Making Room for the Supernatural
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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.
We all know what we call the Christmas story...
It’s a favorite scene
In a stable with cows in the stalls, donkeys, sheep, chickens and duck scattered around Mary who is holding a baby.
Joseph is looking down on them.
A special star is shining bright outside.
And Mary leans forward and places the baby Jesus in the manger and the angles softly sing; Silent Night!
We preach about it and sing about it all… except.
Why were they in the barn?
Why was Jesus in a manger?
Because there was no room for him in the Inn!
Perhaps one could say, they were not ready for him because of the chaos of the city...
And we could preach about the chaos in our lives.
Maybe you could say, they were in the barn because no one new they were coming...
Perhaps if Joseph had RSVPed then he could have got the presidential suite…
Here is the problem -
For generations, this moment had been foretold!
Yet, only four people in the world was aware of what was happening; Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth (John the Baptists parents)!
No preparations had been made.
They were wondering around for generations talking about ‘When Messiah comes!’
BUT no preparation had been made for when the Messiah would actually come...
1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Abraham made a place for God in his life!
I can see him sitting there in the shade of his tent door… shading his eyes to those men.
Something clicked in his spirit.
That 100 year old man began to run…
Don’t pass me by!
Rest here while I get you refreshments!
Sarah, set the table and use the fine china and silver because we have important guests!
Fatted calf is killed and cooked!
Meanwhile, dust is washed away from their tired bodies!
Glasses of sweet iced tea is put in there hands!
Because someone special was here!
How many of you clean up the house a little when company comes?
How many clean more, the more special the company is?
Sis. Alphin will hire a professional cleaning company and then do it all over again to her level of expectation for really important company!
Why?
Preparing for a visitation!
Consider this:
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
Only after a place had been prepared did God share is plans for Sodom!
Why?
He was ready for it...
God is watching!
Are you ready for him?
Have you made a place for him?
Moses was out there leading his father-in-aw’s sheep and sees a bush burning but not being burned up…
Walks over to see what was happening and here is what scripture records.
4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
God is watching your response!
What are you going to do?
Pastor, I’m not ready.
I have so much to learn...
That’s ok -
Abraham still had a cow to kill and dinner to cook!
Moses still had shoes to take off!
But these men recognized that God was doing something different and they were ready to buy in!
Conclusion:
How do you prepare - make room?
Jews said, when messiah comes...
‘’’’Here is what we say: “when revival comes!”
When you prepare for the supernatural, expect the impossible!
What do we do?
Most important thing you can do is deal with your flesh
Fast
Pray
Be intentional in your service
Give