Momentous Pt.3 - "The Momentous Miracle" - Pastor Mark Killingsworth

MOMENTOUS “IT IS ALL ABOUT ONE MOMENT” “The Momentous Miracle” Dec. 15th, 2019 Luke 11:33–35 in the Message Bible… Jesus says, "Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live in wide-eyed wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room" Albert Einstein said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” If I were to ask if you've ever experienced a miracle, I'm guessing that, depending on your definition, some of you would say “no." I beg to differ. By the end of our time together today, you will have inhaled and exhaled approximately 250 times. Because most of us don't give breathing a second thought, I want to help us consider the miraculous journey of an oxygen atom. The journey begins when air passes through your nose, where unwanted dust and debris is filtered out. The average person moves about 440 cubic feet of air per day through the nose and trachea and into the lungs. The surface area of your lungs is 40 times greater than the surface area of your body, and all of that compressed within the tiny space between your ribs. Once in the lungs, the oxygen atoms hitchhike with hemoglobin and travel throughout the entire human body via blood vessels. If those blood vessels were laid end to end they would be approximately 100,000 miles long. At the end of its journey, the oxygen atom enters individual cells, bonds with the food we eat, and releases energy. NOW THAT IS A MIRACLE! John’s Gospel describes for us in beautiful and poetic imagery the miracle of the manger. (Read John 1:1-5, 9-14) Who exactly is this child we find in the manger in Bethlehem?   I. He Makes Astonishing claims about Himself Could He be who He claims to be? Consider for a moment this miracle of the manger and the astonishing claims made regarding this child. Into the humblest of circumstances Jesus is born. His mother is an ordinary, young girl named Mary. His birthplace is a stable, a barn in a small, obscure little town called Bethlehem. Yet, Jesus came making astonishing claims that centered on His identity. *He claimed to be sent from God (Matt. 11:27) “All things have been committed to me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” *Claimed to be the Messiah (Isa. 7:14) (Mark 14:61b-62) *He was a human son with a higher nature (Isa. 9:6) “For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace.” *the Son of God (Luke 2:41-49) *One with God (John 10:30) The angel announced this miracle to shepherds that this baby was Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). As an adult, Jesus claimed to be… *the Bread of Heaven and Living Water that alone can satisfy our deepest hungers. *Jesus claimed the authority to forgive our sins and to offer freely His grace and mercy. *Jesus claimed to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Resurrection, the only hope of escaping God's judgment, the only path to eternal life. *Jesus claimed all authority in heaven and earth, *and He promised to return to judge the world in righteousness. What do you make of such radical claims? There are some who would ignore them altogether. There are those who, while being very respectful of Jesus, don't take His astonishing claims seriously. The religion of Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet and teacher. The Hindu religion teaches that Jesus is one way of many to find God. Many people want to admire Jesus from a distance, But when it comes right down to it, He's just a nice man with a beard. C.S. Lewis explained that Jesus did not leave us the option of just respecting Him as a good, noble teacher. His own claims leave no room for that position, even though it is very popular. We really only have three options concerning what to make of these astonishing claims of Jesus. 1. Either He was who He claimed to be, the Lord of all. 2. Or, He made these claims knowing they were false and therefore He was a liar. 3. Or third, He made these claims because He believed them to be true but in reality they were not, which makes Him deceived or a lunatic. When it comes to the astonishing claims made by Jesus, there are only three conclusions that we can choose from. He is the Lord, He is a liar, Or He is a lunatic. He cannot be just a nice man with a beard. Who exactly is this child we find in the manger in Bethlehem? II. Our Choices About Who Jesus is - Has Staggering Implications What if He is who He claims to be? What about this child born in Bethlehem? What if His claims are true? Think for a moment about the incredible implications. He is the only way to be right with God He is the only payment for our sin He is King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s He is coming again and we will be judged by Whether we have been drawn to Jesus Or that we have rejected His seeking after us. Bekah: Play 4:00 Video: Why do so many people reject Christ? // Frank Turek What if there is that awesome Someone who knows your name, who knows the number of hairs on your head, Knows the day of your birth and the day of your death. He knows His life plan for you. He loves you and longs for you to know and love Him. What if this child in Bethlehem really is the miracle of the manger? What if this Jesus really is who He claims to be? If He is, then you and I have a decision to make. It is a matter of eternal significance for each one of us. What we decide about this child born in Bethlehem not only determines our eternal destiny, it also determines our earthly direction as well. We cannot accept His claims without also recognizing that He has staked His claim on our lives. If He is who He says He is, then all of His promises are true. He really can wipe away a painful past and take away our burden of guilt and regret. He can give us a whole new reason to live and fill us with the fullness of His love, His life, His grace. It means it's all true. Who exactly is this child we find in the manger in Bethlehem?   III. Our Choice About Jesus Determines Our Fate Do you believe in Jesus that the Bible talks about? We must all consider the question and answer for ourselves. No one can decide for us when it comes to this miracle of the manger. Jesus put the question to His disciples one day: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,” He asked them, 'who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!'" (Matt. 16:13–16). How will you answer that question? Is Christ who He claimed to be? Do you believe? Have you personally asked Him to forgive your sin? Have you personally asked Him into your life to take control? Conclusion: The Miracle of this Moment when Jesus came is - MOMENTOUS. I. He Makes Astonishing claims about Himself II. Our Choices About Who Jesus Is Has Staggering Implications III. Our Choice About Jesus Determines Our Fate YOU MUST BE DRAWN IN BY GOD: John 6:44 Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws them…” YOU MUST BELIEVE IN WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU: Rom. 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus Is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. YOU MUST TRUST HIM TO SAVE YOU AS HE PROMISES: Rom. 10:13 “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” YOU MUST CONFESS YOUR SIN AND THEN BELIEVE IN JESUS’ FORGIVENESS. John 1:9 “If you will confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” Here we are at another MOMENT OF DECISION. This Moment of Decision was started by the MIRACLE OF THE MOMENT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS.