He Came Down For Us
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He Came Down For Us
Luke 2:1-20
December 25, 2016
Introduction:
The Christmas season means different things to different people:
Store owner- time to make some sales
Non- church attendee- time to make that yearly appearance
ACLU- time to look out and fight those evil manger scenes
Lost man- time to enjoy the lights and endure the “Jesus stuff”
Christian- time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour
Part of the celebration is the singing of Christmas carols: joy to the world is one of the more famous.
Published in 1719 by Isaac Watts who intended it to celebrate the Second coming of Christ not necessarily His birth in Bethlehem.
God- the beginning of the earthly ministry of His Son
We may begin to understand the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross but I believe there is no amount of human understanding of the Son of God leaving Heaven to come to this Earth.
To a people that would reject Him and crucify Him:
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
The fact is that without the Birth of Jesus Christ; mankind would have no hope of Heaven.
The universal truth facing all men today is that we all fall short of God’s glory.
A verse familiar to all of us is Romans 3:23…”For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Because of that fact, we have no hope unless He came down to us…
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
I. He Came at a Prepared Time – verses 1-3
I. He Came at a Prepared Time – verses 1-3
Note-Christ’s arrival on Earth came at a dark time in history in order to signify that God had not forgotten mankind. He in fact had been orchestrating a plan to eliminate that burden of sin that separated us from God.
At Christmas, perhaps like no other time we are reminded no matter what is going on in the world around us and no matter what burdens we carry there’s always joy in the presence of Jesus.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
A. He Came at a prepared time because it was Ordered in the Scriptures
A. He Came at a prepared time because it was Ordered in the Scriptures
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh come; And unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Note – The scepter of power came through the tribe of Judah first to David and then to Shiloh or the Messiah.
SCEP´TER, n. [Fr. scepter; L. sceptrum; Gr. σκηπτρον, from σκηπτω,to send or thrust; coinciding with L. scipio, that is, a shoot or rod.]
1. A staff or batoon borne by kings on solemn occasions, as a badge of authority Hence,
2. The appropriate ensign of royalty; an ensign of higher antiquity than the crown. Hence,
3. Royal power or authority; as, to assume the scepter.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
B. Orchestrated By His Power
B. Orchestrated By His Power
Note – “What God Originates He Orchestrates.”
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Note – Verse one – Caesar Augustus was ruling but God was in charge.
Note- God must create a way to move Joseph and Mary from the city of Nazareth to the town of Bethlehem so that a 700 year old prophecy in Scripture would be fulfilled:
2 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.
He used the census and taxing authority of the Roman government to fulfill His Word.
12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
Illustration – Mary and Joseph were going to be taxed.
Illustration – God moved on the heart of an unsaved man to issue a decree that would affect literally millions of people.
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
II. He Came to a Prepared People – verses 4-5
II. He Came to a Prepared People – verses 4-5
Note – The Lord had sent Gabriel to prepare them.
A. Joseph Obeyed
A. Joseph Obeyed
Note – He could have run from the situation or followed his master.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
B. Mary Yielded
B. Mary Yielded
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Note- Faith in God’s promises release God’s power
Note- Faith in God’s promises release God’s power
Note – This was not a planned pregnancy from Mary’s perspective, yet she was sensitive to the Lord’s will.
Note – God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
Note- when Christ came into the world we crucified Him; when He comes into our hearts, He crucifies us.
Note- are you a prepared person for Him today?
What must you surrender in order to become a prepared person?
III. He Came For Prepared Hearts – verse 7
III. He Came For Prepared Hearts – verse 7
Note – There was no room in the inn.
Some people today still have a “no room” attitude when it comes to Jesus. They don’t mind decorating their homes with bright lights, putting up Christmas trees, spending money on gifts, but they don’t want to personally receive Jesus as their Saviour or submit to His leadership in any ways that would change their homes or affect the way they live their lives.
Illustration- Wally was to be the innkeeper during the school program. Joseph and Mary came to the inn seeking lodging; Wally-“go elsewhere the inn is full” Mary- “but sir we have traveled far and are very weary, can you help us? Wally looked down on Mary with pity as the prompter helped him-“go away we have no more room”. As Mary and Joseph walked away a tear trickled down the face of young 10 year old Wally and he called out “don’t go Joseph; bring Mary back! His face lighted with a big smile as he said “you can have MY room”
In reality many have “no room” for Jesus.
The intellectual man has no room:
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
The religious man has no room:
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The material man has no room:
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
AMG Bible Illustrations No Room in the Inn
Can you not feel the chilly atmosphere of that inn? “No room; there is only the stable!” This part of the story of Christ’s nativity foreshadows His later experience. Men have continued to echo that cry, “No room!” Jesus should have the supreme place, but He is constantly made a secondary consideration. He should dominate our lives, but we have crowded Him out. I often feel the chilling atmosphere of that inn as I read the Gospel story. I feel it in the house of the rich Pharisee (Luke 7:45, 46). Jesus was a guest there, but not a supreme one. There was no water, no kiss, no oil. He was tolerated, patronized, not worshiped. I feel that atmosphere in the world today. I fear lest I find it in the Church and my own soul.
We know that Jesus Christ is looking for “prepared Hearts”
We know that Jesus Christ is looking for “prepared Hearts”
A. He is Available – In a stable
A. He is Available – In a stable
Note – The Lord and Creator of the universe became poor in order to reach us as needy ones. He took the form of a servant.
Illustration – All year church bells ring, choirs sing, preachers preach, yet many who need Christ turn away. Then as the year draws to a close, Christmas offers it’s wonderful message.
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Emmanuel. God with us. He who resided in Heaven, co-equal and co-eternal, with the Father and the Spirit, willingly descended into our world. He breathed our air, felt our pain, knew our sorrows and died for our sins, and is Coming Again!!!
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by 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 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Note- God often digs the wells of joy with the spade of sorrow.
B. He is Approachable – In a manger
B. He is Approachable – In a manger
Note – There were not guards to keep away the common man.
Note – The Shepherds came to see Him:
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Note-and later the wise men came to see Him:
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Note- He is approachable today- In Heaven
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
_ To the weary He says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.”
_ To the thirsty He says, “Come unto me and drink.”
_ To the hungry He says, “Come ye buy and eat…without money.”
_To the worried He says, “Come let us reason together”
“Come” means to advance or approach from any direction.
“Come” means to advance or approach from any direction.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Jesus desires not only that we trust Him as Saviour but that we also submit to His leadership for our entire lives.
Do you know Him as your Saviour?
Are you actively following His leadership in every area of your life?
Today is a prepared time!!!
Are you a prepared person to trust Him completely?
Is your heart tender and prepared to follow His still small voice?
He came down to us so that we can come to Him.
He came down to us so that we can come to Him.