RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS

God chose Mary and Joseph, because He knew their faithfulness. When God brought the gold, frankincense and myrrh, it was His divine provision operating in their lives. They became instantly rich! 
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold frankincense, and myrrh
(Matt. 2:11)
At one time in their life, Mary and Joseph were not abundantly rich people. In fact when God had chosen them to be the parents of Jesus, Joseph was a workingman, who made a living by carpentry. 

They were not extremely poor, but they were not in abundance. You can understand their social status by observing the sacrifice they gave on the day of dedication. They gave a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons (Luke 2:24). 

According to the Levitical Law, when a male child is born to a woman, after seven days, she is to bring a sacrifice as an offering to the temple on the eighth day. The law states that you were to bring a lamb, but if you could not afford a lamb, then two birds would be accepted. The abundantly rich would bring a lamb, but the poor would bring the birds. 

When Mary and Joseph received the call to bare Jesus, they instantly obeyed. In Luke 1:34-35 you can see the account of Mary's obedience. Mary asked the angel; "How can I give birth seeing I have not known any man?" And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). 

So Joseph and Mary did as the angel had told them, and when Mary had brought forth her firstborn son, Joseph called His name JESUS (Matt 1:25). 

I want you to notice something, Jesus—Emmanuel—which being interpreted, "God with us," came on the scene, and into their lives. God was now manifested in the flesh. 

Because of their obedience, God moved on three wise men to go and find where Jesus dwelt. When they arrived they worshipped Him, and gave Him gifts (Matt 2:11). 

The gifts that the wise men gave Jesus were gold, a very expensive perfume, and medicine. Notice that one of the gifts given was gold. What do you think Joseph did with that gold? 

Proven Faithfulness 
Do you think that He just held on to it and never used it? Do you think that he just buried it in the sand, like the unfaithful steward, and never produce any increase with that gold. NO! 

God chose Mary and Joseph, because He knew their faithfulness. When God brought the gold, frankincense and myrrh, it was His divine provision operating in their lives. They became instantly rich! As soon as the wise men left, God told Joseph through a dream to escape into Egypt because Herod was seeking to kill Jesus. 

They now had the means to do this. Not only were their needs met financially and physically, but God's delivering power was in complete operation. 

We need to understand something, when God comes on the scene, every need is fulfilled, every lack is destroyed, and Jehovah Jireh paves a way for our deliverance. You see God blessed Mary and Joseph for their obedience in receiving the Word of the Lord, and acting on it. 

God Came On The Scene 
I want you to know something, the same thing that happened to Mary, happened to you, when you accepted Jesus Christ, the Word, as your Lord and Savior. 

According to 1 Peter 1:23 we are born again not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed, by the Word of God which lives and abides forever. When you accepted the Word of the Lord in your heart, the Holy Ghost came upon you, and the power of the Highest overshadowed you, and conceived in you a new creature. 

A child, a son, a daughter of God was born. God came on the scene! God is now manifested in your flesh. You are now a new being. A spirit of adoption has raised you up from the bondage of sin and death, and has set you down at the right hand of God the Father. 

Yes, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21). Ephesians 2:5-6 says:
Even when we were dead in sins, (He) hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
You see, Father God raised Jesus up from the dead to a heavenly place beside Him. Ephesians 1:20 says, "and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places." 

There is a specific place beside God that is designated for His children, a place of covering, and a place of glory. In 1 Samuel 3:21 we read; "And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the Word of the Lord." 

The word Shiloh is defined as a literal place. It is a literal place of safety, rest, peace and prosperity. Shiloh is also a name for the Messiah, as understood by the ancient Jewish interpreters. 

Jesus Christ is our Messiah; He is our Shiloh place. This place called Shiloh represents our position in Christ Jesus. It is the secret place where only His children can dwell. It is there that Father God reveals Himself to us. 

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply all of your needs, (where?) according to His riches in Glory, by Christ Jesus." In Glory, in the secret place beside God, is where all your needs are met. 

Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable, and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty, whose power no foe can withstand." That is where God has positioned us right beside Him. 

The Gift Is Yours To Receive 
Receive the gift of Jesus, the Word, in a whole new light this Christmas. Realize that God the Father is now with you, and you are now in your shiloh place, beside Him. This is a place of safety, peace, rest, and prosperity. 

Just like He sent the wise men to Mary and Joseph to bless them abundantly, God will send you your wise men, to bless you abundantly. 

During this holiday season, remember God is with you. Even if it looks like you are in stable barn financially, in an outcast position socially, or in a prison of sickness, and disease, God is working in your behalf. 

These things are all subject to change! When you receive the incorruptible seed of God's Word, God's delivering power is activated. You are raised up to a position beside Him, where you can expect Him to be sending people your way to bless you. 

You can begin expecting visions in the night time, every need being met, every ounce of lack being destroyed, sickness, and disease running from you as if in terror, and a whole new life being birthed before your very eyes. 

God bless you as you receive The Gift of Jesus this Christmas!