Christmas 2004
C H R I S T M A S M E S S A G E…
“The Great I Am”
Luke 2:7-11 (KJV)
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
All creation bowed down to Him when He was born…
The skies sang His arrival…
He walked the earth and showed all mankind the only way to life!
All creation sang His praise – as the angels proclaimed His glory
Luke 2:13-14 (KJV)
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, good will toward men.
All of heaven’s gaze was on Him….the nite of His birth and while He walked the earth!
The Glory of God shown that nite for all to see!
He was declared….The Son of God – The Son of Man….
He was and is the giver of life – for all eternity
HE WAS THE PERFECT LAMB!
HE IS THE GREAT I AM…..
John 8:58 (KJV) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am.
John 6:35 (KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I Am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:41 I Am the bread which came down from heaven….
John 6:51 I Am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 8:12 I am the light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 10:9 I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
John 13:13 You call Me Master and Lord and you say well; for so I am.
John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Rev 1:18 I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by Me.
In the Book of John’s Gospel……He Is The:
I Am – Bread of Life – Light of the World – the Door – Good Shepherd
Resurrection & the Life – Master & Lord – the Vine – Alpha & Omega
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Isaiah 9:7….says that …..His name shall be called…..
Wonderful – Counselor – The Mighty God – The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace……
John 1:14… And the Word was made 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.
Scripture Review:
John 2:10… And the angel said to them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people….
John 2:14….Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The angels in John declared:
· Good tidings
· Great joy
· Peace
· Which shall be to all people
Good News – Good Will – and Peace to the earth!
Christ The Savior Is Born!!
You cannot experience the true spirit of Christmas unless you
have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord of your life!
To reject the Savior is to reject the Christmas Message….
You reject the whole spirit of Christmas….
It is a celebration of the birth of a Savior!!!
He comes to where you are at…..
He came as a savior….
Philippians 2 says…Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
He came to rescue you…..He came as a servant….in the likeness of man
· When you are drowning – you need to be rescued
· To save you – the rescuer must come to you….
· Trapped in a burning building – they must come to you!
To save us – the Savior had to come to us….
· Had to come to our level to rescue us
· Jesus comes to where we are at…
· That’s why he was born in a manger
· He became a servant
· Came in the likeness of man
He can reach you – And invade you with the message of hope!
But if people reject the thought of a Savior – Then they reject the power of the peace that He brings…
Many don’t mind the tale of the nativity scene … it’s a little bit of joy that adds to their Christmas….
But they don’t understand the power of the Savior!
He comes where we are at:
- Many look externally for peace.
- God comes where we’re at – if we open the door – He’ll come in.
- He invades your life – bringing peace to the inner man.
- Christ comes to us and takes us to where he is at.
Jesus understands where you are at – and can invade your circumstances
Can invade that with a powerful message from the Word
Then you can know the power of the Prince of Peace in your life
How do you equate the Christmas message to the world?
- If people would turn their hearts toward God
- Turn their hearts toward the message of Christ…
Then Christ can fill the void in the ….Individual – town – city – nation – world!
Jesus Christ is humanities hope…
Tessa Leaf………D A N C E…..
Do you PROFESS Christ……..
OR…. Do you POSSESS Christ?
In the Book of John…..Jesus said He was the I AM….
I Am the bread of Life
I Am the Light of the World
I Am the Door
I Am the Good Shepherd
I Am the Resurrection & the Life
I Am Master & Lord
I Am the Vine
I Am Alpha & Omega
I Am The Way
I Am The Truth
I Am The Life