Good Tidings, Great Joy (2)

Welcome

I want to start by echoing what Tineke my wife said and welcome you all to City Impact Church North Canterbury. If this is your first time or your visiting, it is truly our honor and joy to have you with us this morning.

If you have your bibles with you, turn with me to Luke 2:8-14

Main Passage Of Scripture

Luke 2:8–14 (ESV) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Pray

Christmas time is about gifts, spending time with family and loved ones.

Its a time to reflect on the year that has been. The highs and the lows.

The birth of Jesus is a message of hope if you have had a year filled uncertaintiy

The birth of Jesus is a message of peace if its been a crazy year

Its a message of love if its been a lonley year. A message of healing if its been a painfull year.

However your year has looked, my encouragement is that there is hope. Over 2000 years ago that hope came into the world in the form of a baby.

If you havent had the best year, maybe theres been moments this year you have wanted to give up. Maybe theres been fearfull situations.

I want us to put ourselves in the shoes of the shepards. Listen to the words of the angel to ‘Fear Not”

Fear not in your times of trouble

Fear not when financial problems arise

Fear not when your relationships arnt going well

Fear not when you lose a job

Fear not in whatever your facing and know there is good news and great joy coming. Theres a breakthrough coming for you friends.

Theres hope for your relationships, theres hope for your finances, theres hope for your pain.

However our year has looked, the dark moments we have experienced. We can always read this passage and know not to fear because the good news of Christmas is that the one who takes all has arrived on earth.

The birth of Jesus is sign of new beginings, its the sign of a new day.

Its a new day in your situation, its a new begining, its a new season for you filled with joy, filled with love, filled with peace!

How many of us believe that? Shout Amen!

However you walked in this morning, you can walk out different. Put your trust in God!

2. Illustration - Opening story

On this table are two boxes....

We have one box that is big and is wrapped nicely.

the other box is small and is the complete opposite. It does not have the nicest wrapping.

Air conditioner

We recently had our air conditioner repaired because it was not pushing out cold air. We phoned the dealership we brought it from as it was still under warrenty to look over it. The receptionist said someone elese would call us which they never did.

there was this theme arising where we had to phone them multiple times because we were promised someone would call but no one did. We eventually got told to bring the car in to get fixed only to get told they couldnt fix it. So we brought it in another time and they would promise it would get fixed by a certain date only to get pushed out again. Which happend on multiple occassions.

Now this is not a story of bash the dealship or put shame on anyone, this is a story of over promising and under delievering.

How many of us have been in this position? where we are contantly being over promised but then not getting what was expected?

Box 1

This amazing big box appears to be extremely attractive. It has alot of promise, But unfortunately it under delivers every time. this box represents the enemy and the world, It appears amazing but leads to destruction.

We are expecting something big and amazing but inside is noting but cuffs. CUFF TO BOX AND HAND

Maybe we have fallen into the trap of taking from this box only to find that we are bound to life of:

Anger

Pain

Bitterness

Unforgivenss

Addictions

Box 2

the other box is not appealing and is small. Looks like it has nothing significant to offer.

Like the story of Jesus and His birth. We read earlier about Jesus being born in a manager and wrapped in cloth.

The promised messiah that the Jews had been waiting for, arrived in a way they did not expect.

They expected a warrior who would come and fight for them.

They expected a King although He is one, but they expected Him to be presented in royalty.

Instead God chose to present Jesus as a humbled servant in a way that does not look good on the outside.

God chose Him to be raised in Nazareth. A town where people would say “what good can come from there”??.

It ooks undesirable, it does not look like it has anything to offer.

But instead it is the opposite.

This box offers freedom:

This box has a key to your bondage and addictions to:

Anger

Unforgiveness

Bitterness

problems

Ephesians 1:7 - Message Version

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!

You are free to live a life full of joy, you are free to live a life full of love and peace.

John 10:10 (ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Why is Jesus birth so important?

because the moment He was born, was the day that key to your sin was available. UNLOCK CUFF

3. Conclusion

We hear the common quote “Jesus is the reason for the season” which is true. But can i also make a statement that “you are also the reason for the season too”

SMASH THE BOX

You are the reason Jesus came, to reunite you back to a life of:

freedom from sin

Joy from sorrow

healing from pain

hope and Love

John 3:16 (TPT)

For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son AS A GIFT. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.

THAT GIFT IS FOR YOU HERE THIS MORNING.

4. Salvation call

With every eye closed and head bowed.

I want to give you an opportunity this morning to give your life to Christ and make Him your Lord and Saviour. If you want to give your life to Jesus this morning, would you raise your hand? i am going to lead you through a simple prayer

SINNERS PRAYER

Why don't we all say this prayer together:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I come before you today,

and I ask for Your forgiveness.

I want to ask you Jesus into my heart

I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my life.

I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead.

I trust and follow You

as my Lord and Savior.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Awesome praise God, can we all give God praise and welcome these guys into the family of God

Call for praying for message

I want to give one more call if you have allowed the temptations of this world to cause you a life of trouble. Could be:

Anger

Relational

Financial

unforgiveness

Lift your hand i want to pray for your corportately.

Dear Lord Jesus

I come to you today

I ask that you forgive me for anything i have done

that has hurt you

hurt others

or even myself

i thank you for the victory of the cross

i thank you that i can put my trust in you

today i give everything to you

in Jesus name

Amen

Handover

Hey can we stand, we are going to close with a couple of carols, i ecourage us to sing along and worship and take a moment to fix our eyes on Jesus this morning.

Join us next week as we hear from Ps Matt Foreman, going to be amazing!