Sermon Tone Analysis

Merry Christmas!!!!

Over these last few weeks… as we’ve journeyed together through Advent… We’ve talked about a lot…

We’ve looked at the Christmas story… We’ve seen it’s characters… We’ve heard from them… from their stories… from their struggles… Hopefully… we’ve learned something!

The Christmas story is a powerful story… It’s not just a children’s story… It’s not simply a tale we tell our children to give them joy… Nor is it simply meant to give us a bit of inspiration and joy for a season…

The Christmas story is filled with wonder and miracles and very real life!

— It is the story of Immanuel… The God who stepped out of His Divine Glory and into the very presence of His people…

— It is a story of Redemption… of Hope… and of Love…

— It is the story of The Creator of Universe’s redemption of His Creation…

The Christmas story teaches us that we CAN:

Find Hope in Our Uncertainties.

When uncertainty surrounds us… When fear of the unknown fills our lives… When the trials and sufferings of this life threaten to choke life out of us…

The promise of Christ fills us with HOPE to carry on.

Hope is the breathe that keeps us alive… Hope is the fuel of Faith… of dreams… of possibilities…

Hope is that whisper that says: “Maybe… Just maybe…”

It’s a spark in the cold darkness… the flicker of first light in the morning…

In the worst sufferings and atrocities and catastrophes of human history… HOPE has never been lost.

When life beats us down… and drags us through the mud and mire… when we are beaten up and left laying in the road… wondering “How long, O’ God?”

There is Hope!

Simeon and Anna… lived long, difficult lives.

They had known loss and disappointment… But they had not abandoned Hope.

They knew the promises God had made to them… And when they saw the Baby Jesus… at just six weeks old… in the Temple… They knew that this was the Messiah… the Promised One… the Son of God!

They were ready and waiting for this moment… They had embraced HOPE for so long… and now… their Joy was made complete!

They had seen God’s Messiah!

And they couldn’t help but rejoice and celebrate and worship God!

The flames of their HOPE spread beyond themselves and multiplied!

How is the flame of your HOPE today?

Are you eagerly awaiting the promises God has made to you?

Let me encourage you… No matter what you are facing… no matter where you’re at… HOPE has come with Christ!

Hope is found in Him!

Immanuel… God with Us…

On December 24, 1854, Charles Spurgeon asked this question:

“Do you know the full meaning of that name Immanuel, “God with us”?”

Allow me to read you His answer to that question:

“No, he who knows it best knows little of it.

Alas, he who knows it not at all is ignorant indeed, so ignorant that his ignorance is not bliss, but will be his damnation.

Oh! may God teach you the meaning of that name.

Immanuel, “God with us”!

“Immanuel.”

It is wisdom’s mystery, “God with us.”

Sages look at it and wonder,… angels desire to see it, … the plumbline of reason cannot reach halfway into its depths,… the eagle wing of science cannot fly so high, … and the piercing eye of the vulture of research cannot see it.

“God with us.”

It is hell’s terror.

Satan trembles at the sound of it, his legions fly apace,… the black winged dragon of the pit quails before it… Let Satan come to you suddenly, and do you but whisper that word, “God with us,”… back he falls, confounded, and confused.

Satan trembles when he hears that name, “God with us.”

It is the labourer’s strength,… how could he preach the Gospel,… how could he bend his knees in prayer,… how could the missionary go into foreign lands,… how could the martyr stand at the stake,… how could the confessor own his Master,… how could men labour if that one word were taken away?

“God with us,”

’tis the sufferer’s comfort,… ’tis the balm of his woe,… ’tis the alleviation of his misery,… ’tis the sleep which God gives to His beloved,… ’tis their rest after exertion and toil.

“God with us”—

’tis eternity’s sonnet,… ’tis heaven’s hallelujah,… ’tis the shout of the glorified,… ’tis the song of the redeemed,… ’tis the chorus of angels,… ’tis the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky!

“God with us.”

Immanuel… God has come… to restore HOPE… To bring us the HOPE of Salvation… the HOPE of restoration and healing… the HOPE that He will continue to work in our lives!

Let me assure you: No matter where you are… No matter what you are facing… No matter how discouraged you are… There is HOPE!

God has brought restoration and healing into your life… and He will continue to work in your life!

He has a plan for you!

Today, I am praying with Paul for you:

We can…

Find Peace in Our Struggles.

Everyone knows, the struggle is real!

Jesus said:

The PEACE of Christ transcends even our darkest days.

That’s the promise given to the shepherds…

Think about it… Here they are going through life… carrying out their daily work… just trying to make it… when suddenly!

In the middle of the night!

Their rest is interrupted with a terrifying — yet somehow completely awe-inspiring — visit from Angels!

Of course it happened in the dark of night… Of course the angels began their announcement with the words, “Do not be afraid!”

Because, of course… they were afraid!

They were human!

There is so much in our world that causes us fear…

There is so much that happens that we struggle to understand....

For the shepherds, that included these magnificent, terrifying heavenly visitors…

For us, it’s the normal pressures and disappointments and uncertainties of our frail and broken world…

Jesus… Immanuel… the Prince of Peace… has arrived on earth!

And the Angels proclaimed it:

Luke 2:10–14 (NIV)

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The favor of God is here… Immanuel…

The Peace of Shalom… the fullness, safety, completeness, and wholeness of God… has been made available to us!

Jesus is the Peace of restoration with God…

Jesus is the Peace that settles our souls…

Jesus is the Peace in the midst of the storm that allows us to say: “It is well with my soul.”

Think about it — When the storm raged… when the disciples feared for their very lives… Jesus calmed the storm!

And He’ll do the same for us!

Jesus calms the storms of life… He brings us PEACE!

This is why the Apostle Paul tells us:

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace has a name… and His name is Jesus!

In Him, we find HOPE… we find PEACE… and in Him we…

Find Joy in Our Discouragements.

We’ve all had one of “those” days… or weeks… or years… amen?

King David was no exception, but look at what he wrote in Psalms 30:5

Psalm 30:5 (NIV)

5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

David wrote those words because… he understood (probably better than most)…