A Season to Rejoice

Introduction

Junior Church dismissed

Junior Church

Please continue to be in prayer for our Pastor and his family as they travel back home for a few weeks.

What a great night last night with the play. Looking forward to a great night tonight. Hope to see you here at 5. Bring a friend or bring an enemy, just bring somebody.

I love this time of year. especially when it’s cold with snow. In Yuma, we got warm and sand.

This time of year Sarah and I are usually goin into the kids rooms and find old toys, toys they never play with and we bag them up to give to away. Or, give back to them a at a later date to make them think it’s new.

We go in and find old toys, toys they never play with and we bag them up to give to away. Or, give back to them a at a later date to make them think it’s new.

We aren’t just being mean parents, we are trying to make room for the new toys they will be getting for Christmas.

You know what’s funny though, they could go months without touching the toy. The moment we mention throwing it away, they love it and want to play with it.

How many of you did that with your children or maybe you do that now? Some do this during the spring time and call it spring cleaning. It’s when you get rid of the stuff you don’t want or use anymore to make room for what is better for us or more useful in our lives at that time.

It’s great when we get rid of those things, what some might call baggage that is weighing us down and keeping. As much as we can collect physical stuff that keeps us from being able to have what is best for us we can also build up some spiritual baggage. That will do the same.

During different seasons of our lives we can build up store of pride or worry. Maybe some selfishness, narcissism, or lust.

Could be that we are not just filling our spiritual baggage with these attitude related sins maybe we are just replacing the good habits and teachings of Scripture with something that we are deeming more important.

Perhaps you are one that has taken sports whether that be in the form of watching or playing to an unhealthy level in your life. You’ve allowed your hobby to become your priority and pushed God out.

You could be one that has gotten so focused on making more money or just trying to improve your standard of living that you’ll sacrifice the time with family, the Bible reading and praying, to get a few extra hours to make a little more money to justify buying the things you don’t need to impress the people you don’t like.

During this Christmas Season I want to encourage each of us to examine our hearts for areas that we need to make room for God. To make room for Jesus and not only the babe born in the manger but also the man who died for us, the God who loves us, and the Holy Spirit who guides us.

What is it that you need to get rid of to make room for Jesus? What area of your life is suffering because you’ve filled it with stuff for “Me” rather than stuff from Him?

Read with me

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And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.

Luke 2:1–7 KJV 1900

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.

Let’s pray.

Notice that the first area we should make room for Him is in His Providence

I. Make room for His Providence

The word Providence speaks of the divine guidance and care given to the events of the universe.

Here in verses 1 -3 we find the providence of God working in a way that we all would snub our noses at. Taxes.

By impressing upon the heart of Caesar Agustus that the whole world should be taxed God made it so the prophecies from over 400 years prior would be fulfilled.

Micah wrote (5:2) “But thou Bethelehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Micah 5:2 KJV 1900

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

God knew what He was doing when the prophecy was made and He knew what He was doing when He made the census come up at a time when Mary was pregnant and ready to deliver requiring her and her husband to travel 90 miles on foot.

If Mary and Joseph were anything like you and me, and I believe they were there first thoughts were probably not “O YAY! We get to go 90 miles, 9 months pregnant, so we can register to pay more taxes!”

You see Mary and Joseph encountered something you and I probably encounter at least once a year, and undesirable plan.

A. An Undesirable Plan

God says in

Isaiah 55:8–9 KJV 1900

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

God says () “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When we encounter difficult times let’s not neglect the fact that God may be sending them our way.

Don’t allow the difficulty ahead to keep you from trusting in the God that placed it there.

To accomplish God’s plan some people had to be put in situations they were not happy about. They had to suffer some inconveniences. They had to deal with problems and people they would have rather not dealt with.

But they did as we should when the difficulties of life come and that is to proceed with an unwavering faith.

B. An Unwavering Faith

Mary and Jospeh put on their big boy pants, hopped on their donkey, and began the trek to Bethlehem.

You know Jospeh was worried about his bride. Mary was concerned about her baby. I’m afraid we sometimes forget that the people God used to carry out amazing miracles and works were just regular people like you and I.

Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Esther, David, Mary and Jospeh were all men and women that weren’t super saints with halos when God called them to do His will.

They were regular people with regular lives who were called to be something more because of their unwavering faith in their God. They didn’t know why God was doing things how he was but they followed Him. Yes, they had their faults and thank God they did.

Can you imagine if every person in the Bible was perfect? We would never understand how God could use us. How God could bless us because if your like me your no where near perfect.

Why are your circumstances bad? Why is your situation worse than everyone else’s? Why is your life just so miserable? Because your looking at the problem and not the God whose in control.

Even when Cesaer made the decree that all should be taxed God was with Mary and Joseph. He was there when they got the news, He was there when they were traveling and He was in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. He’s there through it all.

I hope you don’t misunderstand me and think I’m telling you that with great faith comes an easy life. The bible teaches exactly the contrary.

But when those trials do come. When life is difficult don’t focus on the problem, focus on the problem solver. See that God is there with you and already on the other side. It may not be the path you want and possibly not the outcome you want but know that He thinks only good thoughts towards you not evil.

To be able to make room for the Providence of God you make room for the Presence of God.

II. Make room for His Presence

Just as the Providence of God provided for the fulfilling of prophecy in Bethlehem he also gave us the one thing we need most in this world that same night. His presence.

"Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, "I am your king"

The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn’t.

Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself"

That is what God gave us when Jesus was born. He gave us himself. He gave us himself in a determined place.

A. A Determined Place

We already saw where Micah prophesied Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. But why Bethelehem? There could be a number of reasons to answer this but I want to point one of them out today.

Bethlehem means the house of bread. And, out of the house of bread came Jesus, the bread of life.

Notice what Jesus’ says of himself being that bread of life in

“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 6:35 KJV 1900

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.

He that cometh to me…to ME. Not He that cometh to my qualities. Not he that cometh and ask what I can do for him. He that cometh, to ME!

To often we are seeking after what Jesus can do for us and not Jesus. We want the peace that passes all understanding, we want the delivery from the trial, we want all these things when Jesus says, you don’t need all of that, you need me. Get me and I’ll provide for your needs.

Stop seeking what Jesus can do for you and seek Jesus.

God gave us his presence in a determined place through a delivered savior.

B. A Delivered Savior

How many of you have seen the different creative ways people are revealing the gender of their baby now?

Sometimes it’s with a baseball bat hitting a ball. Sometimes its with a guy shooting a shotgun at a balloon, one of my favorites. Sometimes it’s people letting balloons out of a box.

There’s always a good gender reveal or two floating around on the internet.

When Sarah found out she was pregnant with Katelyn I was at work. I came home for lunch and Ethan comes running it wearing a little brother shirt that had a piece of paper taped over the word little and had the word Big wrote on it.

My first reaction was “Hey Evan, someones trying to take your job…” And then I looked at Sarah and it hit me.

I was shocked, this was not part of the plan. There was supposed to be another year or so between Ethan and Katelyn. I remember breathing heavy, bending over in the kitchen just flabbergasted at the idea of having a third child. Having 2 in diapers. I was a stressed daddy that day.

I don’t think that compares to the reaction Mary had when she was told she would be having a baby.

We saw that reaction last week.

“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:”

Picture this, heres’ Mary, this young lady who is engaged to be married has an angel appear unto her and tells her she is going to be the mother of the Son of God.

Imagine how stressed she must have been. She didn’t have a “What to expect when your expecting the Messiah” book to read.

But she did trust in the words of the angel and began preparing to make room for not only a child in her life but for the presence of the Son of God.

Over the next 9 months she prepared and made room for Jesus. Then one night in a manger, a horse traugh, she swaddled her new baby boy in the rags they had around them and laid him down to rest.

But why? Why was the son of God born in a stable or dark cave? Placed in an animals eating device? Because, there was no room for Him in the Inn.

There are some people today that have “No room” for Christ.

-The material person

The Bible says in

Mark 8:36 KJV 1900

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

They make life about all of the stuff they can have. People like this must be wise to remember why Christ came in the first place: to bring eternal security not to our investment accounts. But to our souls.

-The intellectual person

These are the people who are too smart for Christianity. Believing that Christians need a “crutch” to get through life. They reject the babe in the manger as the Son of God and prove their foolishness by doing so.

The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who will not listen but is the power of God to those who are saved.

-The religious person

I’m afraid there may be some here today who have done this. You have put your faith a system. In a checklist of things you must do to be saved or to please God. You believe that a baptism as a baby means your going to know Jesus. You feel that by coming to church you have done God a favor. You do the bare minimum to call yourself a believer all the while having no room for Christ in your life.

Christianity and Christmas isn’t about celebrating a to-do list. It is about receiving Christ as your personal Savior.

It’s funny how people are so willing to make room for a checklist but if you ask them to make room for Jesus then it’s a battle.

We are ok with having a little Jesus in our life. We make a little room for Him like he’s a guest coming over for dinner. We tidy up an area for him to see on Sunday morning but the rest of the week we live like he’s not even there.

By God’s Providence Jesus was born in a stable and on that faithful night God became flesh and his presence was made available to us.

When we make room for his providence in our lives and are willing to live in His presence then we will see the fruit of his provision.

III. Make room for His Provision

A. A Physical Presentation

On that fateful night years ago there were many things that took place but the most awesome and amazing thing was that God was made flesh. It wasn’t a mystical appearance, it was a spirit that appeared for a time and went away. It was the Son of God in the flesh.

Why though?

Philippians 2:5–8 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He came to set an example of humility. He came to set an example of love. He came to set an example of sacrifice.

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

He was 100% man that was tempted just like we are. He was tempted by Satan yes but tempted on a daily basis well. Yet he did no sin.

We know that we can overcome the world because He has overcome the world.

Jesus’ physical presentation was so that we could understand, relate, and follow Him. That night there was also a Spiritual Presentation.

B. A Spiritual Presentation

The Son of God made man in the flesh was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was the only one that could do the work of redemption required to reconcile God to man.

He was the only one who could make possible the gift of god: Eternal Life.

It is only when we experience the significance of Christ’s presence that we can begin to experience the joy of Christmas.

Just as the song says: O come, O come emmanual, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel come to thee.

Conclusion

This morning I believe we have each seen an area that we need to make room for Jesus. You could be here and worry about life and what is going to happen and forget there is a God that loves you. Maybe your someone who makes room for everything else except Jesus because it would require you admitting your wrong about some thing. It could be you are afraid of what God would do with you if you made room for Him in your life. Or, maybe you don’t believe in Jesus and feel that this is all made up.

If that’s you this morning I want to offer you the opportunity to make room in your heart today.

Whichever person you are this morning I encourage to make room for Jesus.

Only when we make room for Christ in our lives can we truly enjoy the meaning of Christmas.

As we turn to a time of response to the message today I’d like to ask each of you to bow your head and close your eyes.

Christians, have you filled your life up with so much worry, self pity, anger, hate, or some other thing that you have forgotten what it’s like to be full of Jesus? Full of the Holy Spirit? Turn from that this morning.

Are you here today and you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus? You don’t know the love, joy, and peace that come from being saved.

I’d like to give you that opportunity this morning. I you believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again from the dead would you pray after me?

If you want to make the decision to trust Jesus as your savior this morning please pray after me

“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”

Hand raised…prayer

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