For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

Hear this great sermon by David Hockings on Jesus the Reason for the Season part 2 click hear

A great heart warming story!

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Bethlehem today is pretty sad

CHRISTMAS CAROL - "O Little Town of Bethlehem" Ever since Hamas has taken the control of the City of Bethlehem, there is not much that remains to cause believers to rejoice. Our 2014 ISRAEL TOUR group of 101 people went to lunch at the Christmas Store - sandwich was either falafel or swarma (turkey) - then we went shopping at "THREE ARCHES" which our tour enjoyed greatly. Then, in late afternoon we went out to the "SHEPHERD'S FIELD" were we found some authentic cave sites that were used in the first century AD for the care of animals. But, our hearts were saddened by the takeover of Hamas, radical Muslims. Years ago Bethlehem was 85% Christian and 15% Muslim; Today it is 90% Muslim, and only 10% Christian - the believers there need our prayers and support! In light of what has happened, we thought you might enjoy what the Bible has to say about Bethlehem: ISRAEL AND THE CITY OF DAVID Psalm 48:1-3, 8 Psalm 78:70-72 - "He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfold" - I Samuel 13:14 - "the LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart" - Acts 13:22 - "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will." I Samuel 16:7 - "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." City of David - mentioned 44 times in Tanakh (OT), the Jewish Bible. The two times in the NT refer to David's birthplace - Bethlehem, not his capital. The Hill of Ophel where the original City of David was located is only about 30 acres in size. 1. It was CALLED "Salem" at the time of Abraham and Melchizedec - Genesis 14:18-20 Also called "Zion" 151 times "Melchizedec" - Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7 2. It was CONQUERED by King David 3000 years ago - II Samuel 5:6-10; I Chronicles 11:3-9 II Sam. 5:7 - "stronghold of Zion" I Chron. 11:5 - "castle of Zion" 3. It was CONSTRUCTED by King David with residential dwellings - I Chronicles 14:1-2; 15:1 4. It was CHOSEN to be the place for the Ark of the Covenant before it was moved to Solomon's temple - I Chronicles 13:1-4; 15:3, 28-29; 16:1, 37 cf. II Samuel 6:17-19 5. It was COMMITTED to be the burial place of King David and most of the kings of Judah - I Kings 2:10 (including Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, & Ahaz) 6. It was CITED in I Kings 1:32-53 as the place Solomon was anointed king - at the spring called Gihon - vv. 33, 38 7. It was CONTROLLED by King Hezekiah when he brought the water of the Gihon into the city - II Kings 20:20; II Chronicles 32:30 (he built another wall outside the old walls of the city so that the spring of Gihon would be inside the city wall - also built the 1500 foot tunnel) 8. It was CONTINUED as a fortress by King Manasseh who built a wall around it - II Chronicles 33:14 - he built a "great and high Wall on the west side of Ophel" This wall would extend up into what is now the Jewish quarter of the present old city - can be seen today near the "ancient cardo" - main street 9. It was CREATED to be the place where Jeremiah was put in the dungeon (pit) - Jeremiah 38:3-6, 11-13 - cf. David's words in Psalm 40:1-3 written 400 years earlier. 10. It is COMFORTED by the Lord's presence - Isaiah 51:3; 61:1-3 - also Psalm 46:4-7; 76:1-2; 87:1-3; 99:2-3; 125:1-2; 132:13-14 11. It is CHARACTERIZED as the place of salvation and deliverance - Isaiah 59:20; 62:11; Joel 2:32; Zechariah 9:9 12. It will be CELEBRATED by the redeemed - Isaiah 51:11 Psalm 48:1-2 - "the joy of the whole earth! CONCLUSION: God's wonderful promise to King David - Psalm 89:20, 34-37 David Hocking HFT Connect