Christmas Eve
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The Lord is Come
The Lord is Come
The Christmas story is old, but it is always always new. and gods people never grow tired of hearing about the moment in time when God launched his amazing grace rescue mission for humanity.
The story has drawn million of people in with his wonder, love and grace.
In fact Jesus said that if we lift him up he will draw all people to himself
Today i want to share how even at his birth Jesus was drawing people in.
His birth drew Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem
His birth drew Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem
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.
Augustus Caesar was ruling, but God was in charge, for He used Caesar’s edict to move Mary and Joseph eighty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill His Word.
Rome took a census every fourteen years for both military and tax purposes, and each Jewish male had to return to the city of his fathers to record his name, occupation, property, and family.
All of this occurred just as the Scriptures said, and Caesar unknowingly played an important part.
A.T. Pierson used to say, “History is His story,” and President James A. Garfield called history “the unrolled scroll of prophecy.”
Look at Mary’s words:
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
That meant that from that moment she would submit her life to the purposes of God and the fulfilment of prophecy.
If God’s Word controls our lives, then the events of history only help us fulfill the will of God.
Both Ceaser and Mary give us powerful lessons about God, His word and faith.
Both Ceaser and Mary give us powerful lessons about God, His word and faith.
Ceaser lesson teaches us that God is always in control.
That governments can no more harm or harm the purposes of God than summer flying ants can hinder or harm the lights they buzz about.
Mary’s word serve as powerful examples of trust and faith.
Mary knew she could trust the pureose of God.
She submitted to God’s will over hers and as a result experiences amazing grace.
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The word translated “manger” means feeding trough
For i know the plans i have for you….
The word translated “manger” means feeding trough
You see ancient stone troughs even today as you travel in the Holy Land, and it is probable that such a trough cradled the Infant Jesus.
Bethlehem means “house of bread,”.
The bread of life, was born in the house of bread and was laid in a feeding trough.
The bread of life, was born in the house of bread and was laid in a feeding trough.
Truly the words of Jesus ring true:
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This christmas Jesus invites you to partake.
This christmas Jesus invites you to partake.
Partake of his life.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Taste and see…
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
away in a manger
away in a manger
oh little town of bethlehem
in a lowly stable
once in royal davids city
His Birth Drew Angels from heaven
His Birth Drew Angels from heaven
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!”
The first announcement of the Messiah’s birth was given by an angel to some anonymous shepherds.
Why shepherds?
Why not to priests or scribes?
By visiting the shepherds, the angel revealed the grace of God toward mankind.
Shepherds were really outcasts in Israel.
Their work not only made them ceremonially unclean, but it kept them away from the temple for weeks at a time so that they could not be made clean.
God does not call the rich and mighty; He calls the poor and the lowly.
Literally the angel said, “I announce to you good news, a great joy which shall be to all the people.
What was the Good News?
Not that God had sent a soldier or a judge or a reformer, but that He had sent a Saviour to meet man’s greatest need.
It was a message of peace to a world that had known much war.
The famous “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace) had been in effect since 27 b.c. but the absence of war doesn’t guarantee the presence of peace.
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.”
the first noel
o holy night
calipso
His Birth Drew Shepherd from their fields
His Birth Drew Shepherd from their fields
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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The phrase “even unto Bethlehem” suggests that these men were located some distance away, but they were willing to make the trip in order to see the newborn Messiah.
Certainly they arranged for others to care for their flocks while they hastened to Bethlehem.
Halford Luccock called this “the first Christmas rush,” but it was certainly different from the Christmas rushes we see today!
The verb found in means “found after a search.”
The shepherds knew what to look for: a newborn Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And they found Him! They worshiped Him and marveled at God’s grace and goodness and the miracle He had wrought for them.
Rush, look, search, seek, ask, knock….
we do thesis things for material stuff, do we have the same passion, visor, energy for spiritual?
The Lord is come
oh come all ye faithful
silent night
joy to the world
we wish you a merry christmas