Hello everyone. Some friends and I were having a discussion about witnessing to some unsaved co-workers. I know that we shouldn't get drawn into arguements when we are witnessing, and that we should try to make the focus on Christ and the need for salvation, but a question was made that we didn't know the answer for. The question was about the two genealogies for Christ in Matthew and Luke. Some of the names are different and I really didn't know the answer. If someone could help us out, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Josh

Dear Josh,

The first two verse that came to my mind were these:

"nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith." 1 Tim. 1:4

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Cor. 2:1-5

I advise you first and foremost to go before the Lord in prayer regarding the situation and ask Him for wisdom. The Word says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). I will not give you the answer on the genealogies question. You do not need to have this answer to show Christ to those people.

The Lord Jesus told His disciples, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Brother Josh, if you have the Holy Spirit in you, you need to let Him do the work. You need to give all of your mind, and heart to the Lord to use you as He wills.

Paul wrote in the first letter to the Corinthians--the verses I quoted above--that his testimony came with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Having this in mind (please excuse my choppy constructions), here are a few verses that I encourage you to meditate upon:

"God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?" Hebrews 2:4

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’" Acts 11:15-16

"But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:11

What I am making of these verses is that it takes the Holy Spirit--and His powerful work--for us to be witnesses to Christ. We cannot do it in the flesh, with our human strength. Then the question I would ask you is the same question which Paul asked some disciples in Ephesus in Acts 19. Here is the whole passage:

And finding some disciples he said to them, [i]“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”[/i]
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:2-6

Brother Josh, I can testify to my own experience with the Lord in the past six-seven months that nothing can compare to the work of the Holy Spirit in me--no human logic, or wisdom, or preparation. All it takes is for us to trust the Lord, and, in total surrender to Him, let His Spirit use us, as simple jars of clay, so that we may do what He wills us to do. Romans 8:14 reads, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

I will be praying with and for you and your situation, brother. May the Lord grant you His grace and His wisdom.

In Christ,
Slavyan

P.S. I encourage you to search for and read the book [i]The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit[/i] by R.A. Torrey. And continue to seek the Lord with all your heart. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!

mathew tells of joseph's genealogy and luke tells of mary.


this site might help bring more understanding.

http://www.carm.org/diff/2geneologies.htm

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Lisa

slav, i agree with your post. great encouragement.

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Lisa

Mathew was for Joseph which fulfills the promise of Abraham's seed.

Luke was to fulfill the first prophesy given to Mary. Gen 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. This seed of Mary is all the way back to Adam and Eve, and that Seed Jesus Christ is the enmity promised.

Mathew was to fulfill God's promise to Abraham.
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. That seed is Christ.
Gal 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.

The two genealogies have a specific answer to God's prophecy and promise. Through Mary by her seed and through Joseph by his seed. Both are descendants of Abraham and Mary Goes all the way back to Adam and God's promise to Eve.

It also speaks specifically of God's perfect plan before the foundation of the world, which was to produce a Seed that could be born again in the believer and he would have salvation with a Seed that would give the believer the new nature of their Heavenly Father, that they would be fit for the Father's House.

Ephesians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

In Christ, surely and literally, by the Incorruptable Seed of the Father by Jesus Christ who is the Word. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Christ in you the Hope of Glory, the pure Word and Pure Incorruptable Seed of the Father that gives us new birth.

Colossians 1:25-28 Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

"To fulfill the Word of God", that is the Born Again Christ-one. Christ in you and us in Christ: Phillip

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Phillip

Yes i want to learn this as well! I will look for this book

Dear Josh,

This link seems helpful as well:

http://home.inreach.com/bstanley/geneal.htm


In love,
Blake

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Blake Kidney