Opening Passage : Psalm 19: 1 – 6, Matthew 2: 1 – 2
Matthew’s account of Christ’s birth : Matthew 1: 18 – 25 & all of Chapter 2
1. The New Testament terms, Magi and Magician, both come from the same root Greek word, but there is a clear distinction between the two. (See Daniel 5 : 3 – 8)
A. Magi were wise-men who likely were priests in their realm, and held in high regard by their leaders.
B. Magicians, and false Astrologers (occult ones, such as we have today, who prepare Horoscopes, etc.) pretend to be wise but are really foolish.(Romans 1: 22)
C. A strong warning against the occult is given in scripture. (Isaiah 47 : 13 – 14)
2. Evidently, the Magi (Wise-Men) who came looking for the Christ child, King of the Jews, were somewhat like our modern day Astronomers, but with a spiritual component. They believed that the reality of the Divine could be learned from Creation. (See Romans 1: 18 – 20)
A. Jon Bell, who is a scientist and a Christian, oversees the planetarium at Indian River State College. I quote from his college website:
“Who were the Wise Men, the Magi, and what did they know about the sky? Our best guess is that they were Zoroastrian astrologer-priests of Babylonia, which lay to the east of Judea. Two thousand years ago…the Magi may have witnessed a triple conjunction, three separate passings of the planet Jupiter and the star Regulus, a significant sky event for them. Jupiter appears as a bright star that wanders against a background of constellations, caused by the combined motions of Jupiter and the earth as they orbit the sun. Regulus, in the constellation of Leo the Lion, was the signal star of the Babylonian king. Jupiter was the king planet, and its appearance near Regulus may have set the Magi on their course eastward toward Bethlehem to seek out the new king.”
Pastor Chuck Longworth is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Covenant Tabernacle in Port St. Lucie, FL. Longworth has ministered the gospel, in some form or fashion, for most of the past 55 yrs. He has taught science, as well as Bible classes, in both private and public schools & Bible Colleges. Longworth hold a Bachelors degree from Lee University and a Master of Theology from Logos Christian College & Graduate School. Longworth has made more than a dozen short teaching & mission trips to Central America including Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, the Bahamas, and Haiti. Longworth firmly believes that the churches greatest hour is yet to come.
Covenant Tabernacle World Outreach Center in Port Saint Lucie Florida is a nondenominational, charismatic reformed church that believes the Pentecostal gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to believers today. We believe God has called us to worship, proclaim His word, and Disciple the nations in obedience to His commandments.
Sirari Vibrant Worship
At Covenant Tabernacle, we believe in worshipping God “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30 – NKJV) As a part of our worship, we blow the Shofar as blown in ancient Jewish worship.
purchase Ivermectin online Powerful, Bible based Preaching
We believe that the word of God is true (2 Samuel 7:28) and that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) We encourage all believers to develop a Biblical Worldview that shapes our view on not only our personal life but also our family, friends, loved ones, church, and civil government.
Discipleship
We believe in following Christ’s Great Commission to “‘go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV) As such, we believe in discipling individuals, families, communities, cities, states, and nations in obedience to God’s word.
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