Virgin Conception

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, a prophet is one who speaks forth or openly, a proclaimer of a divine message. In the Septuagint a prophet is referred to a seer. In general, the prophet was one upon whom the spirit of God rested, one to whom and through whom God speaks. In the Old Testament if it is determined that a person is a false prophet, one that tried to sway the people away from God, the penalty for such is death (Deuteronomy 13). Therefore it was of great importance to the prophet to be real.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah lived during the time of several kings. One such godless king was Ahaz. Ahaz did not trust in the God of his fathers, the great God Jehovah. Rather, Ahaz trusted in himself and his power. King Ahaz placed his trust in his army and the alliance he made with the Assyrians. Isaiah told the people not to place their trust in man but in God. Why do we test the patience of God? King Ahaz did, the people of Judah did. Isaiah told them that God would give them a sign.

The sign that God would give will come in three parts. Isaiah records in Isaiah 7:14 that a virgin would be with child, pregnant. This women, will be a virgin, young yes, unmarried yes, a virgin, yes. God does this to show his mighty power. This woman would not be any woman but rather a virgin. Matthew 1:23 records her in the Greek as being a virgin. Next God tells us that this child will be a son and his name will call him Immanuel. Immanuel, God with us. The birth of a son, to a virgin, only God can do that.

Neither Isaiah not Matthew really understood the significance of the virgin birth. Isaiah prophesied it; Matthew records the fulfillment of it. Today we know of the reason for the virgin birth, to escape the curse of the original sin of Adam and Eve. Why did Isaiah tell King Ahaz about this virgin birth, the son and his name being Immanuel? King Ahaz had to be reminded by God to trust him, to let him know that God has not abandoned his people, and that he is still with them.

About 750 years after Isaiah gives this particular prophecy it is fulfilled. In Luke 1:30 it is recorded that an angel appeared to a virgin named Mary. The angel told Mary not to be afraid and that she has found favor with God. Wow! To know that you have been visited by an angel and to be told that you have been found with favor or grace with God is nothing less that wow! An angel is a messenger from God. This angle tells Mary that she will be with child, she will give birth to a son and she will give him the name Jesus. Sound familiar? Isaiah prophesied it, Mary is living it. Mary is young, unmarried (though engaged), still living at home. What will the family say? What will the neighbors say? What will Joseph say, what will he do? Mary then understands, his name will be Jesus. Jesus is the New Testament name for Joshua, “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh will save.” What can be said but “WOW!”

In Mary’s confusion, the angel explains that her son will be called the “Son of the Most High.” This “Most High” is none other than the “Most High,” God himself. Her son will fulfill all prophecy concerning the deliverer, he will be of the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. How long is forever? That‘s how long he will reign. Mary, being still confused, knowing of her virginity asked the angel how this will happen. The angel explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the “Most High” will overshadow her. The baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God! This event will be miraculous. There will be no sexual contact between Mary and God or any other being, but rather the impregnation will be supernatural, an impregnation only God could perform, outside the normal laws of nature.

Mary doesn’t ask for any further proof, no other evidence is needed on the part of Mary but the angel gives her one other sign. Her cousin Elizabeth, who never had a child, who is now old, is now pregnant. Nothing is impossible with God. What is impossible with man is possible with God! God is a God of possibilities. When all seems lost, there is no light at the end of the tunnel, when the whole world is against you, God will take you through because nothing is impossible with God. Old age and becoming pregnant, a virgin and becoming pregnant, it doesn’t matter because nothing is impossible with God. Mary believed the angels and confirms it by saying that she is a servant of the Lord.

God spoke through Isaiah telling King Ahaz and all the people that God has never left them and that he never will. Sometimes in life we may wonder where God is but we must always remember his promise. Just as he promised King Ahaz,, just as he promised Mary he also promises us. The angel told Mary that nothing was impossible with God. God said that he would never leave us nor would he forsake us. In other words, God is always with us and he will never turn his back on us.

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John Piper

John Stephen Piper was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Bill and Ruth Piper January 11, 1946. When John and his older sister were still small the Pipers moved to Greenville, South Carolina where John spent the rest of his growing-up years. His father was an itinerant evangelist who is still actively ministering through international radio and Bible courses. John has written a tribute to his mother, who died in 1974, in the booklet, "What's the Difference" (Crossway Books, 1990) which is also chapter one of the book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Crossway Books, 1991).

At Wheaton College (1964-68), John majored in Literature and minored in Philosophy. Studying Romantic Literature with Clyde Kilby stimulated the poetic side of his nature and today he regularly writes poems to celebrate special family occasions as well as composing story-poems (based on the life of a Biblical character) for his congregation during the four weeks of Advent each year. At Wheaton John also met Noel Henry whom he married 1968.

Following college he completed a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California (1968-71). While at Fuller, John took as many courses as he could from Dr. Daniel Fuller, the most influential "living" teacher in his life. Through Dr. Fuller he discovered the writings of Jonathan Edwards, his most influential "dead" teacher.

John did his doctoral work in New Testament Studies at the University of Munich, Munich, West Germany (1971-74). His dissertation, Love Your Enemies, was published by Cambridge University Press and Baker Book House. Upon completion of his doctorate he went on to teach Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota for six years (1974-80).

In 1980, sensing an irresistible call of the Lord to preach, John became the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he has been ministering ever since. Together with his people, John is dedicated to spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

John and Noël have four sons, a daughter, and an increasing number of grandchildren.
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books and more than 25 years of his preaching and teaching.

Don't Waste Your Life
Millions of people are wasting their lives pursuing dreams of happiness that don't rise above a good marriage, nice kids, a successful career, a nice car, fun vacations, nice friends, a fun retirement, a painless death, and (hopefully) no hell. John Piper calls this a tragedy in the making. He argues that we were created for joy. We were designed to have one passion.

In this book he describes his own journey toward this great, single passion. And he pleads that at all costs we pursue our joy in the crucified Christ, who is the glory of God. The cost is great. But the joy is worth any cost.


Table of Contents
Preface: For Christians and Non-Christians
1 My Search for a Single Passion to Live By
2 Breakthrough—the Beauty of Christ, My Joy
3 Boasting Only in the Cross, The Blazing Center of the Glory of God
4 Magnifying Christ Through Pain and Death
5 Risk Is Right—Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It
6 The Goal of Life—Gladly Making Others Glad in God
7 Living to Prove He Is More Precious Than Life
8 Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5
9 The Majesty of Christ in Missions and Mercy—A Plea to This Generation
10 My Prayer—Let None Say in the End, “I’ve Wasted It”


Desiring God
Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Third Edition)
The message of Desiring God is that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. In this book, Piper calls this worldview “Christian Hedonism” and explains why pursuing maximum joy is essential to glorifying God. He discusses the implications of this for conversion, worship, love, Scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering.

What’s New in the 2003 Edition?
New Appendix: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained That Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Divine Decrees
New Appendix: How Then Shall We Fight for Joy
Updated References to Statistics and Literature
New Illustrations and Quotations
Corrections and Clarifications
Table of Contents
What's New in the 2003 Edition?PrefaceIntroduction: How I Became a Christian Hedonist
The Happiness of God: Foundation for Christian Hedonism
Conversion: The Creation of a Christian Hedonist
Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism
Love: The Labor of Christian Hedonism
Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism
Prayer: The Power of Christian Hedonism
Money: The Currency of Christian Hedonism
Marriage: A Matrix for Christian Hedonism
Missions: The Battle Cry of Christian Hedonism
Suffering: The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism
Epilogue: Why I have Written this Book: Seven ReasonsAppendix 1: The Goal of God in Redemptive HistoryAppendix 2: Is the Bible a Reliable Guide to Lasting Joy?Appendix 3: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained that Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Divine DecreesAppendix 4: How then Shall We Fight for Joy? An OutlineAppendix 5: Why Call It Christian Hedonism?Indexes

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May God Richly Bless Your Life!