A Journey to Christmas

HOOK

Jupiter and Saturn has not appeared this close— the last was some 800 years ago— last December 21 our solar system’s two largest planets crossed paths— it’s called the conjunction

This made them appear like a double planet in the sky— while these two planets may appear close, they are still hundreds of millions miles apart

The last time these two planets had a close alignment was on March 4, 1226— occurring just in time for the holidays, it was nicknamed the “Christmas Star”— but this has nothing to do with the star of Bethlehem—

We followed the Star this past four weeks leading up to Christmas day— together let’s look at the element of the story— past, present and future— and how they apply to our journey of hope, love, joy and peace— first, we began our journey with HOPE— the Lord brings hope to our fears

Through many years and centuries of history, hope burned for a Savior— Sometimes that hope flickered— Sometimes it barely glowed like an ember as time passed and the people waited and waited and waited.

But hope was fulfilled— Christ has come! God’s promise was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus— Today we place our hope in the fact that Jesus came, died for our sins, and is alive— He is the ongoing source of our hope.

And we live in the future hope that Jesus will come again to complete the story of redemption in our world and in our own lives— The story is not over yet— And even when darkness rages and deepens around us, we can hold onto hope that Christ will complete His ultimate work— All will be made right.

Then A Journey of LOVE— love when we needed it most— Pastor Pete explained to us the four kinds of love [Eros— erotic passionate love, Philia— friendly love, Storge— family love — Agape or unconditional love of God being the highest form of love

As long as God is, there has been and is love— It is His nature and being— It fueled His creation— It drove Him to make a way to restore humanity to relationship with Himself— And at a specific point in past history, motivated by intense love, God sent His Son among us.

Today love fuels our relationship with God— It is our motivation, and we live out the love of God in us by loving others.

And we look forward to the future day when God’s love story is complete and we will live for eternity with Him— This will be life fulfilled in perfect love.

And then A Journey of JOY— Pastor Ritchie preached on joy that replaces the hurt

The good news of great joy was that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born— This joyous event broke through the darkness and dispelled the fears of those shepherds— just as it replaces our own fear in the midst of darkness.

The joy for us today is that the same message of good news is for us, here, now, today— Jesus offers us the same salvation and life that He came to give through His birth, death, and resurrection— It is the source of the greatest joy possible.

And while we still live in a world where joy and pain coexist— God’s promise is that our joy will be made complete in the future when Jesus comes again— It fuels us along the way, standing as a stark contrast to the death and despair of our broken world

And then last Sunday we heard from Pastor Justin a message of Peace— we must be peacemakers for God bless the peacemakers— peace for the storm

There in the past is the arrival of the Prince of Peace in that manger— This is what we celebrate today— Peace has come— Peace is here!

And fortunately peace remains— Jesus left us the gift of His peace through His Spirit—a peace that transcends our full understanding and worst circumstances— a peace that guards and restores our hearts and minds.

As we look to the future, we still expectantly wait, knowing that when He comes again, He will bring ultimate peace for all the world— Peace among nations— Peace among enemies— Peace to reign over and within every heart.

We have followed the star, and now we come to the end of Advent— Today we light a candle for Christ— This Christmas was certainly remarkably different, but the reason for the season is still, and will always be the same.. and that reason is Jesus our Lord..

The journey of hope, love, joy, and peace has led us to the same place—a manger in Bethlehem where the source of all good gifts lies— Jesus, the Son of God, is our hope, love, joy, and peace

The star marked Jesus’s arrival, but He is the true light of the world!— Later in Jesus’s life, He taught His disciples that He had come as the light of the world— As John explained, Jesus spoke to them, saying..

John 8:12 NIV

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Today is the last Sunday for the year 2020— as we wrap it all up, let us continue with our journey of hope, love, joy and peace into the new year 2021

Hope for our fears— love when we need it most— joy to replace our hurts— and peace for the storm

The story of Christmas is the best ever love story that has ever been told— this story came not just with the message of love, but with the assurance of hope that it brings to us..

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This greatest act of unconditional love started when Jesus was born— Dr. Luke recorded what happened beginning with the decree issued Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was the governor of Syria— this caused everyone to go to their own town to register— and for Joseph that town was Bethlehem for he was a descendant of king David the son of Jesse [1 Samuel 16:1— when God sent prophet Samuel to anoint the replacement of king Saul whom God had rejected— Jesse was mentioned to be from the town of Bethlehem]— a prophesy fulfilled in its time

While they were in Bethlehem, Mary who was then betrothed to Joseph, gave birth to her firstborn [Yahweh consecrated Israel’s firstborn children]— a son [there was no ultra sound during those times— they only knew [by faith] about the baby’s gender because they were foretold— there was no way to be certain up until Jesus was actually born

As it was prophesied by the prophets who lived in almost at the same time [around 700 years before it finally came to fruition]— Isaiah prophesied that Mary [a virgin] will become the mother of our Savior [ISAIAH 7:14]— while Micah prophesied about Bethlehem where Jesus was actually born [MICAH 5:2]

Jesus was born in a manger because there was no guest room available for them— [SHOW TYPICAL FIRST CENTURY ISRAELITE HOME]— the walls were made of straws and mud— the second floor is where a typical family would sleep while the ground floor is where the family’s domestic animals were housed— the average size of these homes are comparable to a double wide mobile home

Luke went on to write...

BOOK

Luke 2:8–18 NIV

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

It is notable from this passage that what started to be a message of love and hope, brought with it the message of joy and peace

The shepherds who were out at night keeping watch over the their flocks were terrified— but the angel said to them…

LOOK

DO NOT BE AFRAID. I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS THAT WILL CAUSE GREAT JOY

In the midst of all their fear— a news that caused great joy came— the situation then and now are different but what is common is the fear that they had— the same fear some of us now have

Fear from the havoc that we all experienced because of this virus— to the news of a new strain that was said to be rather deadlier and more infectious— to the many who have lost their income to support their families— to the many that is now infected by the disease— to the many that is isolated and devastated— to those who are loosing their faith and fellowship with God’s people [ 1 of every 3 stopped attending church] — listen to what the angel said!

The good news that is anchored in love and hope brings us great joy— joy to replace our fears— make this message come to life again— and keep this message alive in you

And suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praise God and saying— Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth...

PEACE TO THOSE ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS

One of the Lord’s classical act was when he calmed the storm— His arrival brought peace on earth— peace offered to everyone but not for everyone— the angels said, “to those whom His favor rests”— it is offered to everyone but not everyone accepted this peace that Jesus brought into this world

At first, it seems that this idea of Messianic peace contradicts with Luke 12:51, where Jesus declares that he will bring division rather than peace— He is explaining that people have to make a decision about Him which may cause division—

Luke 12:51 NIV

51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

The division that we now see wrecking families, communities and even countries— the Secular Democrats of America urged the potential Biden administration— they are calling for the removal of “in God we trust”

Peace for the storm— when the water is rough and life is difficult— we can use this peace that the Lord came to offer— his peace that is long and lasting— Hebrew word for it is “shalom” which means “peace”, “wholeness”, or “completeness”— but to have that kind of peace, you have to make that decision

When the angels had left, the shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw for themselves that everything they were told was true— they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in a manger— and when they discovered that everything was true..

THEY SPREAD THE WORD

This story of love, hope, joy and peace must be told not only during Christmas day but everyday— to all of you who took part of our Project Shoebox 2020— thank you so very much— you have brought this message of new hope and happiness to at least 315 children across our homeland—

As we come close to the end of 2020— let us bring with us and through us this message of hope, love, joy and peace into the new year 2021

Let us continue to…

TOOK

SHARE THE HOPE TO THOSE WHO ARE FEARFUL AND HOPELESS

SHARE GOD’S LOVE WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED

SHARE THE JOY THAT REPLACES HURTS

SHARE THE PEACE TO THOSE WHO ARE RESTLESS

On the eight day when it was time to circumcise the child— He was named Jesus— Emmanuel which means God is with us— Sing “God is Here”

PRAY