Sermon Tone Analysis

*                                   Reasons to celebrate Christmas *

*                                                   CHRISTMAS 07 - Part 2                12~/9~/07  a.m.*

*Christ•mas* \ˈkris-məs\ n   /often attrib/ [ME /Christemasse,/ fr.

OE /Cristes m+sse,/ lit., Christ’s mass] bef.

12c  *: **a Christian feast on December 25* or among some Eastern Orthodox Christians on January 7 *that commemorates the birth of Christ* and is usu.

observed as a legal holiday [1]

* *

*Christmas,* the annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus, celebrated on December 25 in all churches except the Church of Armenia, for which it is January 6.

The term appears as early as a.d.

1123 in Old English as ‘Cristes maesse’ (and variations) and ‘Christmas’ by 1568, meaning Mass of Christ.

The actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown.

There is no evidence of celebrating the nativity before the third century.

January 6 became widely observed in the third century to commemorate the ‘manifestation’ (‘epiphany’) of Christ on earth, including his birth, baptism, and the visit of the Magi, with varying local emphases.

The celebration of the nativity is attested in Rome in a.d.

336 (where Epiphany, January 6, commemorated the visit of the Magi), and this became widespread in the fifth and sixth centuries.

Although there are various theories on the selection of December 25, the most widely accepted is that this date had already been a major pagan festival, that of /Sol Invictus,/ the ‘birth’ of the ‘Unconquerable Sun,’ marking the winter solstice (the sun’s triumph over darkness).

With the triumph of Christianity, Christmas replaced the pagan festival, Christians having applied ‘Sun of Righteousness’ (Mal.

4:2) to Christ.

*/See also/* Epiphany; Jesus Christ; Sun; Wise Men.

A.J.H. [2]

* *

*Lk 2:1-38*    /(for today’s message-vv1-12)/

And it came to pass in those days /that/ a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child.

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,  and they were greatly afraid.

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for *behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy  which will be to all people.

11  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,  who is Christ the Lord.*

*(fulfillment of scripture)*12 And this /will be/ the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13  And suddenly *there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying  (praise God) *

*14     “Glory  to God in the highest, *

*     And on earth  peace,  goodwill 5toward men!” *

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17 *Now when they had seen /Him,/ they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child*.

18 And all those who heard /it/ marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered /them/ in her heart.

20 *Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and  praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

*

21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 Now when  the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present /Him/ to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord,  /“Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord/” ), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord,  /“A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”/

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout,  waiting for *the Consolation of Israel*, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not  see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 So he came  by the Spirit into the temple.

And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 *he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: *

29     “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

     According to Your word;

30     For my eyes  have seen *Your salvation* *(salvation)*

31     *Which You have prepared* before the face of all peoples,

32     * A light to /bring/ revelation (the knowledge of God)to the Gentiles, *

*     And the glory of Your people Israel.”

*

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this /Child/ is destined for the  fall and rising of many in Israel, and for  a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes,  a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of  Asher.

She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman /was/ a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served /God/ with fastings and prayers night and day.

38 And coming in that instant *she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

*

* *

*The proper manner to celebrate Christmas*

*1 Co 10:31* Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

*            ~*~*~* Celebrate Christmas to honor and glorify God ~*~*~**

*Reason #1; To praise God – (for He worthy)*

13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host *praising God*

 

*Reason #2; The fulfillment of Scripture – (God kept His Word)*

**11  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,  who is Christ the Lord*.*

* *

*Reason #3; Salvation – (the proof of Gods’ love)*

30                For my eyes  have seen *Your salvation*

* *

*Reason #4; The light that /brings/ revelation and glory – *

*(the source of understanding, knowledge, and the glory of God)*

            A light to /bring/ revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

*Reason #2; The fulfillment of Scripture – (God kept His Word)*

**11  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,  who is Christ the Lord*.*

* *

*The “Requirements” of a “GENUINE PROPHECY” are five in number.*

#.

It must have made *PRIOR* to its fulfillment.

#.

It must be beyond all *HUMAN FORESIGHT*.

#.

It must give *DETAILS.*

#. *A SUFFICIENT TIME MUST ELAPSE BETWEEN ITS PUBLICATION AND FULFILLMENT TO EXCLUDE THE PROPHET, OR ANY INTERESTED PARTY, FROM FULFILLING IT.*

#.

There must be a *CLEAR AND EVIDENT FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY.*

* *

*Written between 1,250- 1400 years before His birth by Moses*

*Dt 18:18-19*

18  *I will raise up for them a Prophet* like you from among their brethren, and  will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

19  And it shall be /that/ whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require /it/ of him.

* *

*Given just after creation – 4,000 before His Birth & Written between 1,250- 1,400 years before His birth*

*1.      **That He would be born of a woman*

*Ge 3:15* 

15     And I will put enmity

     Between you and the woman,

     And between  your seed and *her Seed;*

      He shall bruise your head,

     And you shall bruise His heel.”

* *

*Written between 695- 760 years before His birth by Isaiah*

* *

*2.      **That He would be born of a virgin*

*Is 7:14  *

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, *the virgin shall conceive and bear  a Son, and shall call His name  Immanuel.*

9

*Is 9:6-7*

6     *For unto us a Child is born, *

*     Unto us a Son is given; *

     And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

     Wonderful, Counselor,  Mighty God,

     Everlasting Father,  Prince of Peace.

7     Of the increase of /His/ government and peace