CHRISTMAS DAY, SUNDAY 25TH DECEMBER 2016
THEME; THE SAVIOUR IS BORN HALELUYAH
Psalm 149, Matthew 2:7-12, Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 149
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.
6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.
Praise the Lord.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 149:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
Matthew 2:7-12 New International Version (NIV)
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Isaiah 9:2-6 New International Version (NIV)
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Happy Christmas. Today we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Christ’s birth was foretold by the prophet Isaiah about 700 years before His birth. We read in this passage about the attributes of Christ. He is not just the baby who was born in Bethlehem. He is King of Kings and Prince of Peace. He will rule forever. Make Him Lord of your life. Crown Him as your King this Christmas.
KRISTMASI TAREHE 25 DISEMBA 2016
WAZO KUU: MWOKOZI AMEZALIWA HALELUYA
Zaburi 149, Mathayo 2:7-12, Isaya 9:2-7
Zaburi 149
1 Haleluya. Mwimbieni Bwana wimbo mpya, Sifa zake katika kusanyiko la watauwa.
2 Israeli na amfurahie Yeye aliyemfanya, Wana wa Sayuni na wamshangilie mfalme wao.
3 Na walisifu jina lake kwa kucheza, Kwa matari na kinubi wamwimbie.
4 Kwa kuwa Bwana awaridhia watu wake, Huwapamba wenye upole kwa wokovu.
5 Watauwa na waushangilie utukufu, Waimbe kwa sauti kuu vitandani mwao.
6 Sifa kuu za Mungu na ziwe vinywani mwao, Na upanga mkali kuwili mikononi mwao.
7 Ili kufanya kisasi juu ya mataifa, Na adhabu juu ya kabila za watu.
8 Wawafunge wafalme wao kwa minyororo, Na wakuu wao kwa pingu za chuma.
9 Kuwafanyia hukumu iliyoandikwa; Hiyo ndiyo heshima ya watauwa wake wote. Haleluya.
Mathayo 2:7-12
7 Kisha Herode akawaita wale mamajusi faraghani, akapata kwao hakika ya muda tangu ilipoonekana ile nyota.
8 Akawapeleka Bethlehemu, akasema, Shikeni njia, mkaulize sana mambo ya mtoto; na mkiisha kumwona, nileteeni habari, ili mimi nami niende nimsujudie.
9 Nao waliposikia maneno ya mfalme, walishika njia; na tazama, ile nyota waliyoiona mashariki ikawatangulia, hata ikaenda ikasimama juu ya mahali alipokuwapo mtoto.
10 Nao walipoiona ile nyota, walifurahi furaha kubwa mno.
11 Wakaingia nyumbani, wakamwona mtoto pamoja na Mariamu mamaye, wakaanguka wakamsujudia; nao walipokwisha kufungua hazina zao, wakamtolea tunu; dhahabu na uvumba na manemane.
12 Nao wakiisha kuonywa na Mungu katika ndoto wasimrudie Herode, wakaenda zao kwao kwa njia nyingine.
Isaya 9:2-7
2 Watu wale waliokwenda katika giza Wameona nuru kuu; Wale waliokaa katika nchi ya uvuli wa mauti, Nuru imewaangaza.
3 Umeliongeza taifa, umezidisha furaha yao; Wanafurahi mbele zako, Kama furaha ya wakati wa mavuno, Kama watu wafurahivyo wagawanyapo nyara.
4 Kwa maana umeivunja nira ya mzigo wake, na gongo la bega lake, na fimbo yake yeye aliyemwonea, kama katika siku ya Midiani.
5 Maana silaha zote za mtu mwenye silaha wakati wa mshindo, na mavazi yaliyofingirishwa katika damu, yatakuwa tayari kuteketezwa, yatakuwa kuni za kutiwa motoni.
6 Maana kwa ajili yetu mtoto amezaliwa, Tumepewa mtoto mwanamume; Na uweza wa kifalme utakuwa begani mwake; Naye ataitwa jina lake, Mshauri wa ajabu, Mungu mwenye nguvu, Baba wa milele, Mfalme wa amani.
7 Maongeo ya enzi yake na amani Hayatakuwa na mwisho kamwe, Katika kiti cha enzi cha Daudi na ufalme wake; Kuuthibitisha na kuutegemeza Kwa hukumu na kwa haki, Tangu sasa na hata milele. Wivu wa Bwana wa majeshi ndio utakaotenda hayo.
Heri ya Kristmasi. Leo tumesoma tabiri ya Nabii Isaya kuhusu Mesihi Yesu Kristo. Isaya aliandika maelezo haya mnamo miaka 700 kabla Yesu kuzaliwa. Tafakari kuhusu sifa za Yesu Kristo. Ni Baba wa Milele, Mfalme wa Amani. Ufalme wake hauna mwisho. Yesu si tu mtoto aliyezaliwa Bethlehemu, bali ni Mungu na Mwokozi wa Ulimwengu. Mpokee Yesu kama Mfalme na Mwokozi wako Kristmasi hii.