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    The Hope of Christmas
    The Hope of Christmas
    The Hope of Christmas
    Ebook174 pages59 minutes

    The Hope of Christmas

    By Jack Countryman

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    About this ebook

    Paints the picture of God’s promises for Christmas—from the beginning of time and to all of eternity. 

    Go on a journey . . . from the promise of the Messiah given to us in the Old Testament . . . to the promise of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament . . . to the promise of Jesus’ life and our salvation . . . to the promise of His resurrection and our eternal life. 

    This unique Christmas book contains Scripture followed by brief writings that will take readers on a voyage as they explore God’s prophecies and promises for Christmas—prophecies and promises that began centuries ago. Readers will be transported through the miracles of God’s promises from Genesis throughout eternity and that Jesus would come to fulfill those promises. More than a simple story, The Hope of Christmas reveals the broad and miraculous scope of Christ’s birth in the manger and the continual gift of His love, joy, peace, grace, comfort, and much more—all within our grasp because of our one true hope, Jesus Christ. The Hope of Christmas is Jesus’ gift foretold from the beginning of time, offering salvation and a life in Him for those who believe.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateOct 8, 2012
    ISBN9781400321247
    The Hope of Christmas
    Author

    Jack Countryman

    Jack Countryman is the founder of JCountryman gift books, a division of Thomas Nelson, and is the recipient of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's Kip Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the past 30 years, he has developed bestselling gift books such as God's Promises for Your Every Need, God's Promises for Men, God's Promises for Women, God Listens, and Red Letter Words of Jesus. Countryman's books have sold more than 27 million units. His graduation books alone have sold nearly 2 million units.

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      Book preview

      The Hope of Christmas - Jack Countryman

      ]>

      Contents

      IJ

      The Christmas Story

      Introduction

      PROPHECY: Messiah, Descendant of Abraham

      FULFILLMENT: Genealogy of Jesus

      PROMISE: His Blessing

      PROPHECY: Heir to the Throne of David

      FULFILLMENT: Gabriel Visits Mary

      PROMISE: God’s Promise to Mary

      "Away in a Manger"

      PROPHECY: Anointed and Eternal

      FULFILLMENT: Unchanging

      PROMISE: The Word Became Flesh

      PROPHECY: Watch Bethlehem

      FULFILLMENT: Born in Bethlehem

      PROMISE: The Gift of Jesus the Messiah

      "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

      PROPHECY: Born of a Virgin

      FULFILLMENT: Highly Favored One

      PROMISE: Immanuel, God with Us

      "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

      PROPHECY: The Messenger

      FULFILLMENT: The Messenger Comes

      PROMISE: Spiritual Gifts and Talents

      PROPHECY: The Son of God

      FULFILLMENT: Jesus, God’s Son

      PROMISE: God’s Favor

      PROPHECY: Light from Galilee

      FULFILLMENT: Ministry in Galilee

      PROMISE: God’s Power

      PROPHECY: Message of Freedom

      FULFILLMENT: Freedom Proclaimed

      PROMISE: God’s Comfort

      PROPHECY: Man of Sorrows

      FULFILLMENT: Acceptance Through Jesus

      PROMISE: God’s Goodness

      "Hallelujah, What a Savior!"

      PROPHECY: Portrait of a King

      FULFILLMENT: Jesus Was Not Believed

      PROMISE: His Faithfulness

      "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"

      PROPHECY: A Celebration .

      FULFILLMENT: Comes in the Name of the LORD

      PROMISE: Unchanging God

      PROPHECY: A Trusted Friend?

      FULFILLMENT: Dinner with Friends

      PROMISE: His Grace

      "Amazing Grace"

      PROPHECY: Silence Is Golden

      FULFILLMENT: Silence Speaks Volumes

      PROMISE: God’s Guidance

      PROPHECY: Stand Firm

      FULFILLMENT: Not in Vain

      PROMISE: His Strength

      PROPHECY: Paid in Full

      FULFILLMENT: Among Thieves

      PROMISE: His Compassion

      PROPHECY: They Cast Lots

      FULFILLMENT: Sticks and Stones

      PROMISE: His Forgiveness

      PROPHECY: God Delivers the Righteous

      FULFILLMENT: No Bones Broken

      PROMISE: His Mercy

      PROPHECY: Buried with the Rich

      FULFILLMENT: Treated with Respect

      PROMISE: Abundance from Above

      PROPHECY: Delivered from Death

      FULFILLMENT: He Is Not Here

      PROMISE: Eternal Life

      "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"

      PROPHECY: Right Hand of God

      FULFILLMENT: Received into Heaven

      PROMISE: The Holy Spirit

      "Joy to the World"

      The Gift of Prayer

      ]>

      The Christmas Story

      IJ

      I t’s a timeless story—the account of Jesus’ birth—with familiar details such as shepherds, a star, wise men, and angels. But perhaps the details, if not the story itself, are too familiar. Are we any longer able to hear the wonder of this world-changing, history-altering story?

      God planned the birth of Jesus before time began, and throughout the Old Testament—thousands of years before a Baby was born in Bethlehem—God hinted about the coming of this Messiah, this King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace.

      Looking at these hints—these ancient prophecies—and their fulfillment in the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ birth can help us recapture the wonder of the Christmas story and marvel at the gift of Jesus, a gift of sacrifice and love, of Immanuel, God with us.

      May seeing the promises of God and their fulfillment reignite in you the very hope of Christmas.

      9781400321148_INT_0012_001.jpg

      It came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

      Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

      Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

      And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

      "Glory to God in the highest,

      And on earth peace,

      goodwill toward men!"

      Luke 2:1–14

      9781400321148_INT_0013_004.jpg

      ]>

      Introduction

      IJ

      F or centuries, voices in the Old Testament called God’s people to look for the Messiah, yet most Jewish people missed the significance of the prophets’ words. Micah, for instance, said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. In Psalm 89:27, 36, David foretold of a firstborn when he spoke of the Lord declaring that David’s seed would endure forever. Isaiah made the preposterous claim that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Hosea revealed that at a certain time God would call

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