God is not Dead, nor doth He Sleep

Introduction

This title may seem familiar if you attended Christmas at Northside this past Sunday. It was a small statement in one of the songs “I Heard the Bells”. God used this small statement to inspire my message for tonight to slightly change.

Christ has been working throughout all of history, before there was even history. I want to look how God worked through history, how He worked in Luke 2, and how God wants to work right now.

Working in the Organization (1-7)

Since the Garden of Eden, God has been orchestrating events to this moment. He promised the perfect lamb would come (Gen 3:15). He promised this child would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14). He promised the baby would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He promised the child would come from the line of David (2 Sam 7:12-13).

God has been organizing the birth of Christ, the Savior. Not just so that He would be born, but that He will one day go to the cross and pay the price for our sins.

In this passage, we see Christ working in the organization of Mary and Joseph.

The census was taken - everyone has to go to their city. So this moved Mary and Joseph. Where did it move them to?-- Bethlehem, where Christ was prophesied to be born.

Shows how God uses an unwitting Caesar to accomplish divine purposes so that the child is born in the town of David.

This wicked ruler had not idea He was taking part of God’s plan.

God not only worked in the organization but He worked in the Glorification.

Working in the Glorification (8-14)

God sent angels down to the simple shepherds who had nothing and brought them the greatest news of the ONE who had everything.

Not only told them about the ONE who had everything, but showed the glorification of the KING.

They quoted “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” This statement inspired the song I shared from the beginning - I Heard the Bells.

Closing

So many people throughout history have made a point to celebrate the birth of Jesus and give Him the glory. Why is that? Because He is the Light of the world!

The Light of the World is not just a baby being born, but a Savior being sacrificed. We celebrate Christ’s birth because He came down to die for our sins and restore a relationship with us.

I titled this mini sermon from a statement in “I Heard the Bells” - God is not dead nor doth He sleep. As i was praying through this sermon and the song, I began to think if I wrote this song or recorded a Noah version this would be it.

“God is not dead nor doth He sleep. For Christ came down for you and me.”

Christ is always there and He is always aware. Whatever your life is like right now, God is aware of the condition and He can take care of it.

As we pray, will you hold onto this statement and pray with me.