Read Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38
 
Matthew 1:1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
 
NOW that you’ve read Joseph’s and Mary’s genealogies that reveal Jesus’ lines of ancestry, let’s understand why these are essential to know. We’ve read genealogies throughout the Bible. Why?
   Yes, genealogies in Scripture can often cause our minds to glaze over. There seems to be no story line or plot to follow. Names are difficult. We hurry through such lists to say, “I've read it.” when we really want to say, “Forget it.”
   But here’s a first point to change your “genealogy mindset”. Peter encourages us to know Scripture’s source: 2 Peter 1:20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. Everything is essential to develop a deep relationship with God.
   Think of it this way. If you have ever farmed, gardened or raised any kind of plant, you know how essential the smallest microbes are for your plants’ vitality - and even your income if you sell what you grow. If certain of even the smallest nutrients are missing, the soil produces less and may even become unproductive. Our modern technology also needs some of the earth's micro minerals to function. For centuries these “rare earth” minerals were once considered useless. Now you can't have a cell phone, TV or many other products we use daily without rare earth minerals. Woodworkers, too, know how critical exact measurements are to create useful, lasting construction. The Bible’s genealogies are words from the Spirit of God to build you up in knowledge of Jesus Christ.
   Here are four additional lessons we learn from these two genealogies: 1) God keeps his Word. He has said the Messiah would come from David’s line. Both genealogies prove this. 2) God’s salvation plan extends through sinful people. Some such as Manasseh committed deep sins against God. Still God used these people to keep his promise. 3) God’s grace is greater than our sins, our weaknesses and our limitations. His grace is above our humanity and liberates us into the true teachings of Jesus, Lord and Savior. 4) God’s New Creation will come. He has fulfilled his promises of old to deliver a Savior. He will fulfill his future promises to establish a new heaven and earth.
   These genealogies are your Christian family tree. They point to past and to your future as you are in Christ’s saving blood. Amen.

Read John 1:1-18, Luke 1:1-4
 
John 1:15-18 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son is himself God and is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”
 
SOME 60 years after the apostle John witnessed John the Baptist’s preaching and ministry, the apostle wrote, “John testifies.” This is as if John were reporting on current events about John the Baptist’s preaching. John was testifying to the preacher’s preaching as current because true preaching is continually real to those who hear. (Luke 8:8b “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”)
    John then told how John the Baptist defines Jesus as eternal: “Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.”  The preacher is flesh. Jesus is God in the flesh. The eternal God is before and after mortal flesh. Jesus was in the beginning with God. He came in the flesh. John then beautifully summarizes the Bible: From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Yes, we can praise God. Jesus has fulfilled the Father’s salvation plan to bountifully bless mankind.
   In Jesus, we have the blessing of the law perfectly fulfilled for our salvation. We are then blessed more abundantly as we are God’s children. God blesses us with our daily bread, the forgiveness of our sins and protection from temptation. He blesses us further with peace, joy, faith, hope, kindness, faithfulness and love. We love God, and we love one another because the LORD has so richly blessed us to bring his salvation to our souls.
   Then John affirms Jesus’ relationship with the Father. No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son is himself God and is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
   God, Three in One, became flesh. The Son has come and preached God’s truth. He has shown to us the works of God in the flesh. We know the Father because the Son has come. He has completed his work. The Son of God made flesh is risen. He is now with the Father. The Holy Spirit reveals this truth to God’s children.
   Boldly and brilliantly the apostle John wrote the gospel’s sure foundation. Now we continue through the gospels to more personally understand how, in the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
 
 

Prepare for the Messenger
 
Malachi 4:5-6 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
 
MALACHI’S final words are God’s final First Covenant promise to Israel. There will be no prophetic voice for 400 years until the one like Elijah begins to preach along the Jordan. Are these hopeful words or ominous warnings – or both? What is the meaning of “I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives.” How could that be God’s future plan if Elijah lived some 400 years before Malachi? What is the great and dreadful day?
   Faithful Jews believed Elijah could return because of the prophet’s live entrance into heaven: 2 Kings 2:11 As they (Elijah & Elisha) were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Further, God had anointed Elijah’s ministry with powerful, Messianic demonstrations of provision, healing, suffering, resurrection, judgment and salvation. Elijah was, indeed, a specially chosen prophet to display God’s glory on earth. You could compare the Jews’ expectation of Elijah’s return with our expectation of Jesus’ return.
   The great and dreadful day of the LORD is a promise and a warning. God’s great day will be his grace to call first the Jews and then the world to salvation. The dreadful day is his final judgment of those who reject Jesus.
   Malachi’s “Elijah prophecy” was fulfilled in the messenger John the Baptist. We see a specific repetition of Malachi’s prophecy as the angel prophesied to John’s father, the priest Zechariah, in Luke 1:17 “He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” God’s final words to Malachi were the first words to Israel through Zechariah to announce the coming kingdom.
   Jesus later confirmed John was the “Elijah” to come: Matthew 11:13 “For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.” John’s life purpose was to prepare the Jews for Jesus’ redemptive ministry.
   Today your role as a Christian is as John’s. You are a blessed child of God, chosen to spiritually point to Jesus and say, “See the Savior is Jesus.” Be a Spirit-anointed messenger to prepare people for Jesus’ great and dreadful day of the Lord. Declare the Savior’s way of forgiveness. Help people to be ready for the King to fully establish his kingdom on earth.
 
Elijah Prayed: 1 Kings 18:37 “O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
 
   

Read Malachi 3:18-4:4
 
Malachi 3:18 & 4:2 “Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not…4:2 But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
 
IN God’s world, we know there is a clear difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Those who are wicked will be cast aside. Those who are righteous, will be welcomed into heaven as God’s own.   
   God’s Love Story will continue into the New Testament with this prophecy of his very personal presence among his own. Jesus will come to fervently live, preach and inaugurate the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ, Son of God. He will call his people to righteous living. The Son will manifest God’s presence through personal relationships, physical healing and spiritual truth during his ministry. Then the “Sun of Righteousness” – the Light of the World – will rise from the dead. He will ascend to heaven, so he can be the Lord of the church. Through the church the Holy Spirit uses the preaching of the Word to continue separating the wicked from the righteous. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
   Remember, the Son of God commanded many to “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4 & 19, Mark 1 & 10; Luke 18) God’s Holy Bible is his call to you to follow him out of wickedness into righteousness.
   Yes, it is a difficult confession to say, “I am wicked.” But it’s true. And it is necessary to confess this. God’s Word tells you that any sin is wickedness. “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10) We can rejoice, then, God has revealed the way to righteousness: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) God’s grace of salvation has poured out to you. If you’ve received the gospel in faith, you are made righteous. Rejoice that your story can convey the joy of a new life in Christ’s redemptive power.
   Nearly everyone reading this lesson has heard God’s personal work to save his own from wickedness. I pray each one of you has received the truth from God to repent and be saved unto eternal life.
    
 

Read Malachi 3:8-10
 
Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
 
The Daily Bible has three days’ readings about the summary of the Old Testament, the apocrypha and an introduction to the New Testament. We’ll study more of Malachi during this interlude before the gospels.
 
ONE of the rarest sermon topics, I believe, is the preaching on tithing. Oh, how we hate to be told how to spend our money! The god of wealth suffocates our giving spirit as we believe all we have comes from us and belongs to us. We’ll give to God what we decide, not what some preacher tells us to give. “All the church wants is my money,” is a common complaint of the church.
   There is good reason churches need to keep asking for funds to function. Statistics show only 2% of people who say, “I am a Christian. I believe the Bible is God’s Word.” tithe their money to God. If all Christians tithed, church finance meetings would not be about, “How do we raise money?” But the agenda would be, “How can we properly distribute God’s wealth?”
   Some will try to justify themselves by saying, “I tithe my time for God.” I’d like to ask, “Really? You spend an average of 2.4 hours each day serving God? Tell me what you do.” Even if you did serve the LORD in that way, that’s not God’s point here. He wants you to trust him with your most valued possession – your money.
   God wants your tithing to say, “I trust you. I believe your promise that tithing is a foundation of financial security. This is money you have given to me, and I give only 10% back to you. Thank you, LORD God Almighty, caretaker of all aspects of my life.” 
   This is what God wanted to hear from Israel. He is so adamant to reveal his blessings to Israel, he says, “Try it! Put me to the test!” At a critical point in Judah’s economic recovery from the exile, God, the Father, is telling his children, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!” God will flood Israel with his blessing just as he flooded the earth with water. Instead of death and judgment, this flood will bring life and blessing. All of their needs and more will overwhelm them. Israel will be able to fill the Temple storehouses in order to feed the poor and prepare for festivals. This will be a sign to God’s “family” that their Father in heaven will care abundantly for them if they are willing to trust him with the riches he has given to them!
   Tithing is to be a testimony: Malachi 3:12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The best way to show God’s character is to live his Word. Obedient to tithe, a tiny nation would influence the mighty nations around it.
   This is true for you, too. Tithe and see how God will bless you. You will have food for your family, and you will bless others. God’s name will be known as you tell the ways God keeps his promises.
 

Read 1 Chronicles 4:24 thru Chapter 9
 
1 Chronicles 9:1-3 So all Israel was listed in the genealogical records in The Book of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the LORD. 2 The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites. 3 Some of the people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh came and settled in Jerusalem.
 
THIS is the last reading from the Old Testament from “The Daily Bible”. Some think Ezra wrote this account of Israel’s tribes to teach the entire nation it is one nation under God’s designed will. 1 Chronicles 4:24 – 8:27 lists each of the 12 tribes’ lineage. Surprisingly, you also see an account of Saul’s family. Perhaps this is because Saul was Israel’s first king. His reign was marked with his hateful pursuit of David. His failure to trust God in crisis moments caused much grief and fear in Israel. We can also remember that the 12 tribes were only briefly unified for about 80 years. They divided into 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and two tribes of the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
   But see the sign of unity! With the inclusion of Saul’s family line and the account of all Israel’s heritage, God wants his people to reconcile and be one nation again. That’s why all Israel was listed in the genealogical records in The Book of the Kings of Israel. And some of the people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh came and settled in Jerusalem. Judah and Benjamin were Judah’s tribes. Ephraim and Manasseh were the two largest tribes from Israel. It seems all are living, learning and rebuilding together. God said this was his plan: Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.”  
   This is another illustration of God’s salvation plan to draw people who once were enemies into a unity of faith. We read much of this in the New Testament epistles as the apostles teach of being one in Christ. For example, there is Ephesians 3:6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 
   If you trace the lineage of the Christian church, you will discover many people who were once enemies have become one church under Jesus Christ. One reason for the church is to be the fortress of God’s unifying plan. Ephesians 4:4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
   Are you a Christian? This is your lineage. From Genesis to now God’s Love Story has been moving forward to unite his own with him and with one another. 

Read 1 Chronicles 1:1-4:23
 
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
 
AS we complete the Old Testament record, it is a bit surprising to read once more the generations of people from Noah to the Exile. This and the next lesson are a way to remember three things: What happened? What do we learn of God? What do we learn of God’s salvation plan? Then perhaps you can stop and consider how knowing these things applies to your life.
   These two verses about Jabez briefly pause the long genealogies. Several years there was much attention to a book on Jabez’ prayer. What does “expand my territory” mean? Is an honorable life and this simple prayer all that is necessary for our “territory” to grow?  
   Of course, life is not that simple because God’s ways extend far beyond this simple formula. But there is a fundamental truth here. Indeed, we must pursue honor in God’s sight. He says so, “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. (1 Peter 1:15) And it does seem God will bless a life that strives to honor God and be holy in his sight.
   We can quickly use Job as an example of the honorable man suffering in God’s test. Through the pain, God expanded Job’s material territory. And we know how Joseph, Moses, Samuel and Hezekiah, for example, suffered and struggled, even as God’s blessed these holy men. Still he used their lives for kingdom expansion. Their “territory” is a legacy of faith, instrumental to God’s salvation plan.        
   With a kingdom view, we can understand how God does expand the territory of honorable people who faithfully pursue God. Ezra and Nehemiah were honorable men. They worked very hard. And God expanded their territory through restoring a city and teaching God’s Word. Their influence changed Jerusalem and Judah.
   God’s story certainly has a long list of those who have experience pain for the Gospel. God has used them in life and in death to enlarge his kingdom on earth. Each faithful witness who has ministered God’s Word can be creediid with advancing God’s territory.
   To pray, “Lord, expand my territory.” we commit to follow Jesus to stand against sin and stand for the Son. If your intent is honorable in God’s will, the LORD will surely answer your prayer in his purpose. To live for Christ is to live with expanding boundaries that will grow the kingdom in ways you cannot anticipate. Jesus said it this way: Matthew 13:31 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
     
 

Read Nehemiah 12-13
 
Nehemiah 12:43 Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for boundless joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away.
 
WORSHIP is Jerusalem’s response to their God who had rebuilt their city. Jerusalem was again a place where God’s people can live in safety from  their enemies. God’s peace reigned. As we know, this occurred after many struggles, defeats and successes.
   Yes, there were many problems during the rebuilding. And even though the Jews dedicated their lives to follow God’s laws, they did not steadfastly live into their vows. When Nehemiah fulfilled his promise to King Artaxerxes to return to Susa, some people turned from God as their ancestors had done when Moses was on Mt. Sinai!
   They allowed the evil Tobias to use a Temple storeroom. the Levites were neglected. Sabbath laws were ignored. Men again had married foreign wives, and half their children could not understand the Hebrew language. How could they learn of God? What would a good leader do?
   The first thing Zechariah, the good leader, did on his return was to rebuke the Jews. Just as Moses’ anger burned when he saw Israel’s idolatry, Nehemiah was enraged and deeply frustrated. “Wasn’t this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin? There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives. How could you even think of committing this sinful deed and acting unfaithfully toward God by marrying foreign women?” Even more, we read that one of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest had married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, so I banished him from my presence. (13:28)
   This is proper discipline to remove the sin and to protect the whole. Thankfully, the Jews repented and once again committed their lives to be more pure.
   This is God’s Love Story to teach, rebuke, forgive and restore. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king. He was a picture of Jesus, our cupbearer. The Father released the Son to come to earth to rebuild our broken hearts, so we can love the LORD God. Then our Servant Savior bore the cup of suffering, so he could serve the Father with the Lamb’s blood poured out for your sins. Nehemiah’s loving grief took him to Jerusalem. Jesus’ loving grief took him to the cross.
   Know what God has done. Repent of your sins and take up the Spirit’s tools bestowed upon us. With faith, hope, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and worship, we may joyfully administer God’s love to mankind.
   I pray you understand how Nehemiah’s life is your example to faithfully live and lead for God’s salvation plan.          
 
 
 
 

Read Nehemiah 7:73b thru 8
 
Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, 8:1 all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel…3 Ezra read (the Law) aloud from  daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
 
YOU will remember Ezra had come from Persia to Jerusalem to teach. For about 14 years to this event in Jerusalem he had been teaching God’s law. Apparently the Word is making an impact. At the Festival of the Harvest, Ezra and Nehemiah called the people to hear the law. With great fanfare, Ezra read the law for about six hours each day of the Festival. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. When the reading stopped, all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. (Nehemiah 8:6) This may have been one of Jerusalem’s most glorious days.
   Can you imagine going to your local town square, courthouse steps or some public place – even a church – to listen to the Bible read for about six hours? Would you go to a week-long “Bible fest” where each day someone reads the Bible through the morning? All you do is listen and absorb the God’s Word.
   Our ministry experience is that when God’s Word is not easily available to people, they will eagerly gather at a place to hear the Bible read. They do not assume God’s Word is available to them, so they treasure the opportunities to hear the Bible.
   Ezra and others read the Books of the Law, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. God’s will is to reveal his great mercy to form and then re-form them as his nation to bless the world. He elevates leaders to guard his people and to give them peace.  
   The Festival of the Harvest (Booths) celebrated God’s physical care for Israel through 40 years of wilderness journey. He wanted the Jews standing at the Water Gate that day to know, “I love you. You are mine. I want to bless you on your journey through life, so one day you will be with me.” Yes, God was providing a new city from the old. The gates are up to protect them physically. The Law is now “up” to protect them from evil. The safeguards are established. Will Judah use them? 

Read Nehemiah 7:1-73a, 11-12:26
 
Nehemiah 12:12-14 Now when Joiakim was high priest, the family leaders of the priests were as follows: Meraiah was leader of the family of Seraiah. Hananiah was leader of the family of Jeremiah. 13 Meshullam was leader of the family of Ezra. Jehohanan was leader of the family of Amariah. 14 Jonathan was leader of the family of Malluch. Jose h was leader of the family of Shecaniah.  
 
THE first generation of the Jews who returned to Judah expanded into succeeding generations. The numbers you read in chapter 7 help us know that God’s physical and spiritual kingdoms were being reestablished in Jerusalem and throughout Judea. Chapter 12 illustrates more specifically the order of priesthood was determined through family lineage. This was necessary to strengthen the teaching and administration of God’s Word. God’s law commanded the Levites to lead Israel with the Word of God. Men needed evidence they were descended from the Levite tribe if they desired to be a priest or a teacher. Nehemiah wrote the names of the leaders who first returned with Zerubbabel. Then he listed the generations from Jeshua, the first priest, to Joiakim and generations to follow. Nehemiah was not only rebuilding Jerusalem, he was rebuilding the structures to teach the law. Nehemiah was a leader, and Judah needed leaders to continue God’s rebuilding work.
   Leadership is an essential theme in Nehemiah. Note that “leader” is used 24 times in these Scriptures to highlight this essential role. Leaders were needed to build walls, to guard the city gates, to enforce Sabbath laws, to lead choirs and to offer sacrifices. The Festivals required leaders to organize and direct daily sacrifices and celebrations. Leaders had to organize the crop production and distribution. And leaders needed to help repopulate Jerusalem as they sought volunteers to settle in the city. All aspects of God’s physical and spiritual kingdoms required true leaders.
   Note, then, that this leadership began at home. The Scriptures repeats this phrase: (name) was the leader of the family.  This has not changed since God first commanded such leadership in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
   God-centered fatherhood means God-empowered leadership to point your children to Jesus Christ. Leaders tell the laws. They live the laws. Leaders tell of God’s grace. They live the grace. Leaders reveal God’s faithfulness, and they live faithfully for their families, communities and church to see God at work.
   We all know building anything requires someone to know the building rules, design and purpose. Know God’s kingdom-building rules. Understand his salvation design. Purposefully lead people through God’s Love Story to the LORD God, who is One in Father, Son and Spirit.