Matthew 1:22-25 The Incarnate Birth Of Jesus

I. GREETINGS * 8 days 'til Christmas. * Advanced Merry Christmas, everybody! * Turn to your seatmates and observe their smiles. Is that the smile of someone who has already received their Christmas bonus? * Remember their names, or get their cellphone number, kasi sila yung mga taong gusto mong makasama this lunch break. Church Christmas Party * By the way, Last Friday was our Church Christmas Party and E412 Awards Night. (show photo) * From the bottom of my hypothalamus, I trully appreciate all the generous partners. The best ang lechon. E412 Awardees * I want to congratulate all the E412 Awardees. (show photo) * Please stand so that everybody can recognize you. These individuals are some of the VG leaders and one2one facilitators who go above and beyond expectations in honoring God and making disciples in the campuses, offices, and their homes. Sambang Umaga: * Meanwhile, I have two important announcements. * Firstly, since Christmas is fast approaching, we wanna invite you to this Filipino Christmas tradition called, Sambang Umaga, on Friday, December 22 at 5 AM here in BE Palace Hotel, we will be having this as a Christmas mini-service. Again that's on Friday, December 22 at 5 AM here in BE Palace. Building Project: * Secondly, we believe for a place we can call our own. * Segue to the building project and the garage sale. * (Share quickly about the exact location and updates) * (Note: Nobody has contacted me to donate their second-hand items for the rummage sale.) II. READING OF GOD's WORD: * Alright, please stand in reverence to God's word. Would you kindly turn your Bibles to Matthew 1:22-25 ESV. * (Encourage everyone to bring their Bibles, notebooks, and pens.) Matthew 1:22-24 ESV [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. * Church, this is the word of the LORD. * Praise be to God! * let us PRAY... * Pray for the gospel to be preached in Ozamiz and to the ends of the world. II. GREETINGS * Good morning, everyone! * Welcome to Victory in Ozamiz. * Let me introduce myself; I am Kit. * We exist to Honor God and Make Disciples. III. PRAISE REPORT (OPTIONAL) IV. INTRO * Karong adlawa, we are on the third installment of our series, giulohag; the Miracle. * Who among you here is enjoying this series so far? * The Miracle is a 4-week series that delves into the greatest miracle we've ever received-Jesus. * As we embrace this season, let's express gratitude to God for His transformative work, for creating miracles in our lives, and for revealing His presence to the world. V. CONNECT * I wanna start my message by asking you this question, What are your plans for Christmas? * I talked to some of our members in church and they shared with me interresting plans like others they will go out of town, ang uban mag Manila or Cebu, uban kay magshopping, ang some will go visit their family members, while kami ni Jin kay magpabukid ubanan namo ang akong mother-in-law kay siya ra usa magcelebrate this Christmas. * Grabe kaayo ang mga plano nu, naka file na ug leave, naka lukat na ug ticket and all, naka save up na. * Pero what if your plans get interrupted? * Are you willing to give up your plans just to give way to God's agenda? * This is precisely what happened in the love story of Joseph and Mary. They sacrificed their plans so that God's plan for Jesus to be incarnated into this world could come to fruition. VI. TENSION (OPTIONAL) * Today, we will be discussing that particular word: INCARNATION. * CONNECT: Carnation evaporada * I know incarnation may sound complex or even unappealing, but its meaning is crucial because it represents one of the foremost truths of Christianity. * Do you agree that certain words, regardless of their complexity, deserve our understanding? Words like hypertension, embolism, hyperglycemia, etc. are important to comprehend. * Thus, the theological term Incarnation is also worthy of understanding, especially during the Christmas season. * So, what does Incarnation mean? * Why is it important for us to understand the truth about Jesus' incarnation? VII. WORD DEFINITION OF TERMS: * Incarnation comes from the two Latin words "in carne," or in other words, "in the flesh." * It is a term used by theologians to indicate that Jesus, the Son of God-someone who is divine-took on human flesh to tabernacle with us. Thus, the name Immanuel means "God with us." * Incarnation is similar to the term hypostatic union. * (show the diagram, and explain why it's necessary) * This term is used to explain how Jesus' two natures are joined together, affirming that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. 2 Truths About The Word Incarnation: 1. Jesus' Incarnation Fulfills The Old Testament Prophecies About The Promised Messiah. MATTHEW 1:22-23 ESV [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). CONNECT: HOOK: TALKING POINTS: * The events associated with the birth of Jesus fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies given centuries before the events they described. Old Testament Prophecies: * The virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). * The birthplace: Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). * Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus to Egypt (Hosea 11:1). * Davidic lineage (Isaiah 11:1). * A Nazarene (Isaiah 53:3). The Jesus's Supremacy: Unveiling Jesus' Distinction Among Other Religious Leaders * While contemplating the circumstances surrounding Christ's birth, Christians can rejoice that the Messiah has come to earth and dealt with our sins. We can praise God for fulfilling His promises and have complete confidence that He will always be faithful to do what He has declared. * Contrary to what many believe today, the religions and religious leaders of the world are not the same. Many people in our culture promote the ridiculous claim that Jesus was just another religious leader-a good person who tried to make life better for others. However, Jesus is unique in so many respects. He alone was a "good person" since He lived a sinless life. Every other religious leader has been sinful and needed a Savior. But Jesus did not need a savior; He is the Savior. * There are no prophecies foretelling details about the birth of other religious leaders. No prophecies alerted the world to the coming of Muhammad (Islam), Joseph Smith (Mormonism), David Koresh (Branch Davidians), Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses), Siddhartha Gautama (Buddhism), or any other founder of the world's religions. Yet, the Old Testament pinpointed numerous details about the life of the Son of God and the Savior of the world. TRUTH: There are no prophecies foretelling details about the birth of other religious leaders besides Jesus. That sets Jesus apart from others. QUOTES: Timothy J. Keller "In Jesus, the Old Testament prophecies become not just predictions but God's covenantal guarantees." In other words, the birth of Jesus is not just a fulfillment of Old Testament predictions but a realization of God's unchanging and reliable commitment to His people through the covenants made in the Old Testament. The birth of Jesus represents the fulfillment of God's enduring promises and establishes a new covenant with humanity. A.W. Tozer "In Jesus, every prophecy finds its fulfillment, every promise its answer." MINISTERIAL: Talk about God's promises. Talk about long overdue God's promises. Talk about our hope eternal in God's word. 2. Jesus' Incarnation Is Necessary For Our Salvation. MATTHEW 1:20-21 ESV [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." CONNECT: HOOK: TALKING POINTS: * The purpose why Jesus' incarnation was not for Him to taste delicious food, nor for Him to chill by the beach, or for Him to find meaningful relationships with people nor for Him to gain acknowledgement and approval from us. * Know that Jesus, along with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, enjoyed love, fellowship, and mutual appreciation within the Godhead. From eternity past, Jesus, along with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, was sufficient, self-sustaining, and secure. Jesus wasn't lonely, and the reason why He came into this world is for Him to gain companionship nor significance. TRUTH: The Son of God came in the flesh to be the Savior of mankind. * It was necessary for Jesus to be born "under the law" (Galatians 4:4). All of us have failed to fulfill God's Law. Christ came in the flesh, under the Law, to fulfill the Law on our behalf (Matthew 5:17; Galatians 4:5). GALATIANS 4:4-5 ESV [4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. * In essence, the phrase emphasizes that Jesus' birth under the law was a deliberate and necessary aspect of God's plan for salvation. By being born under the law, Jesus identified with humanity, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf and ultimately paving the way for the redemptive work that would be accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. * Secondly, it was necessary for the Savior to shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins. * A blood sacrifice, of course, requires a body of flesh and blood. And this was God's plan for the Incarnation: without the Incarnation, Christ could not truly die, and the cross would be meaningless. * Take this truth from Jesus himself: HEBREWS 10:5-7 ESV [5] when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; [6] in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. [7] Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" TRUTH: In the birth of Jesus, we find hope; in His death on the cross, we find redemption. CONNECT: Santa vs Jesus (show photo) QUOTE: Warren Wiersbe "The greatest gift we have is not under a tree but hung on a tree." Tim Keller "In the manger, we see God's humility; on the cross, we see the depth of His love." MINISTERIAL: Grateful heart to Jesus' life and sacrifice on the cross. Challenge to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. ROMANS 8:31-32;35;38-39 ESV [31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. VIII. CALL TO ACTION: