Christmas Day Service

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Christmas Story:

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Luke 2:1–20 NASB95

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

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Message: Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 (NASB95)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote those words about Jesus several hundred years before Jesus was even born...

The Bible flatly told us that the Messiah would be a child…a baby…and yet the Jews were still looking for a KIng like David to come and beat the Romans…not a man....a “child” would be King.

And that child was to be more than just a baby....He was meant a gift....verse 9 reminds us that “a son will be given to ____?” who? “Us.” Listen, I don’t know what gifts you got this year for Christmas....I got several that I will always treasure....I consider Sienna among them. She has been such a blessing to us and made Christmas that much more wonderful this year....but the gift of Jesus....that is the most precious gift of all.

BIll and Gloria Gaither wrote these now famous words about that very thing as they held their newborn baby....you probably remember them:

“How sweet to hold....our newborn baby....and feel the pride, and the Joy that He gives.....but greater still....the cam assurance: This child can face uncertain days…why?....because He lives....”

Jesus is the gift, amen?

The prophet Isaiah then goes on to say that the “government will rest on His shoulders.”

That means his kingdom is eternal…it is beyond that of any government we see today. The Messiah's kingdom will increase more and more until it ultimately it fills the world. It has no limits....and ALL of that rests on the shoulders of this infant. He will reign over it all and it all will rest on his shoulders.

Isaiah then gives us a short list of titles for Jesus....”Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and the Prince of Peace.”

Wonderful Counselor: speaks of the wisdom of God. He should be praised for his great knowledge, wisdom on all things....today we call it his “omniscience”....that means He doens’t just know “a lot of things”....he isn’t just “smart”....omniscience means he “know EVERYthing.” He isn’t JUST wise, he is the wisest of the wise. And we praise Him for it.

Mighty God, the KJV renders it....the Hebrew literally reads “God: The Mighty One.” Here, Isaiah uses the word “El,” for God. This word ONLY means GOD, with a BIG G. It is NEVER used in the Bible unless it refers to God the Father, except in THIS instance when Isaiah uses it to refer to the coming Messiah....Jesus, Isaiah says, will not only be from God; He will BE God....BIG G. He will be worshiped just as God the Father is worshiped.

Eternal Father: This does not mean He will replace God the Father or that He takes the role of God the Father in anyway....it simply means that He takes on a leadership role with man and His church as a father would. He is the head of the family of God.

and Finally:

Prince of Peace: This does not mean that Jesus will bring peace in THIS life, but later in His eternal Kingdom, Jesus will bring in and reign over eternal peace for all believers.

And think of that for just a moment: no more sickness, nor death, nor sadness, nor hate, nor anger, nor a hint of anything that brings about displeasure for ever and ever....and that’s the salvation we have in Christ if we give our lives to Him and believe.

Oh what a mighty Savior Jesus is....and may we never overlook it…at Christmas or any other time.

Merry Christmas....

Let’s pray.

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