The Arrival

Merry Christmas! This is the resounding phrase that will be echoing thorough the world in just a few short days. Merry Christmas. Words that in a few days will unite families, friends, and loved ones. People will make peace with people the don't like. Feuding couples will rush to make amends by these words, Merry Christmas. Children will be handed their presents with the following gesture, Merry Christmas. Even those people who will not get anything material will have these words presented to them in kind fashion, Merry Christmas. People will spend money and exchange gifts with people they don't know in the name of “secret Santa.” to have a merry Christmas. People working overtime to make a Merry Christmas for their home. Parents going in debt to give the best presents that they never had so they their children can have a merry Christmas. And, all the while, as these words are casually tossed to a fro, I wonder do we every pause and wonder what these words really mean. Merry-full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit, Christmas-The time set aside to annually commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. So when you say “Merry Christmas” you are literally telling that person to celebrate right now because Christ has been born. The song writer had it right then, “joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing.” God did something very special. He gave his very best to us who deserved nothing at all. This is the God we serve and He is what makes this time merry. So no matter what situation you are in this season. If you have tons of presents under the tree, or no tree at all. If you have loved ones all around you, or if you will be by yourself. If you have the day off, or if you got to work. If you will be with family, or if your family has gone on to glory you will still have a Merry Christmas because its not about anything else but God taking on flesh and coming to save a retch like me. I know that's not your typical “Miracle on 34th street preaching” but the miracle wasn't on 34thstreet in was in barn. You do know the Christmas story is not so glamorous if you just read your bible. Jesus didn't have the luxury of being born at OU medical, Mary couldn't stay at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, there were no warm sheets for the baby and no cozy stuffed animals. No! there where real animals, Barnyard animals! It was bad enough Mary had to travel across the nation for a census but now she couldn't even get a bed to deliver her Christ Child in. There weren't any people opening their doors for this young couple, no, your Jesus was born in a manger. This is not glamorous but it is glorious, and we can see how God worked out in this text and we find out how we can celebrate the King no matter what and how that mentality should shape our daily lives, going from simply Christmas presents into secret and holy place Christ presents.

1. God’s Plan and the Enemy’s Plot(v.1-8)

The story is simple. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. It was God’s plan to send us a savior to free us from our sins and to separate from the sinfulness of this world.

In v. 6 we see that Jesus is the not only a promised deliverer of Israel, but also the King who would rule the. (Political threat) This is a threat to Herod’s kinship. The enemy’s plot has always been to destroy Jesus, and subsequently destroy his people (preach)

Abraham’s ED, But God had a plan..

Joseph was a Slave...

Moses had a speech impediment...

Rehab's reputation...

Sampson wasn’t very bright...

Hannah was distressed...

Gideon was outnumbered...

David was peeping Tom…

Solomon's adultery...

Jonah was disobedient...

Matthew was a tax collecting sellout...

Peter has hot head...

Tomas was doubtful...

Paul was persecute...

And in like fashion, the way God preserved Jesus for his plan, I do believe and proclaim today that you are here because God still has a plan for you…(Run But God has a plan)

3. God’s Presence and Emmanuel’s Presents(v. 9-12)

When the Magi get to the place where Jesus was they rejoiced. They understood better than the Jews that this was God of God. God in the flesh. (Gentiles)

The Star

They rejoiced before seeing the promise.

Then they worshiped the Child.

Gold- King

Frankincense-Priest

Myrrh-Burial