At Just the Right Time

Introduction

Luke 2:1–15 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.”

1) God Knows What He’s Doing! (vs. 1-7)

Luke 2:1–7 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.

Before the events of Luke 2 took place, a prophecy about the coming of the Messiah was given by God to His people.

Micah 5:2 “2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Micah’s prophecy is estimated to be around 725 years before the events of Jesus’ Birth.

Here is a man and woman from Nazareth, visited by a messenger from God to tell of the special birth of Jesus.

Mary, engaged to Joseph, became with child through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be the only virgin in history to give birth.

Joseph, a righteous man, became the one who would serve God by taking Jesus’ mother as his wife and raising Jesus as he listened to and obeyed God.

Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth…Jesus is supposed to be born in Bethlehem…How was this going to work?

Nazareth was 80 miles away from Bethlehem…in a day with no automobiles…with a woman who was nearly 9 months pregnant…and the last half of the journey was uphill!

Imagine walking from Pawhuska to Enid, but everything past Ponca City was uphill…all while you or your spouse were pregnant.

God took care of the details to accomplish His purposes.

We know that God wants to do great things in our lives.

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

He is our father who loves us dearly.

He wants us to experience His greatest good and that comes with a closeness and nearness to Himself.

We may not always see the big picture, but as longs as we keep our eyes on God we will be right where we need to be.

You may feel like your life is spinning out of control or at a stagnate stand still, but if you will focus on God and trust Him, He will work out the details and put you right where you need to be…

It may not always be the easiest path, but it is always the most worthwhile path.

There were 10s of 1000s of people who traveled to Bethlehem at that time…we are still talking about only a few: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus…and the Shepherds from the fields.

God ultimately works all things out for our ultimate good if we will trust Him and follow Him!

2) God’s Purpose Through His Plans (vs. 8-15)

Luke 2:8–15 ESV

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.”

There is good news of great joy for you today!

The news is “for all the people”. If you’re here today, you’re part of the “all the people”.

The Child who the angels announce His birth is born “unto you”.

He is Christ the Lord (Messiah) (The One who Saves)

He is not hard to find!

The shepherds looked for something peculiar…a baby, wrapped up tight, in a feeding trough.

This Child is the display of God’s glory and brings peace to our lives.

Today, the message of the manger is still pretty spectacular!

Jesus was born “unto you”.

He is the One who saves us from the train wreck of a broken world.

The world today still finds Him peculiar…while we’re not looking for a baby, wrapped tightly, in a feeding trough; we still look for one whom the world disregards, disavows, and adamantly denies..

He is still the display of God’s glory and brings peace to our lives…

Closing

The shepherds left their hill country and sought out Jesus.

Like the shepherds, we have a choice to make…

We can stay in the wilderness of our own lives and tend to our own business just like we’ve always done…or we can go and be with this great Savior.

Jesus came to just the right place, at just the right time to change people’s lives forever.

You’re here in this place, at just the right time, to have your life changed by Jesus forever…will you come and seek him this morning?

You can trust Him. He knows what He’s doing and He has put you here in this place for a reason…will you place your faith and trust in Him this morning?