CHRISTMAS EVE 2022

CHRISTMAS MUSIC IS WONDERFUL

NO OTHER MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTMAS MUSIC

I TRULY BELIEVE GOD DESIGNED IT THAT WAY

GOD DESIGNED THERE TO BE ONE TRUE CHRISTMAS GIFT

JUST AS SOME OF THOSE SONGS SAY

SUCH AS O HOLY NIGHT

Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth Long lay the world in sin and error, pining 'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

OR THE SONG DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy Do you hear what I hear? Now, said the shepherd boy to the mighty king Do you know what I know? Said the king to the people everywhere Listen to what I say. A child, what a child Sleeping in the night He will bring us goodness and light He will bring us goodness and light

ON AND ON THESE MANY OTHER SONGS HAVE A COMMON MESSAGE

THEY REVEAL THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE BEING CHANGED

MANY OF THE GREAT CHRISTMAS MOVIES CARRY A COMMON THEME “HEARTS OF PEOPLE BEING CHANGED”

ONLY THIS CHILD / THAT NIGHT / GOD’S GIFT TO A DYING WORLD HAS BEEN CHANGING PEOPLE

THIS CHILD THIS JESUS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHANGE PEOPLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

JUST AS THESE SONGS / THESE MOVIES / THE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE KEEP REMINDING US OF HEARTS BEING CHANGED BY GOD’S LOVE THROUGH JESUS

THAT NIGHT OF HIS BIRTH REVEALED A DIVINE POWER FROM HEAVEN

THAT DIVINE POWER WAS THEN AND STILL TODAY IS CALLED “BEING HUMBLED”

HUMILITY - ITS WHAT GOD USES TO CHANGE PEOPLE

HUMILITY IS A STATE OF BEING LOWERED IN STATUS OR RANK

IT’S THE OPPOSITE OF IMPORTANCE OR WEALTH

IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF PRIDE AND ARROGANCE

THE WORD HUMBLE IN THE BIBLE IMPLIES THE OBJECT IS NOW DEFEATED AND IS IN NEED

IN THE BASIC SENSE IT MEANS TO BEND LOW TO THE GROUND

THE STORY OF THE MAGI FROM MATTHEW CHAPTER 2 IS SO SIGNIFICANT

THESE MEN WERE GENTILES, THEY WERE FROM THE EAST AND PAGANS, MORE THAN LIKELY ASTROLOGERS, THEY WERE WEALTHY, THEY WERE SCHOLARS - SCIENTIST IN THEIR OWN RIGHT

SOME KEY POINTS FOR US TONIGHT 1) THESE MAGI (GENTILES) HEARD OR READ ABOUT THIS COMING KING 2) THESE MAGI (GENTILES) SEARCHED FOR THIS KING 3) THESE MAGI WERE HUMBLED / THEY BOWED, WORSHIPED AND GAVE GIFTS TO THE KING

THE EARTHLY KING HEROD WANTED TO KILL THE KING / THE JEWISH PRIEST WERE ONLY 6 MILES AWAY AND IGNORED THE KING

WHERE IS OUR HEART TONIGHT IN REMEMBERING THIS GREAT MIRACLE TO THE WORLD?

DO WE DESIRE TO HEAR AND READ ABOUT HIS NEW BORN KING, DO WE SEARCH FOR HIM, DO WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO HUMBLED AND CHANGED BY HIM?

LET US ASK OUR HEARTS THESE QUESTIONS AS WE NOW PREPARE FOR COMMUNION

PRAYER

COMMUNION