Christmas Eve

Candle Light Service

A Christmas Eve Sermon

Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Matthew 1, Luke 2

Introduction

Over the past several weeks pastors churches all around the world have been celebrating the season of Advent, to include us here at CHBC.

As you can see here on the table each Sunday over the past 4 weeks we have lit a certain colored candle that represents certain things.

HOPE: On the First Sunday in Advent, we lit the first purple candle to celebrate HOPE, it represents the hope we have because Jesus is coming.

PEACE: On the Second Sunday in Advent, we lit the second purple candle as we celebrate PEACE, it reminds us of the message the angels sang: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men!”

JOY: On the Third Sunday in Advent, we lit the pink candle, which represents JOY, that should remind us of the joy the world experienced when Jesus was born in human flesh.

Love & FAITH: The Fourth Sunday in Advent is marked with the Final purple candle, which symbolizes FAITH & LOVE, with it we remember Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the Love that Jesus has for all of us. .

PURITY: This evening at our candle light service we will now light the final candle the Christ candle. This candle is white to symbolize the purity of Jesus.

For the past 4 weeks you have heard sermons about what the season means which is specifically about the arrival of Jesus.

Matter of fact this evening you will here some of the same scriptures preached that you have heard already the last month.

The Chances are good today that for one reason or another, all of us need to hear the Christmas story, again.

We need to hear how God kept his promise and how all the prophecies about a coming savior are true.

We need to know that God is a God who answers the prayers of His people and that the birth of Jesus wasn’t just some coincidence that happened

Christmas is a time we remember that God did in fact come through on one of the greatest promises ever when He gave His Son to us.

Promise

The promise of Jesus begins all the way back in the Old Testament where we learn that God is in fact faithful to His people and His word.

Read Deuteronomy 7:6-8

6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Here we read that God has chosen His people because He loves them AND because He made an oath (promise) to their forefathers.

It was because of this promise that He brought the Israelites out of Egypt and “redeemed them from the land of slavery.”

This is all a beautiful foreshadowing of how Jesus will come to our rescue later, as the savior of all mankind.

We can see, through out the bible both the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, that the birth of Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies about the promised Messiah.

I want us to look at a few of those promises that stand out.

1. Christ would be born of a virgin AND He would be called Immanuel.

This prophecy comes from

Isaiah 7:1414 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

And then we see these words specifically fulfilled in

Matthew 1:22-23

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The name Immanuel means God with us, which is what Jesus came to do and be. He lived WITH US, died WITH US, rose again WITH US, and He’s building His church to this very day, WITH US. He truly is…Immanuel just as the name means God WITH US.

2. Christ was born in Bethlehem

This prophecy comes from Micah 5:2

2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

And then we see these words fulfilled in

Matthew 2:10

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Luke 2:4

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

This is where things get good. This scripture in Luke mentions that Joseph, who ends up being Jesus’ earthly Father, was part of King David’s line.

And if you turn back to the birth account in Matthew chapter 1 you’ll find a detailed genealogy of Christ, leading all the way back to Abraham that goes specifically through King David. (Matthew 1:1-16)

I know this is a lot of information, and it’s not meant to overwhelm you. It’s meant to inspire you this Christmas.

Today we remember that God has a plan of unfailing love for His people.

It was never a plan that was just thrown together, it was always an intentional one. Which brings me to one of my favorite prophecies…

3. He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace

From Isaiah 9:6-7 we read that through the child born on Christmas day there will come an everlasting government of justice, righteousness, and peace. That sounds pretty good doesn’t it?

Read Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Christ wasn’t the kind of conquering King that many were hoping for, but He was and is the savior we needed.

He wasn’t only the prophetic promise fulfilled, He’s also a divine answer to prayer. Not just for the Israelites two thousand years ago, but for us today as well.

Conclusion

As we wrap up our time this evening and get onto whatever else we may have planned (Christmas Eve or Christmas Day), I want to leave you with this…

After learning that she would be giving birth to the Messiah, Mary went to visit her relative, Elizabeth.

The two women had a brief exchange and Elizabeth proclaimed, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Overcome in the moment, Mary then sang a song of praise and gratitude;

Read Luke 1:46-55 (If you can, show this passage on a slide so others can follow along)

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

The arrival of Jesus is a reminder that God keeps His promises.

He hears our prayers. This reality overwhelmed Mary two thousand years ago and I pray it would overwhelm us today as well.

No matter what you’ve been praying for, hoping for, or waiting for… God hears and sees.

He knows what you need this Christmas and He knows that more than anything else what we all need most is Jesus.

God gave His son so that we might live.

If you don’t remember anything else from these messages over the past few weeks.

Remember Jesus has arrived, he dies so that you and me may live and one day soon he will be arriving again for the final time.

This evening I pray that you are saved and praying for his second coming.

For those of us that are saved God has called us no to just sit around and do nothing until he comes or we go.

We learned Sunday morning that we needed to reflect back on the time we were saved and remember the joy we had and to share that joy with someone else.

In just a minute we are going to close with signing “Go Light your World “ Everyone should have a candle and I ask that you go ahead and light it now we will have some to help light those on the end of the pew and I ask you to help light your neighbors candle with yours.

As we sing I want us to remember that if our candle is not lit it is sure going to be impossible to light the one next to you or anyone else’s.

Bro Keegan was telling me and some of the youth about a lesson he taught at that bon fire a few weeks ago and how it really touched all that wee there.

After the song is over I ask that you just blow your candle out and you are welcome to keep it if you would like as a reminder of the service and message we had tonight.

Also after the song we will be offering the Lord’s Supper to those who would like to participate. For those that would not you are welcome to go ahead and leave and have a very Merry Christmas.

For those that want to stay myself and Bro Jonathan will be helping with serving you. We ask that you come up with friends and family to either my side or Bro. Jonathan’s side and when finished with the Lord’s supper you are dismissed.

I do want to remind us of a couple of things before we pertake in the Lord’s Supper.

The bible gives us some guidelines in 1 Cor. 11

1. We must be saved

2. We need to be united with our brothers and sisters in Christ

3. We need to be focused on what we are doing and why we are doing it.

4. We need to be Reverent.

5. We need to be careful

6. We need to inspect and examine ourselves.

1 Cor. 11:27-29

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Now we are going to sing and once again I pray that you have a great time with your family and friends tonight and tomorrow but never forget Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Lord’s Supper

1 Cor 11:23-24

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Bless the bread and eat

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Bless the juice and drink.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.