The Promise has come pt 2

Tomorrow morning is the day that we celebrate the events that we just read about. This is Christmas day, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ to the world. A quick summary of what happened in the scripture that was just read tells us that long ago, just over 2000 years ago, a baby was born. But this wasn’t just any baby, this child was God. God the Son, the second person of the trinity (Which consist of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). He was born in a way and in a place that you would never expect anyone of any importance to be born. A poor small town, and worse yet in stable or barn and slept in a manger (a feeding trough). This is not a condition that we would expect any person to born into, let alone almighty God. None the less, it happened this way.

You see, God often does things that seems strange to us. Why does He do this? Many times, it is because He is getting our attention, by not doing what we would expect. It could also be that we only have so much ability to understand things, our minds can only know and fathom so much, but God does not have this limitation as we do. We would expect God to born in the flesh (as you and I are) in a great palace with doctors and nurses and attendants everywhere, maybe even great fireworks and celebratory cannons and gun salutes. This is what we expect. But God doesn’t need those things to show us How great He is. He is in control of all things at times, but in His love for us gave us the ability to choose whether or not we accept His free gift of salvation.

Another reason He came in this way is to show us through example what humility truly is. If the most powerful being ever came to this world in such a humble situation, a smelly barn with a feeding trough bed in an unimportant town, as a human being (who are way down here while God, himself, is way up here), then what does this say about our own need for humility? It means we also must humble ourselves, every one of us no matter who you are. Paul said in his letter to Philippians, chapter 2:5-7 that 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. In a similar way we must humble ourselves before God, admit that we all (myself included) are in frequent rebellion against God and sin. However, if we humble ourselves before Him, the bible tells us that He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. This is all possible through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross.

So, this day, this season, we celebrate. We celebrate that our God came and dwelled amongst as we are, as a flesh and blood person for a time. We celebrate thousands of years of prophecies coming finally true in His birth. We celebrate that our redeemer came, as the greatest gift in the world. This gift is much better and more precious than anything that could ever fit under your Christmas tree. This gift never goes bad, never breaks, doesn’t need batteries, and won’t wear out. This gift is eternal, and it is one that you can keep for life if you choose to take it.

So, I invite you all today, believer and non-believer with us. Turn away from whatever You are holding onto, whatever You know is creating a wedge between you and God. We call this repentance. As you do that, turn towards God, and know that He doesn’t hate you, He’s not ashamed of You, and there is nothing that You can ever do or have ever done that would ever make Him not want a relationship with You or a deeper relationship with you. He wants You to know Him, all You have to do is believe in Him and accept the free gift of Jesus Christ on the cross. So, take this today. Are you ready? Friends, I love you all. If you would like to talk more about this after service, I will be here and I would love to speak with you.

With that, let’s move into our candlelight portion of the service.

The Candles

We will now begin our candlelight part of the service. Please Remember what we had spoken about earlier about how to light them. As these candles go around are lit from person to another, take particular notice of the light as it is shared and spreads. We know that Jesus Christ, who’s birth we celebrate is the light of the world and His light is shared by sharing the sweet, beautiful, and living message of His Gospel. That is, that through our sin everyone is separated from God, but through acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross, our sins are covered, and we are redeemed to God. All of this is because of God’s great love for us. So, as you share your candle fire, your light with others, think on the effect that us sharing the gospel light, the gospel message, with others has and effect. With one starting flame, comes another, then another, then another, and it continues until the room is filled with candlelight. As this candlelight is, is much like the kingdom of God on earth today.

Light first candle. (Emily begins playing lightly and lights go out).

As we share what we have, the good news of salvation through Jesus, it goes out and multiplies itself, giving those that were in darkness now an opportunity to stand in the truth and light which adds to God’s kingdom. Remember Jesus words to all believers, to GO and make disciples. Think on that as we share the candlelight.