Christmas Eve 2024
Christmas Eve • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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This evening as we gather to celebrate Christmas Eve
As I was preparing for this service this is where I land
14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
That God would give you and I a sign
that He would give the entire world a sign
A virgin will give birth to a child
Absolutely amazing right there but then God says He will be called Immanuel
To know that the plan for salvation was on paper to the skeptics some 700 years before it was put into play but we know that it was part of the plan since before the started the time
We know that since the beginning of time there was always a plan for salvation because God is so very very good
But to the skeptic who doesn’t believe Isaiah was written some 700 years before Jesus was born
To see God work out the plan is absolutely amazing but was has stuck with me
Immanuel
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
The plan is being laid out for salvation to the entire wold
Emmanuel
Means God with Us
The God of the universe is with us
The creator of the entire universe and the speaker of stars
Church the creator of dirt is going to be with us
Sort of the get the awe feeling with your favorite sports player or singer or actor or author is standing right next to you
No magnify it by 100 to know the God of the entire universe the all powerful, all knowing, loving graceful, merciful God is with you
We know from a few weeks ago that for that to happen Jesus had to step out of heaven to be with us
Because remember that God is a Holy God and cannot and will not be part of sin
So that meant that Jesus has to lay aside all the riches and glory of being in Heaven
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Its funny we should talk about the death of Jesus on the cross at such a joyful and exciting time but
Let me clear that is exactly why He was born
Jesus stepped out of heaven to do just that
To be obedient to the point of death of cross
Church to give us life and freedom
To be a light to such a dark world
To save us
So church when we celebrate Christmas Eve
When we read the story of Emmanuel
To know God is with us
is not just a name it has been accomplished and church it is still being accomplished
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
That Jesus was born of a virgin just like God has said through Isaiah some 700 years before
We can see and read about Emmanuel being accomplished
We can read and see about God being with us played out in history
That Jesus came into this world a baby to be Emmanuel
To be with us
To save us
10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
I enjoy prepping for sermons because you find scriptures you have read and know but maybe get pushed to the back for others
It is sort of like rediscovering them
Jesus came to be with us to save us
Church we can praise the Lord for Christmas Eve as we celebrate His birth and brought light into a dark world
Jesus came and saved us and for those who have repented of your sin and trusted in Jesus you are saved
If you have not then you are lost and in need of a savior
If you are saved you have the light of the world living in your life and dare I say it church you and I should do something about it
Because Emmanuel was accomplished we were saved through the life and death and resurrection of Christ
Emmanuel
God with Us
Jesus Himself came to be a light
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
We get so excited because Christmas Eve we get to light candles
The light shines bright in the darkness
Their is a lot of darkness in this world and the light dispels that removes that
Gets it out of that
because we walk with Christ we have the light in this wold
We like the light because it displaces and dispels the darkness from around us
We like the light so much that we decorate our houses because we like the light
We like the light because we feel comfortable with that light
Those who are believers we have the light of life with us as we go out
Church dare I say but we are to use that light for the glory of Christ
that is why He came to seek out to save us to use us to reach the world for His own glory
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Church as we close out this service this evening
We are to take those lights and go out into the world and allow them to shine
It is being the hands and feet of Jesus in a lost world
Not everyone will come into the church but we can take the light of life that is in us because Emmanuel
Because God came to be with us
We can take that light of life to them and share with them what Jesus has done in our lives
So church as we light our candles and sing let us be reminded that Emmanuel came to be us and we are to take our lights and let them shine so people see Jesus
