(Ps 146) Today is Born A Deliver - Christ the Lord.

The Old Testament often describes the Messiah as a deliver. Psalm 146 describes the LORD (Yahweh) as the deliver and caretaker of the hurting. We are challenged not to trust in human leaders who cannot deliver us, but in the Creator - who cares for us. Luke 2 and other passages such as Luke 4 teach us that Jesus as Messiah is the Deliver of the World from the effects of the fall. We at Christmas time should remember that Christ birth was the dawn of hope for our ultimate deliverance like is described in Revelation 21.

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INTRODUCTION:

The Fall of Adam and Eve brought tragedy and destruction to the Created World.

A World that once was good - is now wicked.

A World that once was wonderful - is now full of hardship, futility, and trials.

The Sin of Adam and Eve introduced into the Perfect Creation

Sin

Death

Oppression

Hunger

Even Widows and Orphans.

Every difficulty and sadness in this life can be traced back to the Sin of Adam and Eve.

Consider, in 2018 -

The small every day effects of the Fall on your life.

Did you smash your finger with hammer?

Did you plant a flower that died?

Did you go to bed exhausted from a days work?

Oh the fall, has an everyday in your face effect.

In fact, it is so common - that most of us take for granted that there was once world not like that.

ILLUSTRATION:

I remembering witnessing to a coworker,

who could not believe in the Bible - because she could not imagine a perfect world without decay and suffering.

who could not believe in the Bible - because there was no such thing as a perfect world.

But those small effects of the fall is the least of our problems.

Consider, the overwhelming struggles we face in this world because of the fall?

Did you worry over the seemingly futile details of your life? You kept trying, but it seemed pointless.

Where you frustrated with the power of sin over your or a loved one’s life?

Did you morn the sickness or death of a loved one or a friend?

Did you feel alone? Maybe even wished this life would be over.

Did life seem so overwhelmed you that you couldn’t help, but let little tears go down your cheeks?

Maybe, life was so hard you got angry at God this last year?

The fall not only effected the everyday parts of our life,

but it strikes at the deepest and most inner most parts of our soul.

C.S. Lewis addressed this problem with a book titled,

“the Problem of Pain” because this is such a persuasive problem.

TRANSITION:

Now that doesn’t sound very Christmassy,

but that has to be the backdrop of why rejoice on Christmas day.

One of my favorite portions of Scripture describing the Birth of Christ is the scene of the shepherds in Luke 2:8

opens with a benevolent scene of a baby being born in Bethlehem.

When the Angels

Luke 2:8–12 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:8–13 ESV

Luke 2:8

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

What does it mean that Christ is our savior?

Why is his birth “good news of great joy”?

- And of course,

rightfully the first answer is that God sent his son to save us from the penalty of our sin.

The Classic Christmas Hymn - Born to Die

describes this.

- But the idea of the savior being born should have far wider implication than being forgiven for your sins.

We ought to celebrate

ILLUSTRATION:

We should never neglect that fact,

But we should also celebrate at Christmas far more than just a fogginess of our sins .

But may we not forget that he did far more than just save us from our sins.

and forget that he did far more than just save us from our sins.

You see,

the Savior was sent to deliver the world from the fall.

That meant delivering me from my sin,

but it also means he came to deliver all of creation from suffering of the fall.

Christ came to set this world free from the effects of the fall.

- The little everyday effects

- and the overwhelming effects.

This morning,

I would like to look at and understand how -

PROP: Christ’s Birth is the Down Payment of Deliverance from the Fall.

Psalm 146 ESV

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

You see,

God as the Creator and sustainer of this world is also the deliverer of this world.

And may I remind us that -

PROP: Christ’s Birth is the Down Payment of Deliverance from the Fall.

TRANS: And this Psalm teaches us 3 reasons Why We Should Trust in Christ for Deliverance From the Effects of the Fall.

It should remind us that Christ’s birth is the down payment to deliverance from the fall.

The first reason this Christmas we should rejoice at the birth of Christ -

Is because it is

(1) It is Foolish To Trust In Human Leaders to Overcome the Effects of the Fall. ()

That is perhaps a negative way of saying it, but that is what our Psalms says.

ILLUSTRATION:

I don’t know if you have thought about this,

I don’t know if you have thought about this, but how much do we spend time and money to counter the effects of the fall?

but how much time and money do we spend to counter the effects of the fall?

From health insurance and medical facilities,

to welfare programs,

to life insurance,

to the Construction Industry,

and even the farming industry.

How much of our lives are consumed by trying to survive the effects of the fall.

But we are not the first to try to look for a solution outside of God -

Generations in the past have asked their

ILLUSTRATION:

Government

Society

A Brief survey of the radio, Children’s Christmas programs, TV-adds and what we consume our time with is -

Local Leaders

Even our family

To overcome the effects of the fall.

ILLUSTRATION:

I mean,

Tell me none of you at some point wished you had a billionaire uncle who could solve your problems with money.

What you are saying is I wish this human leader could overcome the effects of the fall.

But look at our text -

Psalm 146:3 ESV

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

You see,

Israel was tempted to trust their Kings to protect them.

From the Time of the Judges to the time of the Exile,

Israel thought if they just had a powerful and wise enough King

>> They could be protected from being being poor.

Hunger was a great fear of that day.

- Ruth speak about famine.

- Judges describes other nations stealing their crops.

>>>>And,

another fear they had was they would be come slaves to other nations.

So,

They thought a strong King could protect them from being made slaves by the Conquering Kings of the

- Philistines,

- the Assyrians,

- the Egyptians,

- and the Babylonians.

But did great Kings protect them?

They choose Saul - only to have him to frightened to fight Goliath.

They rallied around around King Jehoiakim - only to have him defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar.

In fact,

This Psalm is most liklye written after the people returned from Exile.

And so, the timing of this Psalm makes v. 3 really a powerful command to Israel.

Psalm 146:3 ESV

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

This points to the reality that no leader will ever be able to deliver us from the fall.

Not the government,

Not business

Not even family.

It is foolish to think so - and why?

Not the government,

Not business

Not even family.

Psalm 146:3 ESV

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

Psalm 146:2 ESV

I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 146:3–4 ESV

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

Psalm 146:3 ESV

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

Ps 146:

- Giving the prefect gift.

We shouldn’t trust in rulers,

because even if he is a wise, strong, and good ruler

>>> Maybe like David, Solomon, or Hezekiah.

They ultimately die and their plans become lost to the generations.

No ruler will ever bring lasting peace or prosperity.

EXHORTATION:

- And spending time with family.

I am conscience of the fact - that more regulations, spending, and planning are not going to solve the tragedies of this World.

But what are we doing when we do that -

So often -

I am conscience of the fact - that non-profits including churches cannot solve the tragedies of this world.

We gather together to forget the hardships of life,

to mask the everyday futility of life,

and to ignore the reality of sin in our lives.

And often announce to the world through Cards and Pictures that our world is perfect, when it is not.

This is why sometimes the only family time

To Often, that is why we gather.

I am conscience of the fact - that no health care system will ultimately deliver us from death.

I am not suggesting, that gift giving, Christmas trees, or family gathering is wrong.

In fact, I believe it can be very Christ-Centered.

V. 1-3 point us to the reality that no human leader will ever be able to deliver us from the effects of the fall.

But often we don’t do those traditions as worship Christ,

So this Christmas,

but instead we have tradition as an effort to forget about the effects of the fall.

don’t trust in the leaders of this world.

One of the reason’s we should rejoice at the Birth of Christ is because he is the answer,

and the leaders world are not.

But Futher,

This Christmas,

Rejoice at the Birth of Christ because -

2. Creation Teach’s us That Lord Rules Over the Tragedies of the Fall. (, )

Psalm 146:5–6 ESV

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

Psalm 146:6 ESV

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;

Ps 14:6

Ps 146:

So this Psalm reminds us that Yahweh (That is the Capital LORD in your Bible) is the creator of the World.

For emphasis sake - The Psalm says:

The Psalm says:

God made -

The Heaven - which is the Sky and Stars.

The Earth

And even the sea that is found on the earth.

And all living plants, animals, and humans living there.

And then the Psalm makes the point.

“who keeps faith forever”

Not business

Not even family.

Yahweh is faithful to that which he has created.

What does that mean?

He sustains Creation by his faithfulness.

EXHORTATION:

If you ever wondered why we have an obligation to God - partly it is because he sustains our life.

Just like we have a responsibility to our fathers while we live at home,

we have a responsibility to our God so long as he sustains us.

Now may I remind you,

that Jesus is the exact imprint of the Father,

Which means Christ, the one whose Birth we celebrate for Christ, is also the one who faithfully sustains our lives

- even when we reject the Gospel.

That is the 3 Persons of the Trinity, Father

In fact, that is exactly the point of -

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

TRANSITION:

Now how is the effects of the fall related to God as sustainer of Creation?

What this Psalm is going to show us is that because God is the creator who sustains creation,

and so he also cares for the hurting.

The next few verses are going to refer back to the Creator and Yahweh of v. 5 and 6.

That is what is meant by the Word “who” repeated in our text.

We ought to marvel at Christ birth because he is the Creator and sustainer of the World,

But also because -

3. The LORD is the Deliverer of Those Hurting From the Fall. ()

Remember I talked about how the fall brought

Sin.

Which may I add, means injustice and oppression

Sickness and death.

Discouragement

and helplessness.

And at times we search for hope in this world, only to find it empty.

But v. 5 tells us that Hope is found in the Lord.

Psalm 146:5 ESV

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

In what way is the Lord Hope?

But Yahweh is the ruler over the effects of the fall.

And Delivers the hurting.

Psalm 146:7–9 ESV

who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

46:

- He Accomplishes Justice. (v. 7a)

Sin always causes injustice because sin always effect others.

Stealing, lying, malice, bitterness, selfishness … always effects others.

They effect others through -

- Broken marriages always effects others.

- Disunity and conflict in our relationships

- Causing others to be tempted to respond with anger, bitterness, and selfishness.

Yet, God is the one who executes justice in this world on behalf of the oppressed.

In addition,

He is hope because

- He Provides for the Needy. (v. 7b)

I text says hunger,

but often the major feature of poverty in that day was hunger.

So God is the one who provides for the poor.

Also,

He is hope because,

- He Sets Unfairly Imprisoned Captives Free. (v. 7c)

Now we live in a free society and a rule of law,

But parts of the world there still survives an underground slave trade.

Most of the world you can be arrested because of corruption or even a belief in Christ.

This is a great verse for the Chinese Christians imprisoned this Christmas .

Again

He is hope because,

- He Opens the Eyes of the Blind. (v. 8a)

Sickness and death is a universal suffering of humanity.

We all at some point get sick.

And all of us will have sickness to the point of death at some point.

But this Yahweh is the one who delivers people from sickness and death.

Further,

He is hope because,

- He Lifts Up The Discouraged. (v. 8b)

“Bowing down” can refer to worship, but it also can refer to the discouraged.

The hurting so often are looking for something to lift them up out of their sadness.

Yahweh is the one who lifts up the discouraged out of suffering.

Additionally,

He is hope because

- He Loves the Righteous. (v. 8c)

Often we read “righteous” and think perfection.

But this verse talks not about a true righteousness, but about a positional righteousness

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

So we know there is no one besides Christ who is literally perfect.

But those who hope in Yahweh, which means hoping in Christ,

are the one’s who receive a righteousness apart from perfect living. ()

We can hope in God because the perfect, steadfast, merciful God loves us.

And Finally,

He is hope because,

- He cares for the Helpless. (v. 9a-b)

Have you ever felt like your situation was hopeless?

You can’t see an end out of this mess?

You have no idea how you are going to be able to keep your marriage together, or parent your children to be Grace Filled Christians, or even just meet the demands of a new job.

This text names 3 groups who typically are the hopeless and helpless of society at the time of this Psalm.

1) Sojourners. (Foreigners)

2) Widows. (Land goes to males)

3) Orphans. (Children with no parents have no shelter)

But according to our text - all those who are helpless are watched over by the good hand of God.

The means in provision (gives to the hungry)

That means in justice ( He judges the Wicked)

When we combine the warning

- against trusting in rulers,

- The reminder that Yahweh is creator

- and That Yahweh cares for Created Humanity

What you have is a Psalm that teaches us that God delivers us from the effects of the fall.

In fact,

the Old Testament speaks many times that the Messiah (Christ) will be a deliver.

And one of the reasons I choose this Psalm is that I wanted us to remember how this broad concept of deliverance relates to the Birth of Christ.

But how does God deliver us from the fall?

There is a present and active providential sense that God is watching over us.

In other words, we can hope today because Jesus taught that God cares for his creation.

Matthew 10:29–31 ESV

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

But there is also a sense in which Christ is the down payment of God’s ultimate deliverance.

If talks about Yahweh being our hope,

May I say Christ is the dawn of the ultimate hope that we have so long have been looking for.

then Christ is the dawn of the ultimate hope that we have so long have been looking for.

We should rejoice at the birth of Christ because,

4. Christ is the Down Payment of Total Deliverance.

Consider the Parallel’s between the miracles and teachings of Jesus and the promise of deliverance.

Luke 4:16–20 ESV

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Luke 4:16–21 ESV

In Jesus healed the blind man.

In Jesus feed the 5,000

John 9:6–7 ESV

Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

And in his death - Jesus set all those who trust in his death free from the slavery to sin.

teaches us that Christ resurrection was the first fruit, and when he returns we will be the second fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:23 ESV

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

The First coming - the Birth of Christ >>>>>>>>>>>> marks the dawn of hope for deliverance.

Which by the time we get to , we see that all of creation will have been delivered from the effects of the fall.

Notice -

How the little everyday effects and the tragedies of the fall will be wiped away.

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The Birth Christ Represents the Dawn of Hope for all of Creation.

ILLUSTRATION:

Like a bright sunny morning, when you weren't sure you were going through the night.

CONCLUSION:

I want you on Christmas morning, to wake up and remind yourselves that this is the day that your ultimate deliver was born.

I want you to open up with your family and read of the Birth of Christ

and remember

that this baby represents the one who will deliver you from your greatest pain and suffering.

I mean - think about it this mourning.

What is your Saddest, most agonizing pain you have ever felt? Maybe you are feeling it now.

And realize - that those who trust in the birth of the Savior will be delivered from every effect of the fall.

In fact, even our Christmas traditions often try to cover up the reality of the fall.

ILLUSTRATION:

A Brief survey of the radio, Children’s Christmas programs, TV-adds and what we consume our time with is -

- Giving the prefect gift.

- And spending time with family.

But what are we doing when we do that -

So often -

We gather together to forget the hardships of life,

to mask the everyday futility of life,

and to ignore the reality of sin in our lives.

And often announce to the world through Cards and Pictures that our world is perfect, when it is not.

To Often, that is why we gather.

I am not suggesting, that gift giving, Christmas trees, or family gathering is wrong.

In fact, I believe it can be very Christ-Centered.

But often we don’t do those traditions as worship Christ,

but instead we have tradition as an effort to forget about the effects of the fall.

4. Christ is the Down Payment of Deliverance.

WOW!

CONCLUSION:

Let’s Reread with understanding that this savior is deliver from every effect of the fall.

Luke 2:8–12 ESV

When you think about it that way - isn’t this the greatest news you could ever hear?

Does’t it make you want to shout in praise and Joy!

We should be comforted.

May we on Christmas morning,

before we enjoy the festivities

and family time.

confess this - And in fact, read it aloud with me.

Psalm 146:1–2 ESV

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Ps 146

PRAY***********

Joyful

Worship and Praise

Wish you a very Merry Christmas, one that reminds you of the great reason for the season.