The Five "P"s of Christmas
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· 48 viewsA 30,000 Ft Look at the Birth of the Lord and Its Consequences
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I. PROBLEMS (2:1-7)
I. PROBLEMS (2:1-7)
Joseph and Mary had some serious PROBLEMS.
Joseph and Mary had some serious PROBLEMS.
Mary was pregnant
Mary was pregnant
The child wasn’t Joseph’s—it was God’s!
The child wasn’t Joseph’s—it was God’s!
Try explaining that to your family and friends.
Try explaining that to your family and friends.
But Joseph and Mary were both obedient to God’s will—both of them were Willing to do their part in God’s plan to send His Son to earth.
But Joseph and Mary were both obedient to God’s will—both of them were Willing to do their part in God’s plan to send His Son to earth.
being obedient doesn’t take away your problems.
being obedient doesn’t take away your problems.
Wouldn’t it be great if when we became a Christian if all our problems went away?
Wouldn’t it be great if when we became a Christian if all our problems went away?
Wouldn’t it be great if when Christians said “yes” to God on a day-to-day basis it would insulate us from having problems?
Wouldn’t it be great if when Christians said “yes” to God on a day-to-day basis it would insulate us from having problems?
Being a believer doesn’t eliminate your problems…..you don’t have to face them alone.
Being a believer doesn’t eliminate your problems…..you don’t have to face them alone.
Three obvious problems
Three obvious problems
Taxes
Taxes
The whole point in having to register was so that the Romans could accurately calculate how much tax they were going to levy against the Jews
The whole point in having to register was so that the Romans could accurately calculate how much tax they were going to levy against the Jews
The financial burden of Roman occupation was already a reality
The financial burden of Roman occupation was already a reality
A young couple
A young couple
Probably going to be increased
Probably going to be increased
Travel
Travel
Long, and dangerous journey,
Long, and dangerous journey,
Too Many People
Too Many People
Traveled through Jerusalem
Traveled through Jerusalem
No room in the inn in Bethlehem
No room in the inn in Bethlehem
b. No room in the inn in Bethlehem
b. No room in the inn in Bethlehem
Shopping yesterday at mall
Shopping yesterday at mall
Guess what?
Guess what?
We still face lots of problems today.
We still face lots of problems today.
You may have financial problems,
You may have financial problems,
You may have journeys to make that you aren’t ready for
You may have journeys to make that you aren’t ready for
You may feel like everything and everyone are pressing in on you and that the weight is too heavy.
You may feel like everything and everyone are pressing in on you and that the weight is too heavy.
II. PROMISE (2:8-14)
II. PROMISE (2:8-14)
When God sent angels to announce the birth of His Son He didn’t seem them to the Religious Leaders, or the elite of society. He sent angels to shepherds.
The two-fold message that the angels brought that night?
The two-fold message that the angels brought that night?
1. God Has Come!
1. God Has Come!
2. God Will Save!
2. God Will Save!
The Jews had been awaiting the coming Messiah.
The Jews had been awaiting the coming Messiah.
The angels spoke words of promise
The angels spoke words of promise
The Messiah would be a “Savior”
The Messiah would be a “Savior”
His salvation would be for “all” people
His salvation would be for “all” people
Jesus didn’t come to resurrect an old kingdom, He came to establish a new one
Jesus didn’t come to resurrect an old kingdom, He came to establish a new one
One where He would reign in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls willing to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
One where He would reign in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls willing to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
willing to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
III. PROCLAIM (2:15-18)
III. PROCLAIM (2:15-18)
What did the shepherds do after they had heard the message of God’s promise?
What did the shepherds do after they had heard the message of God’s promise?
They took off for Bethlehem to see it for themselves.
They took off for Bethlehem to see it for themselves.
1. Run
1. Run
2. Report
2. Report
They didn’t wait around.
They didn’t wait around.
They didn’t have a committee meeting to discuss it.
They didn’t have a committee meeting to discuss it.
They didn’t vote.
They didn’t vote.
What did they find?
What did they find?
Exactly what the angels has told them
Exactly what the angels has told them
What did they do?
What did they do?
They began proclaiming the birth of the Messiah to everyone who would listen
They began proclaiming the birth of the Messiah to everyone who would listen
They “reported” what they had been told, and what they had seen.
They “reported” what they had been told, and what they had seen.
Isn’t what the shepherd did exactly what we are called to do today?
Isn’t what the shepherd did exactly what we are called to do today?
To share with others what we have seen and heard about Jesus Christ
To share with others what we have seen and heard about Jesus Christ
IV. PRAISE (2:20)
IV. PRAISE (2:20)
Didn’t try to hide their joy.
Didn’t try to hide their joy.
The fact that they had been with Jesus was written all over their faces, and it was revealed in their voices. I see their praise as both:
The fact that they had been with Jesus was written all over their faces, and it was revealed in their voices. I see their praise as both:
1. Personal
1. Personal
2. Public
2. Public
They praised God because of what “they” had seen and heard.
They praised God because of what “they” had seen and heard.
They personalized the gift…they glorified God because they believed He had sent His Son for “them.”
They personalized the gift…they glorified God because they believed He had sent His Son for “them.”
Can you offer that same praise today?
Can you offer that same praise today?
Is God’s gift of His Son “personal” to you?
Is God’s gift of His Son “personal” to you?
They didn’t keep their praise to themselves
They didn’t keep their praise to themselves
“public” in their praise
“public” in their praise
powerful influence.
powerful influence.
What kind of influence do you have in your world?
What kind of influence do you have in your world?
V. PONDER (2:19)
V. PONDER (2:19)
Quiet Contemplation
Quiet Contemplation
Mary took all these events in and pondered what they all could mean
Mary took all these events in and pondered what they all could mean
Two more words to describe Mary’s response to God’s gift:
Two more words to describe Mary’s response to God’s gift:
1. Wonder
1. Wonder
2. Worship
2. Worship
A sense of “wonder” at how God chose to come to earth to save people like you and me
A sense of “wonder” at how God chose to come to earth to save people like you and me
A sense of “wonder” that He would allow His Son to become one of us so that He could offer salvation to all of us.
A sense of “wonder” that He would allow His Son to become one of us so that He could offer salvation to all of us.
But there is one sense of “wonder” that I don’t want you to experience.
I don’t want anybody to “wonder” whether they are saved.
If you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, that He died on the cross for your sins, that He rose to give you the hope of eternal life, and if you are willing to repent of your sins, and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you don’t have to “wonder” another moment.