The Power of Christmas

Title: The Power of Christmas part 3 in our Christmas series “The Promise, Purpose, Power and Peace of Christmas”

Part 1 - The Promise of Christmas

Part 2 - The Purpose of Christmas

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20; Romans 8:31-39

God’s power is displayed in his sovereignty over history and his ability to work in unexpected ways.

He used a census to bring about his plan of salvation.

Luke 2:1 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

God is involving the entire world in His appointed plan. When the Lord does something its BIG, can you see it? The whole world moves to bring about God’s ordained plans. Look at it this way (Rom.13:1)

Romans 13:1 NKJV

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Caesar is not acting alone, it is God’s sovereign power of appointment that drove Caesar to have a census. No awareness on Caesars part is needed, for God works all His plans out in His own time.

Galatians 4:4 NKJV

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

So why is it so important for this census to be decreed? Well lets keep reading and we will see why.

Luke 2:2–4 NKJV

2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Notice that Joseph, who at the time is living in Nazareth, has to now take is betrothed wife, who is with child (v.5), on a road trip to Bethlehem. Why is this significant?

It was foretold from the prophets of old (OT) that the messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 NKJV

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

(NOTE): Micah the Prophet was around the same time as Isaiah which puts him 700 years before Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.

Notice this One will “be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting” A great side note here is this, Jesus, born of a virgin, has no beginning, He is from everlasting, He is from of old. Listen to the Psalmist say this about Him

Psalm 90:2 NKJV

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

And so it is the LORD who determines to circumstance, time, place and surrounding events surrounding the arrival of Christ. This is God’s Sovereign Power on display over history and his ability to work in unexpected ways.

God’s power is manifested in his presence with us and his provision for us.

Luke 2:6–7 NKJV

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Just in case you didn't know a manger is a feed trough. Imagine that, the creator of all things puts on flesh and laid in a smelly, nasty feed trough. And all this is by His sovereign decree. The manifestation of God in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us, elsewhere scripture states,

Philippians 2:6–7 NKJV

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Now let go back and continue reading from Luke 2.

Luke 2:8–14 NKJV

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

There can be a lot said about this few passages but I want to just focus briefly on the last phrase - “goodwill toward men!”

The word goodwill literally means -

εὐδοκία -ας, ἡ; (eudokia), N. satisfaction; approval; pleasure

It pleased God to send forth His Word (The Son) to become flesh, for the purpose of dying. God can not die for He is eternal so He had to become flesh in order that His flesh die to pay the ransom for my sin and your sin. So it pleased Him.

Colossians 1:19–20 NKJV

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

This is what it means by goodwill toward men or mankind. This is the power of His presence and provision for us. If we keep ready in Colossians 1 we see it all unfold

Colossians 1:21–22 NKJV

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

A gift has been given, the greatest gift of all, placed in a manger, witnessed by shepherds and angels, the promised one who would grow up in grace and truth, to live a life of righteousness in the flesh, to become that blameless, spotless, lamb of God that by His shed blood we are healed. That is the power of His magnification.

And it is that reality and thought that brings us to our final point this morning...

God’s power is demonstrated in his victory over sin and death and his promise of eternal glory.

He raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand. He guarantees that nothing can separate us from his love and that we will share in his glory.

Romans 8:31–39 NKJV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s power is demonstrated in his victory over sin and death and his promise of eternal glory.