Concerning The Prophecies About Jesus Christ

Rev Dr Howard Sands 

The Old Testament includes about sixty different prophecies, with more than 300 references, of the coming of the Messiah. It was through the fulfillment of these prophecies that Israel was told she would be able to recognize the true Messiah when He came. The four gospels record several times when Jesus said that He was fulfilling a prophecy of the Old Testament. Luke24:27 records, for example, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." And verse 44 notes, "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and the prophets and the psalms, concerning me."

Here are a few of the pertinent ones. 

A. Prophecies of Ancestry. 

B. Prophecies of His Birth.

C. Names Given at Birth.

Prophecies of Ancestry.

1. Seed of Woman.

prophecy

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

fulfillment

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Galations 4.4-5 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Colossinas 2.15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

2. Seed of Abraham.

prophecy

Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

fulfillment

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

3. Descent from Shem.

prophecy

Genesis 9:26-27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Genesis 11:10-29 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: ...begat Salah ...and begat Eber ...and begat Peleg ...and begat Reu ...and begat Serug ...and begat Nahor ...and begat Terah ...and begat Abram ...the name of Abram's wife was Sarai...

fulfillment

Luke 3:23-36 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli ...…………………………...son of Sem ...son of Noe.

4. Descent from Judah.

prophecy

Psalms 78:67-68 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

Genesis 49:9-10 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

fulfillment

Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

5. Descent from Jesse.

prophecy

Isaiah 11:1-2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

fulfillment

Luke 3:23-32 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, ... Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

Romans 15:12-16 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. ... the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:5-6,16-17 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; ... And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

6. Descent from David.

prophecy

2 Samuel 7:16-17 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

fulfillment

Matthew 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

Acts 13:22-23 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

  

7. He will come from Bethlehem.

prophecy

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

fulfillment

John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

8. David's house like God.

prophecy

Zechariah 12:8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

fulfillment

Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

9. He will sit upon the Throne of David.

prophecy

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

fulfillment

Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

a. He had to have the right to reign!

There are two lineages given, Matthew 1 and Luke 3. They differ with each other why?

b. One is Mary's lineage, the other is Joseph's.

Both come from David, why Give both?

c. Let's compare them:

<< Christ - these are two seperate columns>>

Luke 3   &  Matthew 1

Jesus

parentage of Mary & parentage of Joseph - Both flow to King David

David

Jesse

Obed

Booz

Salmon

Naasson

Aminadab

Aram

Esrom

Phares

Juda

Jacob

Isaac

Abraham

B. Prophecies of His Birth.

1. Born of a Virgin.

prophecy

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

fulfillment

Luke 1:31,34-35 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. ... Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a 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.

Matthew 1:18,23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

2. The Time of Birth.

prophecy

Daniel 9:25-26 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

fulfillment

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

3. Time: while the Temple is standing.

prophecy

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Haggai 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

fulfillment

Luke 2:46-47 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Matthew 24:1-2 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

a. Solomon's Temple was destroyed in 588 BC by Nebuchadnezzar.

b. Zerubbabel rebuilt the Temple and it was destroyed by Antiochus in 170 BC.

c. Herod rebuilt the Temple, shortly before the birth of Christ, and it was destroyed by Titus in 70 AD.

d. The timing was critical for Christ to have been there.

4. Desire of all Nations.

prophecy

Haggai 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

fulfillment

Luke 2:25-33 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

5. Place of Birth.

prophecy

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

fulfillment

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

a. Mary was living in Nazareth at the time Jesus was about to be born. Travel was very limited, arduous, and uncommon in that time, yet Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem. Nazareth was 112 miles from Bethlehem by Roman roads. This was quite a journey on foot.

Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

b. Getting Mary there on time:

1). "Sir William Ramsay-the noted British chemist and archaeologist, as well as Bible scholar-in 1923 discovered at Ankara, Turkey, a Roman temple inscription which stated that in the reign of Caesar Augustus there were three great tax collections."

* 'All the Messianic Prophecies of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer. Page 63.

2). The first of these taxes was when Cyrenius was governor. This was in approximately 12 BC. * Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, page 525.

3). "The second [tax] was ordered four years before the birth of Christ; the third, several years after His birth." *Lockyer page 63.

4). "The second special tax...the proud Jews resented; so they sent a commission to Rome to protest about it. ... the commission finally failed ... exactly enough delay was caused ... so that when the enrollment was put in force in Judea the exact time had come for Mary to give birth to her child." * Lockyer page 63.

6. Called out of Egypt.

prophecy

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

fulfillment

Matthew 2:13-15 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

7. He was in Galilee.

prophecy

Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

fulfillment

Matthew 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.

8. He was a Nazarene.

prophecy

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

fulfillment

Matthew 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

a. Rod - is netzer - Rod out of the stem of Jessee.

9. A forerunner sent to Cry in the wilderness.

prophecy

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

fulfillment

John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

10. A Forerunner sent to prepare the way.

prophecy

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

fulfillment

Matthew 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

11. Elijah sent.

prophecy

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

fulfillment

Luke 7:27-28 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

C. Names Given at Birth.

1. Salvation

prophecy

Psalms 9:14 That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

fulfillment

Matthew 1:21-25 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

2. Anointed (the Christ)

prophecy

Psalms 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

fulfillment

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

3. Lord.

prophecy

Psalms 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

fulfillment

John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

4. Immanuel

prophecy

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

fulfillment

Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

5. King

prophecy

Zechariah 9.9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

fulfillment

Matthew 2.2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Matthew 21.9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"  also John 12:12-15

Mark 15.2 And Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And answering He said to him, “It is as you say.” NAS 

Rev Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions.

For more details or to book Howard for your college, church or event see how to frame an invitation here.

If you would like to assist BFTF in its mission to equipping Africa Network Bible College with chairs, tables, beds, linen, cupboards, filing cabinets etc etc so they can equip ministers with the word of God to empower their own generation you can donate to BFTF here. 

If you would like to donate to BFTF International Missions for training leaders in developing world countries donate here. 

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God's 100%

Competitive Excellence requires 100% .

What would we think of our elite athletes if they didn't give a 100% effort ?

If they didn't train thoroughly, rigorously, if they didn't eat right, sleep right, give it everything they've got, and then some. 

Competitive Excellence requires 100% effort all the time

If you doubt that try setting your standard at 92% or even 95%.

People figure they're doing fine if they get close.

Excellence gets reduced to acceptable, 

before long acceptable is not worth the sweat,

before you know it mediocrity sets in.

When is good enough, good enough?

I suggest good enough is good enough for us, when good enough is good enough for God - NEVER.

What would happen if 99.9% were good enough?

The US Inland Revenue would loose 2 million documents this year.

12 new babies would be given to the wrong parents -every day.

291 pacemaker operations would be performed incorrectly.

20,000 incorrect drug prescriptions would be written.

114,500 mismatched pairs of shoes would be shipped.

If God thought 99.9% were good enough some verses of Scripture would have to be re written

eg 

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as light pink;

Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God most things are possible.

He has not withheld anything from us. 

Rom 5. 8 While we were still sinners Christ died for us. 

Sin (the vile, the corrupt, the abusive, the hateful, the perverted, the selfish) the thing that separates us from God. Gal 5.19/21. 

The wages of sin is death. Rom 6.23

God gave up his son to pay the price for you and me.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Jesus gave up his position with God to be made in human form - how degrading.

Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus said, It is good enough for the student to be like the master Matt 10.25

Jesus called people to follow him;

• not have their name on a church membership roll,

• but to live like he lived (totally unselfishly),

• he called people to lay down their lives for him,

• not to say they believe in him,

• he called people to give up everything for him 100%,

• not put offerings in the plate.

Matt 10.37/39 Anyone who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

Peter thought he'd given up everything for Jesus. 

Mark 10.28/30 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Jesus response - you will receive 100 times as much in this present age.

eg Raymond Lull

Although often disappointed by high officials, Lull was tireless in the pursuit of his project. 

Finally, he received permission to initiate professorships of Oriental languages at the universities of Paris, Oxford, and Salamanca. He longed to see the entire church vitally involved in missions, setting aside its best preachers as missionaries, equipping them with linguistic skills, and devoting a tenth of its wealth until the world was won for Christ. He wanted to be personally involved. 

To prepare himself, he studied Arabic for many years.

With books and baggage stowed on board, Raymond Lull's ship set sail for North Africa but Lull remained on the dock! 

He was frozen with fright. 

Only when he boarded another ship for Africa was his peace of mind restored. Lull would never balk in the face of danger again.

In Tunis, Lull debated so vigorously with Muslims that he was arrested and sentenced to death. Lull's sincerity eventually saved him from death, but he was put on board a ship for home and told never to return to Tunis. 

Undaunted, he escaped from his ship and continued to teach his converts in hiding. The Muslims in Africa had captured his heart. Lull ventured once more into North Africa. 

He was asked once how he could be so bold. Lull, once so fearful, replied: "Death has no terrors for a sincere servant of Christ who is endeavouring to bring the knowledge of truth." 

In ensuing years, Lull was imprisoned, deported again, shipwrecked and finally, around age 80, stoned to death in North Africa, the year was 1312.

How different would the world be now if more had followed him and taken up the cause of missions then.

How much do we love God?

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Considering what he has done for us, how can we not give him every ounce of time/ love/ energy/ money/ possessions.

I've often wondered what would happen if people were as intense and committed and determined about the church of Jesus Christ as they are about sports.

This was illustrated some years back in a Moody Monthly piece which illustrated the twelve excuses someone might use for 'giving up going to sports matches.' 

The analogy isn't hard to figure out.

12 Excuses

12/ Every time I went, they asked me for money.

11/ The people where I sat didn't seem very friendly.

10/ The seats were too hard and not comfortable.

9/  The coach never came to call on me.

8/  The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.

7/  I was sitting with some hypocrites - they came only to see what others were wearing.

6/  Some game's went into overtime, and I was, late getting home.

5/ The band played songs, that I had never heard before.

4/ The game's are scheduled when I want to do other things.

3/ My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

2/ Since I read a book on sport, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.

1/ I don't want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

I've come up with a few more:-

• The car park was awful- I had to walk six blocks to the stadium.
• Nobody came up and introduced themselves to me.
• It was very impersonal, and it was too loud!
• The public address and lighting system, didn't suit me.
• It's always too hot (or cold) in the stadium.
• An usher offended me.
• They sold out one Sunday and I had to watch the game on TV.

God will assume total responsibility for the life totally yielded to him.
~Andrew Murray.  

Be radical, give your life to Jesus - all of it. 

Rev Dr Howard Sands   

Rev Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions.

For more details or to book Howard for your college, church or event see how to frame an invitation here.


If you would like to assist BFTF in its mission to equipping Africa Network Bible College with chairs, tables, beds, linen, cupboards, filing cabinets etc etc so they can equip ministers with the word of God to empower their own generation you can donate to BFTF here. 

If you would like to donate to BFTF International Missions for training leaders in developing world countries donate here. 
Follow BFTF 
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Are You An Accidental Minister?

WHAT !!!! 

You say what is an accidental minister? well it just happened, God impacted your life and you started to share that impact with others. You started to minister the word of God as it was revealed to you, people listened, you asked people to give their lives to Christ - they did, your heart was filled with love for Christ and passion for His kingdom on earth and so you began, it wasn't something you prepared for, expected or planned, it wasn't something you went to school or college for and yet here you are - some time later - in the ministry - maybe pastor of a church or an evangelist - a gospel singer or some kind of leader in the church, because of the passion and the receptivity to the Spirit of God in you. 

Did you ever wonder how some ministers had so much understanding of the scriptures, did you ever wonder why some had such clarity of understanding of the things of God; did you ever wonder why you felt you had so little scripture knowledge? Training, study, development, mentoring; these things make a difference. It has been our heart and passion after being in Africa a few times to see a way that we might help passionate people like you build up their knowledge of sound doctrine to help prevent errors occurring in the church and prepare the next generation of trained and skilled leaders for the church. This college has been years in the making and yet it is not new, it is just new to BFTF in Africa. The Vision Bible College material has been developed over the last 40+ years, has been used in over 145 countries, has around 150,000 current students and around one and a half million have enrolled in its courses so far, however students at the new Africa Network Bible College | Kenya will receive special concessions arranged through BFTF to make it even more accessible to Kenyans.

JOE Ministries , Headquarters of  national college for
Africa Network Bible College | Kenya.

In August 2016 during the BFTF visit to Kenya we announced the launch of Africa Network Bible College | Kenya in cooperation with JOE Ministries (under the leadership of Bishop George Odhiambo) who have the personnel, skills, facilities and passion to train leaders for the ministry and so Africa Network Bible College | Kenya was born. Video report.

Now we are pleased to advise that a complete program has been arranged for training programs in 2017 and have attached the application form for you to attend in short blocks (and still maintain your Kenyan ministry or church). 

Rev Dr Howard Sands, International Director,
Beautiful Feet Task Force, speaks at the launch.

We  have made very special arrangements regarding the fees for Kenyans wishing to attend and receive an Australian internationally recognised or accredited award with the very best theological and practical ministry training.  Please consider your training (or those others under your care) and upgrade your formal qualifications (at a tiny fraction of the  Australian cost). If you are interested in getting full details or participating you should download the attached application form and submit to the national Kenya college headquarters.

This is a new day for Kenya.

Quality internationally recognised formal theological and ministry training education at an affordable price for Kenyans, facilitated by skilled Kenyan leaders in Kenya at an international standard.  Download the application now and submit for 2017 classes.    

Any questions you have regarding content in the application form and your individual circumstances can be discussed with the principal Ps Ken Ayiro Okuyo. 

Download application form here. 

I am looking forward to seeing you the next time I visit.

Rich Blessings

Howard 

Rev Dr Howard Sands is the International Director of Beautiful Feet Task Force, is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions.

For more details or to book Howard for your college, church or event see how to frame an invitation here.


If you would like to assist BFTF in its mission to equipping Africa Network Bible College with chairs, tables, beds, linen, cupboards, filing cabinets etc etc so they can equip ministers with the word of God to empower their own generation you can donate to BFTF here. 

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