CHRISTMAS DAY
Notes
Transcript
Recap of our Series on Light
Recap of our Series on Light
We started our sermon series on light with what John talks about in his gospel, the Feast of Dedication - Hannukah. A very important event hence it is celebrated until this day but also very important for us Christians because there would be no Jewish Temple, no Jews, not Laws of Moses, no pure and set aside people if it was not for the Maccabees. They would all be transformed into Greeks.
We then learnt that God has given light to each of us. Each of us are a light and have a light that is a gift from God to the World. Our purpose on this planet is to is manifest this majesty and mystery of God in the darkness of the world. You may be that light that saves the world, that saves your neighour from jumping off a bridge, harness the wind to save your people. USE IT.
Last week, we saw that if you don’t use it, you will lose it. And if you USE it well, you will be blessed with even more.
Today, we will hear about the ultimate light. God’s personal Intervention
Word for Today
Word for Today
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Adam and Eve were physically perfect. made in God’s image. Think of the best specimen in the most handsome, strong, and healthy. That is so good, it can live 900 years. They sin and they bring death and decay into the world. They move from the image of God, which is Life and Light, to Death and Decay.
Adam and Eve knew God personally. On a physical level. They didnt only hear his voice, but they heard him walk in the sacred Garden of Even. They sinned, and were removed from that sacred place and they gradually became more and more wicked. They move from the image of God, which is Life and Light, to Death and Decay.
In Matthew, Jesus reminds his listeners that from Noah to Mattathias the Maccabee, God has sent men to call the human race home. To Rededicate themselves to God, to Hannukah themselves. All the prophets seem to bring a different message from God, but, in summary, they all bring the same message: Hannukah - Dedicatte
Dedicate yourself to God: Which entails entrust your light and life to him, Obey his Word and you will be in his image and likeness.
By doing so, your light will be the Light of God and will Have Dominion, Improve this World, and Multiply his Glory upon it. Be his Children
For 2000 years, God sends his messengers, his prophets, to send this message. For 2000 years, Man ignores them.
The people kill and stone them. God wants to bring them home, let them be children of God, but they were not willing to listen.
Don’t we all do this today? God has given us all a gift through which we can glorify him, but we refuse, too difficult, too lazy, we delay and deny. We are made in the image and likeness of God but, unlike Matthew, Paul, and Jesus, we refuse to grow up and live up to our potential.
Matthew and his name are no co-incidence.
Matthew and his name are no co-incidence.
In doing so, he lives up to his name and potential. His name, as with everything in Gods Plan, is no Mistake.
Matthew, Matityahu, means gift from God.
Matthew tells us that Jesus will be referred to as Immanuel, God with us, and Jesus is God with us.
Jesus’ name is Yeshua, Salvation, and he is our salvation.
Peter is a translation of Kepha, which means Rock/Stone. And Jesus tells Peter that on this rock, he will build his church mean
in our scripture, Matthew reminds us that God has given man many prophets and gifts, but we choose to ignore and destroy them.
John, gives us a new, Hope, however.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Personal Invervention for his Children
Personal Invervention for his Children
Here God does something Radical as the last straw. He stops sending people and messengers and Prophets… And he comes personally to sort this out once and for all.
he made you, you betrayed him as Adam.
He cleansed you of your wickedness, after Noah, But you grow it back.
He notices your stupid, that he needs to spell the terms of this relationship out through Moses. You break those laws.
He reminds you prophet after Prophet to come back to the first love. you stone and kill his messengers.
If I had sent you messengers, split the red sea, showed miracle after miracle and you still didn’t get the message - Id give up on you.
But, Then, Because he loves you as a child, God comes personally in the Flesh with this Word to call his children home.
BUT, THERE IS A WORD OF CAUTION TO THIS TALE. He has sent many signs and prohets, and we didn’t listen. Now that he has came personally, there will be no other prophets or saviours. THIS IS IT.
Last chance
Last chance
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
When he arrived, he opened a window of opportunity. An opportunity to be his child. You must stay ever ready, because you do not know when he will return.
He has given us all a light and a gift to begin with. But it is up to us to make sure it keeps burning in this dark world like the wise virgins.
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Message : On your Marks, Get Set, or no “Go”
Message : On your Marks, Get Set, or no “Go”
2025 YEARS AGO, God came here personally to pay your debts, set you free, so you can come home as children of God.
He has given us a window of opportunity of 2025 years to come to him and we do not know when this window will close.
So, On this Christmas day, take this message.
Get on your marks Now by Dedicating yourself to Jesus.
Get set NOW by getting ready, and staying ready. Keep shining that light he has given you, bring extra oil of your effort to keep that light shining.
Or else you will notx be Going with us.
Come to him, NOW, before it is too late.
Amen.
