Away in a Manger

CAROLS—3

AWAY IN A MANGER

Next week we will look at what I would call a heartfelt message as we look at O Come O Come Emmanuel.

If I would have known I would have invited so and so… and this is the Christmas season and you can get people to do whatever and get them to come… bro, its Christmas…. and the kids are going to be playing it up…

Today is one of those messages where when God gave it to me, it was one of those messages where you say, just stick it to me...Its a little tougher...

Away in Manger there is also some controversy surrounding the writing of this song as well: Published originally 1885 Lutheran SS curriculum who published

Little Children’s Books for Schools & Families

Some Believed M. Luther still controversy… thought this was—“Luther’s Cradle Hymn”

What is a Mystery is who wrote lyrics to song. No mystery touches hearts.

Play Song

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How many love that song…. One reason we love this song is because of the words used over and over

Little Lord Jesus—6 lb, 8 oz. baby Jesus Little Lord Jesus

Something about the baby in a manger picture we love, but instead of focusing on the size of jesus, we are just going to focus on Jesus is Lord...

JESUS IS LORD. (740x in NT)

Starts with a classic Christmas verse...the verse most commented on for Christmas time...

Shepherds watching their flocks at night—angel of Lord comes to say

…Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

Luke 2:10–11 (NIV)

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Christ, the Lord.

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What does Jesus being lord mean for your Marriage? Money? Xmas shopping? What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of your life?

Greek word for Lord is

kurios (koo'-ree-os); supreme in authority, controller, Lord.

I can only imagine controller has an issue with some of you… the controller of our lives… the controller of our destiny.

Problem is most of us want to be in Control—something I like to have—don’t want to give up! We don’t want to give him control of our lives..

We like to have control of things like Drive, Remote… Money, Day happened the exact way we planned it… greet me at the door… we want to be in control of it all, People, Perfect Xmas

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What does it mean to make Jesus Lord of our life....listen I say this all the time, and I just said it again...

We say things like we need to Make Jesus Lord—Don’t make him Lord God made him Lord LONG ago... he is —Already Lord

We don’t make Jesus the Lord of our lives… God did that so long ago… he is already Lord…

All we REALLY have to do is Surrender life to His Lordship

When you surrender—you relinquish control.

Jesus is already Lord—the question is Have you surrendered to him? have you given it all up to him… have you said You are the controller?

When I think of the world and this I realize there are two ways that we can surrender to the Lordship of Christ...

SURRENDERING TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST

THE PARTIALLY SURRENDERED LIFE.

Honestly, this is where I feel many Christians live their lives we believe in God but live our lives as if he doesn't exist...

there are so many casual Christians... like a book I read, the Christian atheist... we say that there is a God but we dont live as if he exists... thats why Jesus says in Luke 6:46 We say we trust him but we keep all control

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46

Luke 6:46 NIV

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Don't just talk the talk and not walk the walk... this isn't a game...

I think there are people in this life that say things like...

Believe in Lord—don’t trust Him with everything!

Believe in the Lord—still do whatever I want!

Believe in Lord—but I want to be in control!

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Many of us Give him some things—not everything! RIP BIBLE

Give you my Sundays—but not Friday & Saturday nights. RIP

Trust you with my salvation—but still worried about my children. RIP

God’s my provider—no way I’m giving 10% of my money. RIP

Jesus is my Lord—not forgiving that person who hurt me. RIP

I’m a Xian—go youth group—my parents will never know… RIP

L & S, gossip, white lies, greedy, sleep w/girlfriend—he’ll understand. RIP

And some of you are so offended right now you're thinking about walking out of the church... you're scared that lightning is going come from the Heavens and strike me dead this morning...but let me remind you that what I did was rip pages with ink on them out of a book...and this is what some of us are doing to the actual word of god EVERY sinGlE day...

We pick and choose what we want to keep and throw the rest away…

And Jesus says why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I say.... and the reason is that we are living this partially surrendered life...

So this next verse comes from the PSV version of the Bible... that is the Partially Surrendered Version of the Bible..

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The Bible says...

Trust in the Lord with some of your heart, lean on your own understanding, in some of your ways, acknowledge him, and you can make your own paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6 PSV

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with some of your heart, lean on your own understanding, in some of your ways, acknowledge him, and you can make your own paths straight

Jesus is no part time Lord...he doesnt want part time lovers...Give it all up...we can't pick and choose... what else have I not surrendered...

SO what I want you to do this morning is ask this question very prayerfully, and then be open to what it is that God is trying to tell you this morning ask....what area am i still trying to control.... what area am I unwilling to give to god...

WHAT HAVE I NOT SURRENDERED TO THE LORD? ______________________________________

It could be our children's lives... I know God gave me these kids but things aren't going the way that i thought they should...God isn't going to draw them to him I have to take care of it all on my own....I'll worry about them when I want to

Future...gotta get it all lined up... gotta get it all figured out... I'm going to graduate from here... I'm going to do such and such for a living...I'm going to move to this part of the country...I've got this all figured out... i can tell you from experience if what you want for your life and what god wants for your life aren't the same if you do what you want instead of what he wants then it takes you much longer to get to where he wanted you once you finally decide to give it up.... truth is when you look through the Bible it is very normal in the lives of the Believers to not know exactly what is coming next but to just TRUST in god and Believe he will guide you with each step.... every day our daily bread...

Could be a relationship... I know that I am dating the wrong person...I shouldn't be dating and they aren't drawing me closer to God... but I love him baby and I can change him....

Finances... I can't give god what he told me to give I'll be broke... and all the church ever wants is my money anyway...let me tell you, I care about you so much... and council, don't get crazy with what I am about to say...but I care about you so much and want the best for you that if you think all we want is your money when we talk about giving... then here is what I have to say... If you aren't already tithing....I care sabout you so much that if you think all we care about is your money then give your ten pecent to a different church but keep coming here... I just want you to live the blessed life that God has called you to live... listen I know that God will take care of us, he always has, I just love you enough to tell you to give what God wants you to... just do it and watch what he does in your life...

Trouble is we live this...

Its a Luke warm, half hearted, partially surrendered life.

Jesus is no part time Lord—he doesn’t want part time followers.

So many of us in one way or another are living this partially surrendered life...

so there is the partially surrendered life and then there is the

THE FULLY SURRENDERED LIFE.

Not just when it is convienient... not just Sunday Morning... holding nothing bac.k... I love it the way Paul Said in Romans 14...

7 For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Rom 14:7-8

Romans 14:7–8 NLT

7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

NLT

Can I ask a question... how many of you are alive? If you are you living it is to Honor the Lord! If we die it is to Honor the Lord... so if you are in Christ you are his...

My Wedding band..I never take this thing off...I dont care if it causes me to lose my finger at some point...to me its worth it...it shows that I belong to Jennifer... and listen, I know that I hit above my pay grade with her.. when we first started dating..mary at DQ... I get it...and when we first started dating shortly there after I decided I was going to buy her a ring... and listen I knew NOTHING about what she wanted... or about rings in general... and I went to buy her her ring... and I did the sweet thing... and let me tell you a story.. .shy... oh my gooodness... I was warned that I would kill her if I did it that way... and i have heard a really good story this week about a proposal and a glove box... but here is what I did...so I played... How much did that ring cost her? Honestly, nothing..but when she said yes...and then hit me...it cost her everything...she belongs to me... and I belong to her and this is just a way of showing the world I'm hers... but we belong to the Lord...and some of you would say she don''t belong to you you male chauvenist... but she does... try to touch her and I'll mess you up... and I belong to her... how long is she going to let me go out table dancing... the answer not very long...PTL>.. becasue I belong to her...so the ring cost us nothing but it also cost us everything as we gave our life and oru marriage to the Lord...

For Jesus to beome your savior and Lord it is a free gift...but when you accept it, costs you everything... you are no longer yours...when you give accept it your life is no longer your own... you have given it over to him... you are no longer the controller of your life it belongs to him....

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Many want the Casual approach—Jesus is my buddy, homeboy No he is your LORD

Not just little Lord Jesus in manger… Not just dying Lord Jesus on cross.

Risen soon supreme reigning soon returning King of Kings. and Lord of Lords... he means business...

so the real version of Proverbs 3:5-6 is.....

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hebrew word Yada—to know! to know is to trust.... Same as Adam and Eve. to know is to surrender

Reason we don’t trust him—we don’t really know him!

It’s all about relationship… Love the Lord your God.

Its all about relationship... Love teh Lord your God...

Jesus doesnt stay with me because of empty promise, but beccause of relationship

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Big difference calling Jesus Lord—surrendering to Him as Lord