2023-12-24 - Christmas 5

No Room In The Inn

Intro:

When we lived in Nebraska, we did a lot of our shopping in Sioux City IA. While there, a department store in the mall closed and eventually a bin store came in. Every day the prices went down through the week. We got some sweet and fun deals. it was almost always packed. One day the word came that they were closing the store. One of the final days they had a deal where you could pay one price for a bag and you could put whatever you wanted into it for that low price of like $5. We kept asking, can we get one more thing in there. As we were going to the counter, we tried a few more things and like that, we had Success!!!

Link:

When it comes to our hearts, how much can we cram into them? Our lives seemingly over time get busier and busier.

Talking Point:

We must however make room in our hearts, ample room for Jesus.

Jesus isn’t just a room mate, hes our

Soul mate.

leader

Kinsman redeemer, were betrothed to Him

We have no right to tell Him what we are doing in life

We have no business telling Him what He is doing in our lives either

There was “No Room In The Inn” for Jesus. However this is not what God wants in your heart and life is it?

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

God wrote 7 letters to 7 churches, of the last he wrote to Laodiceans.

Your neither Warm or Cold. Explain how the Hot and Cold waters were piped in, they were refreshing and good to drink.

Mineral contents made them nasty at room temperature.

ILL: Cruise w/ Mitch. Ice water was OK, Coffee was OK, lukewarm water was nasty, could taste the chlorine.

God wants you to be refreshing and healing. If we do this then were making room in our hearts for Him.

This is not a salvation verse, it is a verse that God says, He is asking for us to allow Him in completely to do what He desires in our lives. God desires not to do this to rule and reign as a dictator but to take care of us in lvoe.

Bible characters made room in their hearts for Jesus to rule and reign - Lets look at some Biblical Examples.

The Christmas Story:

Mary

Luke 1:26–37 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

Mary said yes to God, she made room in “THE INN” of her heart for Christ.

Luke 2:7 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.

Joseph

Matthew 1:18–25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Matthew 1:25 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife. 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Joseph said yes to God, she made room in “THE INN” of her heart for Christ.

The Shepherds

Luke 2:8–14 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!

Luke 2:15–18 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

The Shepherds said yes to God, she made room in “THE INN” of her heart for Christ.

The Wiseman

Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

Matthew 2:9–11 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Simeon

Luke 2:25–28 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:”

Simeon said yes to God, she made room in “THE INN” of her heart for Christ.

Anna

Luke 2:36–38 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna said yes to God, she made room in “THE INN” of her heart for Christ.

How about you: Is the door of your heart like “THE INN”, is it closed off to Jesus? ABC John 3:15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

How about you: Is the door of your heart believer, like those of the church of Laodicea open to Jesus coming in to fellowship with you or have you pushed Him out and closed the door?

Closing Song: 91 - The First Noel