Silent Night (Eve Service Christ Advent)

Introduction

Every year you on televison usually on CBS you hear Linus tell the Christmas story and the birth of Christ. I know in the UK the Queen and now King tells about the work and person of Christ every Christmas day. These traditions are important because they base Christmas in reality. Christmas is an event that happend. Yearly we celebrate the birth of God into the scene

Christmas Past: The Prophecy

The world was bleak, and then the angels explode unto the scene.

Talk about the past, the hardship, the need for salvation for us all

At the beginning the devil tempted Adam and eve and they bought into his lie. They exchanged the beautiful presence of God their father, in the perfect home, having life forever, for a devil, death, and hardship.

God didn't abandon Adam and Eve, his children he promised them that he would destroy that serpent.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The world was in need of a saviour, and was waiting. God wasn't done he had purposed before the foundation of the world to save a people to himself. God the father, God the son, and God the spirit covenanted together to redeem a people.

So God put together a plan of redemption arranging the whole of the universe and everyone and everything in it to bring a people to himself.

Moses who wrote those words of Genesis would write in

Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

And

Deuteronomy 18:17–18 ESV

17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Moses the most important Prophet of the Old Testament said a prophet like him is coming. God was doing something, something big.

In the process God was telling Israel that a King would rise from the line of Judah, and to David that his line would be established forever.

Genesis 49:10 ESV

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Psalm 89:3–4 ESV

3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah

Seemingly two stories but little did the ancients know that these stories were one. That the promised Prophet and Promised king

God was spinning a thread to connect us back to him.

Then 400 years of silence between the Last prophet, and these angels.

It came across a midnight clear. You maybe like the shepherds in the field, maybe you feel that you've been sitting waiting for God. I want to tell you that the Angels, a host of them came and told those who were worth nothing that the Messiah has been born.

Luke 2:1–21 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

This glorious event happened in the past, God has provided a way for us!

Christmas Present: The Fulfillment

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

God came to be among us

Christmas Future: the Future

Revelation 22:12–17 (NKJV)

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Every child loves Christmas, so does really every adult if we are honest with ourselves. God intends to give us a second Christmas. The First Christmas Jesus came as a baby, the second he will come as a conquering king! He shall come on horse back and you will be able to see it happen.

Yes children their will be two Christmases one day in the future. The first and second advent.

But to take part you must hear the words of our Lord.

My reward is with me. He is your reward, he ushers in the kingdom in person fully, that eternal life, perfect life, free of hurt and disease, sadness, tears. Perfection.

He brings with him fulfillment, he brings to you today the fullness of life

Candle light Service

If my deacons and worship team would come forward so that we may share the light of Christ together.

If you have young children with you please help them with the candles and hold them this way to light them

(LIGHT DEACON CANDLES FROM CHRIST CANDLE)

The Bible says the light of God has entered the world so my My Friends receive the light of Christ.

(AFTER EVERYONE HAS BEEN LIT)

Will you join me in singing Silent night

Parents and Grandparents please help your children blow out their candles!

SAY: Now Church please remain standing and recive your benediction:

Benediction

300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas May You Keep Christmas as It Ought to Be Kept

May you eat your meat with gladness and singleness of heart; in your families, and with your assembled friends, keeping Christmas as it ought to be kept, with holy gratitude for the gift of Him who has called us out of darkness into light, and given us the promise of this world and of that which is to come. May you praise God—here with your lips, in the wide world with your lives. May you gain favor with the people by being fountains and dispensers of good, both spiritual and temporal.