(Ps 146) Devotional (Christmas)

Open Discussion -

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

Why is Jesus’s birth “good news of great joy”? (Like says)

ANSWER:

>>> 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

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 should never neglect that fact,

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

You see,

the Savior was sent to deliver us from the tragedies of this world.

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

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

And

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

talks about how human leaders fail to overcome these tragedies.

, describe the tragedies of this life.

But v. 7-9 teach us where we can be delivered from these tragedies.

(1) The LORD is the Deliverer of Those Hurting. ()

(1) The LORD is the Deliverer of Those Hurting. ()

ESV Study: The theme is that the Lord’s reign makes him a sure hope for God’s suffering people.

​ ESV

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

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?

​ 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.

- 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 . AgainHe 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

​ ESVfor 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)

​ ESVAre 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.

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.

​ 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. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

In Jesus healed the blind man.

In Jesus feed the 5,000

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

And what he did in his life, was a foretaste of what he will do when he returns.

​ ESV

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 these tragedies.

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

​ 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 to contemplate how Christ is the dawn of hope for each one of us.