Christmas Reminds Us Who God Is!

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Welcome online audience along with in person audience.

We are celebrating Christmas so I am keeping announcements short today.

Lottie Moon and our Ephesus canned foods will continue to be collected through the first Sunday of the new year.

Reminder of Online Giving at EBCSPRINGHOPE.COM/GIVE

Caroling on the Lawn tonight at 5pm! ???

Celebration of the 4th Sunday of Advent

Dennis Staton

Begin by reading the following Scripture:

John 3:16–18 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Say,

“On the first week of Advent, we lit the Candle of Hope.”

Light the first purple candle.

Say,

“On the second week of Advent, we lit the Candle of Faith.”

Light the second purple candle.

Say,

“On the third week of Advent, we lit the Candle of Joy.”

Light the third pink candle.

Say,

“Today we have the honor of lighting the fourth candle. The fourth candle symbolizes love and peace. The candle of love is often called, “The Angel’s Candle.”

Do you see the pattern that has been unfolding over the previous weeks of candle lightings? We started with hope, which burst forth when God came to us in human form. Then we find faith that is shown by our living a Christ-centered life. With hope and faith, we can live joyful lives.

But it would be a pretty self-centered existence if Advent ended with us just being hopeful, faithful and joyful. So, we light the candle of love and peace to remind us that hope, faith and joy are the precursors to loving in a way that brings ultimate peace.

1 John 4:7–9 ESV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

Light the fourth Purple Candle. Then return to your seat!

Opening Scripture Reading

Old Testament Reading

Stephen Nobles

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

This is the word of the Lord

New Testament Reading

Acts 1:6–11 ESV

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

This is the Word of the Lord!

Prayer of Invocation

Wayne Sullivan

Songs of Worship

Go Tell It On The Mountain Page 95 Sing All Verses

Carols Sing Page 90 Sing All Verses

Myron & Amy Duncan Sing

Sermon: Christmas Reminds Us Who God Is!

Introduction

Christmas is upon us! Christmas is the time we set aside to celebrate one of the greatest events in the history of humanity. The birth of the King of kings! We are only a few short days away from celebrating the incarnation of the only true God among mankind.

Jesus Christ is the main reason for the season we celebrate, but in a sense, we are the reason for the season as well. The reason we celebrate; the reason Jesus came was to save us from our sin. This week as you celebrate Christmas keep this close upon your heart and mind.

The great truth of Christmas is that beginning with the miraculous conception in the town of Nazareth, we see God beginning the new promised era of redemptive history.

The Apostle John caught this extremely well in John 1: There we read how the word of truth shone brightly into the darkness of a sin-stained world and what that means for us.

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:9–14 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As we experience Christmas anew this year, (a year that has had many bright spots that have been overshadowed by the darkness of sin in a world that has been tossed asunder by the ravages of a global pandemic and political turmoil), let us be reminded of the hope, faith, joy, love and peace that Christmas promises those who have believed in His name!

This morning, I would like to share with you four powerful reminders for the hope we can find even in the midst of difficult days. Let us be reminded of why we can follow Jesus even when life is not easy!

If we are to be the people God has called us to be, a people who are ready to follow Jesus in all things, then we have to have a strong grip on why He’s worth it! Christmas reminds us of the greatness and glory we find when we look upon Christ!

Join me in the Gospel of Matthew, in chapter 1. We will begin reading in verse 18. Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Prayer of Illumination

Matthew has just finished giving us a detailed genealogy of Jesus Christ in the first seventeen verses of his gospel.

In verse one of this genealogy, Matthew reminds us that Jesus was the son of David which connects His birth with the Davidic Covenant, as well as pointing out that He was the son of Abraham connecting His birth with the Abrahamic Covenant.

Matthew’s most amazing assertion is in labeling Jesus as “the Messiah.” At the very end of the genealogy we read...

Matthew 1:16 ESV

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

“Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” Matthew is shouting at the rooftops… “Our long-awaited Messiah is here! Jesus is that Messiah!”

Matthew can’t wait to tell us the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ!

The same word for birth also occurs in verse one for genealogy. The word in the original language is genesis, which as you already know can mean beginning.

This is not only the story of the birth of Jesus, but also the beginning of a new era of redemptive history. Matthew is telling us that Jesus is literally the genesis of new things.

He begins in verse 18 by reminding us that God is in the business of the supernatural.

Reminder No. 1: Our God Can Do Anything!

Matthew 1:18 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Mary and Joseph are in the midst of their betrothal period. This was the first stage of marriage in the Jewish culture. A young man and his fiancée would get legally married, but then they would have to wait a year before they were allowed to consummate their marriage and live together. This was practiced in order to make sure the young lady was pure.

Obviously, after a year it was clear whether the bride was pure or impure, so then they could live together and consummate their marriage and live happily ever after.

Despite all of this, during the betrothal, they were still considered legally married. Therefore, if the bride proved to be impure, the groom could get out of their marriage vows by seeking an official divorce.

Well, during their betrothal period Mary shows up pregnant.

Matthew 1:19 ESV

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Can you imagine for a moment how painful and embarrassing a time this was for Joseph?

What would it have been like to hear this from the girl you just married but haven’t been allowed to be with yet? Naturally, Joseph doesn’t believe her, who would? He’s like, “Oh, right, the Holy Spirit got you pregnant. I bet you have some waterfront property near Babylon you want to sell me too?”

So how can this be? How can an unmarried, young, teenage girl, who had a remarkable faith, become pregnant?

If we think only on man’s playing field, then we would have to conclude that Mary was impure. She was guilty of infidelity, or adultery. A crime that was punishable by stoning according to the Law in Deut. 22:23-24.

But when we speaking about the things of God, we are never entirely on man’s playing field! The miraculous virgin conception is never presented by Scripture as being a myth, fable, or legend. The Bible always reveals to us the Virgin Birth of Christ as a both a historical and a supernatural fact.

Scripture is clear here in our current passage and even more so in Luke 1:26-37 that this occurred well before Joseph and Mary would have legally consummated their marriage.

In order to truly understand Christmas, we must trust what the Scriptures teach. We must understand that Mary was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. We must find hope in the fact that God had done the impossible. We must recognize that God has the supernatural ability to invade time and space and override the natural by supernaturally impregnated Mary’s womb.

How can we have hope and follow Jesus even in difficult situations? We find hope in God the same way Joseph and Mary found hope in God.

We come to a place where we understand that our God can do anything! Nothing is too great for Him!

Christmas reminds us that even in the midst of a global pandemic, our God can supernaturally move His plan of restoration and redemption forward. His Kingdom can still advance into the darkness, and He can use our hands and feet to do so. Therefore, we can find great hope in the fact that our God can do anything!

Reminder No. 2: Our God Loves His People!

God cares about mankind. He loves that which He created in His own image. Our God loves His people! He demonstrated His love by sending His son to earth to atone for the sins of everyone who would believe. He is a loving Father who wants to have a relationship with His children.

I hope you will see that clearly as we continue through our passage.

First, notice that Joseph was a righteous man, a just man. He lived his life in a way that pleased the Lord.

Back in verse 19, as Mary’s betrothed husband who just discovered that she was with child, Joseph was perplexed, he was presented with a difficult dilemma.

However, being a righteous and just man, Joseph did not want to disgrace his wife. He cared for Mary and did not want to see any harm come to her, but at the same time, being a righteous man he could not follow through and marry her, because that would condone what he thinks is Mary’s sin of adultery.

He has only two options in his mind. He could publicly divorce her, and leave her to public disgrace and possibly death by the stoning squad.

Or, he could privately divorce her in the presence of two or three discreet witnesses and therefore show mercy to Mary.

Joseph’s character and compassion are revealed in his decision to divorce her privately. But in doing so, Joseph demonstrates for us that our plans are not always God’s plans no matter how righteous they may seem to be.

God reveals His love for Joseph and Mary and His love for all His people when we see Him intervene in the chaos. God sends one of His mighty angels to deliver a message to Joseph in a dream.

Matthew 1:20 ESV

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

The angel addresses Joseph as “son of David.” This is the only time in Matthew that this expression is used of anyone other than Jesus.

God is reminding Joseph of the royal line that he is a part of. He is informing him of the significant role that he will play in the arrival of the long expected Davidic Messiah.

The angel then encourages Joseph to take Mary as his wife despite the social stigma that will be attached to him for having a pregnant wife before the betrothal period is over.

Next, the angel of the Lord informs Joseph of the miraculous conception that the Holy Spirit has borne in his precious young Mary. This is a difficult time and a difficult decision for Joseph.

God wanted to make sure that Joseph understood what was at stake.

“Joseph you are of the line of David, the line from which your Messiah will be born.”

“Joseph, your wife hasn’t done anything wrong, I am working a great supernatural work in the midst of my people.”

“Oh and Joseph.... The Messiah has a name and a purpose!”

Matthew 1:21 ESV

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

“Joseph, I love you and I am giving you the chance to raise the one whom YOU, YOU JOSEPH will name Jesus!” Jesus! Yeshua! The name which clearly meant “The Lord Saves!”

If that wasn’t enough information, God has the angel tell Joseph that this one child, the child Mary was carrying, would, “save his people from their sins.”

Ephesus, do you see here that God didn’t twist Joseph’s arm, He didn’t force him to stay with Mary. No, God lovingly spoke truth to Joseph through the angel and left Joseph with a decision to accept what the angel declared or to reject it.

God has lovingly laid out for Joseph and for us that He loves His People in a way that is deeper than mere words could portray! In this we learn about a trait that God desires in all of His people. God spoke to Joseph and he listened intently. Joseph listened in a way that pleased God.

Church are we a people who live righteously and justly with others? Do we listen when God speaks to us?

How can we have hope and follow Jesus even in difficult situations?

We find hope as we learn about the love God has for His people! We then learn to have the strength to love others because of the love God has revealed to us! Christmas reminds us that even in a world of political turmoil, we can choose to love as God has loved us!

Our God Loves His People! And we should too!

Reminder No. 3: Our God Delivers On His Promises!

Matthew intervenes here and reminds us (the readers) of one of God’s most obscure OT promises.

Matthew 1:22–23 ESV

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Isaiah 7:14 is the promise, Matthew 1:23 is God delivering good on His promise. God wants us to know that He keeps His promises!

Matthew is teaching us here about the dual nature of Christ. The truth that He is 100% God and 100% Man. He is the God-Man! In verse 23, we see that there will be a child born of a virgin. He would be a boy. A human boy! A 100% Human Boy! His name will be known as Jesus, the Christ!

But also notice the name He would be given in Scripture “Immanuel” which means “God with us” Matthew reveals Jesus’ full identity. He is the incarnate one! He is God with us!

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

You may be wondering, why are two names given? It is simply to define Christ for us!

Jesus means “The Lord Saves,” which describes what Jesus would do and has done on our behalf.

Immanuel means “God with us,” which describes who Jesus is. Jesus is the God-Man who descended from heaven to save us from our sin! God made a promise and He kept it through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ!

How can we have hope and follow Jesus even in difficult situations? We need to know God’s word in such a way that we recognize His promises, understand the ones He as already fulfilled, and look forward with expectant hope the ones still coming our way! In doing so, we also learn about God Himself.

Christmas reminds us that even in the darkest of days, we as believers in Christ can rejoice with great joy at what is coming our way!

We can trust that our God will deliver on His promises!

Reminder No. 4: Our God Helps Us Find His Peace In Our Obedience!

As any father expects his children to obey him, God expects our obedience, as His children. It honors God when we actually obey Him. As a reward, so to say, God helps us find peace in our obedience toward Him.

The Joseph we witnessed pondering over how to act upon the news of Mary’s pregnancy, we now see suddenly leaping into action.

We see that Joseph set a model for obedience that we would be wise to imitate in our own lives. He is not simply an inspiring hero of the past, but a compelling example for our present.

Matthew 1:24 ESV

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

Joseph’s obedience was immediate! There was no delay, no pondering the decision to obey or not to obey, no debating the consequences, simply active obedience.

Did Joseph understand everything that was being asked of him? Of course not! But then, he did not have too! He believed that his God could do anything. Something inside himself was telling him that His God loved him and his people more than he could possibly begin to imagine. Joseph was beginning to understand that God was delivering on His promise to Israel, and that he needed to be obedient to what God was calling him to do as a part of that plan!

When God gives us something to do, We do it! Whether we understand it completely or not! Joseph heard God’s truth and responded with immediate obedience!

Matthew 1:25 ESV

25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph’s obedience was complete. What he had been commanded to do, he did, and he did it completely!

He didn’t touch is wife in an intimate sense for almost a year. So not only did he wait part of a year in the betrothal period; he waited another year in Mary’s pregnancy. Then, he named his son, Jesus, just as the angel had exhorted him to do. That, my friends, is complete obedience.

Joseph was a righteous and just man. He was a man that was full of character and compassion. He was a man that was obedient to his God. God honored that man with the privilege of raising the Son of God!

What peace Joseph must have found in the events that would follow, the nativity serenity, the shepherds report, the star of Christmas and the visit of the wise men, the warning to flee to Egypt in a dream, and the dream to return to Jerusalem. Watching Jesus grow in wisdom and stature with God and men. What peace must Joseph have found in his faithful obedience to his calling, day after day, even in the difficulties of life.

How can we have hope and follow Jesus even in difficult situations?

Christmas reminds us that even in the hardest most difficult situations we can remain faithful and honor God with our lives while finding peace and light in the despair and darkness.

We can follow Jesus knowing that He Helps Us Find His Peace In Our Obedience!

Conclusion

****Online Audience and In-person Audience*****

My prayer for each of us this Christmas, is that we would be reminded of why we can follow Jesus even when life is not easy! That we would have a strong grip on why He’s worth it all!

1. Our God can do anything!

2. Our God loves His people!

3. Our God delivers on His promises!

4. Our God Helps Us Find His Peace In Our Obedience!

Like Joseph, Christmas reminds us that following Jesus is worth all the pain, all the trials, and even worth death itself! Following Jesus is worth it all!

Are you following Jesus this morning? Would you consider yourself a true disciple of Christ, one who is willing to lay down all you have for the honor of following after Him in faithful obedience.

Many have tried and found the path too difficult and fallen away because they didn’t really believe Jesus was worth it all? What about you this morning? Is He worth it all to you?

Christmas reminds us that God gave us His very best when He sent Jesus to save us from our sin. Easter reminds us that He laid down all He was upon the cross at Calvary!

Adrian Rogers once said, “No Virgin Birth, No Deity, No Deity, No Atonement, No Atonement, No Resurrection, No Resurrection, No Hope!” Christmas comes in line with Easter to tell us that we have the greatest hope of humanity because of Jesus, God with Us!

Are you following Him in faithful obedience today? God’s invitation this Christmas is to make Him the sole object of your life’s existence. How will you respond to Him today?

Hymn of Invitation

What Child Is This?

Hymn No. 118

Benediction

Acts 1:11 ESV

11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”