slavery

Who are we “adventing” for?

/ heatherhaley07 / Leave a comment

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah – Matthew 1:1-17

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezronfathered Ram. Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon.  Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse.  Jesse fathered David the king.

David fathered Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa.  Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, and Joram fathered Uzziah.  Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah. Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josiah. Josiahfathered Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel fathered Abihud, Abihud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor.  Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud.  Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob.  Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteengenerations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteengenerations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Have we ever slowed down long enough to investigate the names represented in this lineage of grace?  When I was in high school looking into the word of God asking what I should study next, He led me to the lineage.  These names, these people, and their stories are not here by accident.  They each represent another pillar of grace shown upon all of humanity.  When you review the fact that there are men from all walks of life and every journey known to man and they are the foundational rocksof welcoming the Savior of the world.  And five women.  Five.  Five is the number for grace in scripture that can be found all over the Word of God reflecting His grace on our lives, and He chose to give us five women in the lineage that represent each of us.

Tamar: the unwanted.

Rahab: the mistreated.

Ruth: the forgotten.

Bathsheba: the taken.

Mary: the misunderstood.

These women represent all of us.  None of us are left out and the Lord cherished them and chose to call them blessed.  They experience the Christ in many ways and one of the most powerful being through the birth of their own children.  The welcome of holding their own children, was partially welcoming the Christ.  And when does the advent season truly being?  I challenge that it took place every moment of every day, but especially in these families at the birth of the next generation.  The longing for the coming of Christ dictated their very existence and their family purpose – but did they know it?  With the creation of every new generation, they were one step closer to the Christ.  Could the same be said of us?

And then we have fourteen generations between Abraham and David, David to Babylon deportation, Babylon deportation to Jesus.  Is that a coincidence?  I say not.  The number fourteen represents a double measure of spiritual perfection.  But that is an entire study all its own, which I encourage you into more. The linage of Jesus is more than words on a page.  It contains the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit in its every motion.  The enemy tried in many ways to destroy these people too… but he failed.  Just as he will fail in our lives and in our journeys.  Our High King has the victory, and we are privileged to walk in that truth and with that banner over us.  May we celebrate the birth of each new generation of believers in our midst as that is one more day closer to His second coming.  And may we rest in His goodness as we reflect on all He has done inus and for us, even then things that we are unaware of.

 

Photo credits – Clifton Haley Photography https://www.etsy.com/listing/1345639603/?ref=share_ios_native_control

Slavery is still going strong today…

/ heatherhaley07 / Leave a comment

Slavery is still going strong today.  Slavery. Is it about the color of someone’s skin?  Slavery.  Is it about what country you are from or how much money you make?  What about your age? Slavery knows no boundaries.  Slavery goes beyond borders, skin color, age and further than bank accounts and financial statements.  Slavery attacks all walks of life because slavery devours the slave and the master.  A slave is defined as a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

There are more slaves today than in any other point in the history of all mankind.  And these slaves are black and white.  Yellow and red.  These slaves are from Asia, Africa, America, Europe, The Islands and Knoxville, Tennessee.  These slaves are poor and rich.

More than 2 million children are exploited each year in the sex trade.  Those children are white, black, yellow, red… one of us.

There are more than 27 million slaves globally.  These can be in the sex industry working as prostitutes or on farms working in the fields.  Those people are yellow, black, red, white… one of us.

Of 95 counties in the state of Tennessee, Knox County ranks in the top 4 in trafficked areas in the state.  Knox County is where we live.  Slavery exists right here with us.

Every 30 seconds another person is trafficked.  Every 30 seconds.  In the time that it will take you to read this article another 8 people have been enslaved.

My generation has become more concerned with the act of slavery that took place before our grandparents were born, instead of fighting the slavery that is going on right now, under our noses, in the parts of town we “avoid” around the people we “avoid”.  Each child trafficked is someone’s child.  Every person trafficked is someone’s someone.

Today, we watch news updates of black verses white and white verses black and it is all referencing slavery.  Today, we are citizens in a nation with a black President.  If a black man can hold the highest office in the nation voted in by the people, the slavery that once held our country in bondage, no longer does.  At least not in the majority.  Is it possible that by our focus being so strongly on the immediate hatred or slander against one another, we miss the real slavery still in existence?  Is that the plan?  While I raise many questions in this brief article.  I only ask that you search yourself and the real data of who the slaves in 2016 really are and how do we help them?

A21 is an international organization that works to rescue those in bondage today and help restore them through the healing power of Jesus Christ.  A21 EXISTS TO ABOLISH INJUSTICE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.  A21 is a non-profit organization who believes that we can end human trafficking together. For the past three years, A21 has hosted the #walkforfreedom walk in numerous cities across the globe.  The walk exists to reflect A21’s heart for freedom and justice, and it is ultimately designed to turn awareness into action.  This year, Knoxville has been chosen as one of their host cities.  Please feel free to go to A21.org for more information about A21 and the walk itself.   The event is Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 8:30am beginning at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

Do we as a county, as a state, as a city want to continue fighting against the slavery that was abolished many years ago or do we want to face and fight for the ones that are currently in chains?  The decision is ours.  What shall you choose?

For mora21-shirte information, please go to a21.org/Knoxville or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.