means to us individually,

0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:59.080
<v Speaker 2>and we remember our childhood memories, and we remember our

0:16:59.120 --> 0:17:01.180
<v Speaker 2>memories when we first got married, or we first moved

0:17:01.230 --> 0:17:03.890
<v Speaker 2>into the house, or we first moved to the area

0:17:03.910 --> 0:17:07.030
<v Speaker 2>in which we live. All those things are wonderful, but

0:17:07.050 --> 0:17:09.610
<v Speaker 2>we don't want to forget that there are many wise

0:17:09.690 --> 0:17:13.040
<v Speaker 2>men that are still seeking Jesus. Lord, I just thank

0:17:13.060 --> 0:17:19.120
<v Speaker 2>you today for the search. I thank you, Lord, that

0:17:21.010 --> 0:17:26.250
<v Speaker 2>you allowed these men, these men of science, these wealthy

0:17:26.310 --> 0:17:33.550
<v Speaker 2>men of their day to unashamedly be searching for you. Lord,

0:17:33.590 --> 0:17:37.369
<v Speaker 2>I thank you for this picture because sometimes we forget

0:17:37.410 --> 0:17:40.590
<v Speaker 2>that our deepest need and our deepest want is to

0:17:40.650 --> 0:17:43.730
<v Speaker 2>be connected to the King of Kings. And so, Lord,

0:17:43.770 --> 0:17:47.330
<v Speaker 2>I thank you for this picture of extravagant worship, of

0:17:47.410 --> 0:17:50.710
<v Speaker 2>how they just poured out their love upon you. Lord,

0:17:50.770 --> 0:17:55.290
<v Speaker 2>I thank you that even now there are people who

0:17:55.350 --> 0:17:58.649
<v Speaker 2>are searching to know you, Lord. Help us to be sensitive.

0:17:58.690 --> 0:18:00.970
<v Speaker 2>Help us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit of

0:18:01.030 --> 0:18:03.800
<v Speaker 2>God that we might linger in those places where those

0:18:03.840 --> 0:18:06.500
<v Speaker 2>who don't know you in this holiday season that need

0:18:06.520 --> 0:18:08.740
<v Speaker 2>a word of hope, that need a word of encouragement,

0:18:09.180 --> 0:18:12.560
<v Speaker 2>would be able to find that word through us, your body.

0:18:12.960 --> 0:18:17.730
<v Speaker 2>So Lord, I thank you for empowering us, for instructing us,

0:18:18.010 --> 0:18:23.770
<v Speaker 2>for causing us to be those instruments that you can

0:18:24.150 --> 0:18:28.690
<v Speaker 2>use to cause those who are on a path, maybe

0:18:28.710 --> 0:18:30.959
<v Speaker 2>that we didn't even know they've been on this path,

0:18:31.080 --> 0:18:33.000
<v Speaker 2>just as the wise men were on that path to

0:18:33.040 --> 0:18:36.560
<v Speaker 2>find you, that we would be that great intersection that

0:18:36.619 --> 0:18:39.570
<v Speaker 2>brings them all the way into the kingdom. Lord, we

0:18:39.609 --> 0:18:44.680
<v Speaker 2>thank you that their travel was probably a thousand miles,

0:18:45.200 --> 0:18:49.199
<v Speaker 2>but on that journey of six to nine months, who

0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:52.500
<v Speaker 2>knows how long it took them that they ultimately found you.

0:18:52.540 --> 0:18:55.260
<v Speaker 2>So Lord, we just thank you for prodigals coming home

0:18:55.820 --> 0:18:59.120
<v Speaker 2>during this holiday season, coming home to you. And Lord,

0:18:59.160 --> 0:19:01.540
<v Speaker 2>we thank you for those who searched for a long

0:19:01.660 --> 0:19:04.760
<v Speaker 2>time that they will come into the saving knowledge of

0:19:04.800 --> 0:19:07.460
<v Speaker 2>Jesus Christ. We thank you for how you're moving in

0:19:07.530 --> 0:19:10.070
<v Speaker 2>this season. In Jesus' name, amen.

0:19:13.480 --> 0:19:18.080
<v Speaker 1>Thank you for listening. Catch Apostle Michelle Jackson on Pray.com

0:19:18.200 --> 0:19:22.040
<v Speaker 1>radio Monday through Friday at 6.30 p.m.

0:19:22.260 --> 0:19:22.660
<v Speaker 2>Eastern.

0:19:23.320 --> 0:19:30.210
<v Speaker 1>Stay connected with Apostle Michelle by visiting thehopeconnection.org forward slash

0:19:30.490 --> 0:19:35.889
<v Speaker 1>converge network. You can follow her on Instagram at beautytradesashes.

0:19:36.490 --> 0:19:38.659
<v Speaker 1>Share this program with a friend today.