Matthew 1:18-21; Luke 2:8-14

Between the Old and New Testaments there was a 400-year silence starting from Malachi. The Old Testament ended with many expectations: the Jews were waiting for the return of God’s glory, a Messiah and the fulfillment of God’s promises. They suffered centuries of oppression under earthly empires – Babylonian, Persian, and Roman.   However, this silence – absence of God visitation and help – was suddenly broken by the cry of a baby in a manager.

God created man in His own image but as a result of sin, God’s glory departed from Him. However, I want to assure you that if there is  any silence in your life – poverty, joblessness, marriage problems, etc. , the cry of Jesus will break it and the glory which departed from  you will be restored. This is because we serve a living God. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.  John 16:33.

Even though there seems to be no solutions to your problems, that silence will be broken today. In whatever situation you find yourself, be assured that God is faithful and will not fail you. He will give you the peace of mind to pull through. Isaiah 65:13 says, “Therefore this what the Sovereign God says: My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.

If you accept Jesus today the Lord says ‘you will eat; you will rejoice;  and you will rejoice; and you will be given a name above all names. Those without Jesus will go hungry and will be put to shame. Also, Isaiah 65:20-25 tells us that if we have Jesus Christ we shall have long life. We will dwell at peace with all men and have the joy of the Lord.

When Moses was faced with the intransigence of Pharaoh he did not give up. He returned to the Lord and was encouraged to release the Israelites from captivity (Exodus 5 and 6). They crossed the Red Sea without any problem.

I want to assure you that it you will tell the Lord your problems and weaknesses, he will come to you and anoint you in a special way. If you will open your heart to God, he will come in and do wonderful things in your life. God sees, hears, and knows everything even the prayers that we think do not reach him.

God adopted the Israelites as His children and gave them the law. However, they did not obey the law but went their own way. God has made another way for us- His Son, Jesus Christ. He died for the church, redeemed it from corruption and presented it blameless before God.
Jesus says in John 15:7, if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. For our prayers to ascend unto God, we need to guard against evil such as disobedience, hypocrisy, wrong motives, unbelief and marital conflict.

Psalm 68:18 says, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Also James 1:6-8 warns against unbelief: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded person unstable in all his ways.”

It is my prayer that the silence in your life will be broken by the cry of the baby in the manger. Jesus will save you from your sins and the glory that departed from you will be restored.
In Luke 2:7, we learn that Jesus was born in a manger because there was no place for him in the inn. Is there a place in  your heart for Jesus today? Can He come in take away your sins and burdens?  Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he will be me.” Jesus is the answer to all your problems.