Little Child; Big God
Notes
Transcript
Service Opener:
Topic: Christmas
Scripture: Colossians 1:12-18
Source: Tracking Systems Direct
Author: Illustration Exchange
NBC News:
When Baby Jesus disappeared … from a Nativity scene on the lawn of the Wellington, Fla., community center, village officials didn’t follow a star to locate him. A GPS device mounted inside the life-size ceramic figurine led sheriff’s deputies to a nearby apartment, where it was found face down on the carpet. An 18-year-old woman was arrested in the theft.
Giving up on old-fashioned padlocks and trust, a number of churches, synagogues, governments and ordinary citizens are turning to technology to protect holiday displays from pranks or prejudice.
It’s a sign of the times. Holiday display theft is on the rise, and Baby Jesus is a particularly common target.
At First United Methodist Church in Kittanning, PA., a baby Jesus was stolen and replaced with a pumpkin.In Eureka Springs, AK., someone who took off with a plastic baby Jesus from a public display, as well as the concrete block and chain that was supposed to keep it locked down.In Meridian Hills, IN, a couple stole the figurine, and then led police on a high-speed chase in an effort to keep their loot.A parishioner of a Brooklyn church prayed that whoever stole the Baby Jesus from a $1,700 Nativity scene dedicated to his late parents would have the heart to return it.
Sensing the opportunity, reports NBC News, security companies have increasingly started rolling out products and special seasonal contracts specifically designed to address the threat. “We have seen a growing number of cities and homeowners simply frustrated with holiday theft and vandalism, and that is the primary reason behind the increased use of GPS theft recovery systems during the holidays,” explained a Tracking System Direct specialist.
Application:
“Stealing” Jesus isn’t just a “seasonal” threat.
Everyday, whether at the hands of false religions, pseudo-Christian cults, false prophets, or even secular humanists and atheists, Jesus is being plucked from his place of prominence in the Gospel message.
Materialists and commercialists pluck him from the center of the Christmas season and replace Him with Santas and sleighs and gifts and gadgets galore.
Secular humanists and atheists rob Him of His divinity, reducing Him to mere human, or worse yet, mythical status.
Take whatever security measures are necessary to keep Jesus in your Christmas this holiday season, giving Him, in all His glory, His place of preeminence.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Text: Isaiah 9:1-7
Intro: Sign in a department store window: “Big pre-Christmas sale. Come in and mangle with the crowd.”
Does it not seem at times that our best efforts only yield disappointment? Try as you may to find the perfect gift or plan the perfect celebration, it somehow falls short.
But consider one of America’s greatest poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He lost his wife and was himself injured in a household accident. The nation was embroiled in Civil War. His son was severely wounded as a soldier in the Union armyx. In his diary he wrote, “How inexpressibly sad are the holidays.” He later wrote:
I heard the bells on Christmas day. Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men.
(Contemplating his world, he then wrote:)
And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth”, I said, For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.
(But his faith began to speak through the fog of grief)
Then peeled the bells more loud and deep; “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Trans:
I. A GRIM OUTLOOK
Explanation: A. To understand, we have to remember that Isaiah spoke at a difficult time in Israel. There was much uncertainty and fear because of outward threats (war and world affairs)
But inwardly there was turmoil as their domestic and foreign policies and allies shifted There was religious turmoil as well as people neglected God and sought their own ways.
We see references to dimness and people walking in darkness Romans 3:10-18 but perhaps v. 3 best summarizes the situation: Multiplied but not increased the joy
The verse goes on to describe a joy of sorts but focused on material things and fleeting.
Argument: A. Recently, the US population rolled past the 300 million mark- World pop. 6.5 billion. Despite population boom and despite access to education / information we are the same. The world is seeking an escape, seeking a remedy and so manufacture and imitate it.
There are no sleigh bells, and there isn’t for us a White Christmas, no Chestnuts roasting. For all the bright lights and glitz and sales and parties and special programs, we are not at peace
Our Money has increased the average pay has continued to rise. We have come to the point in America where the target buying market has continued to fall. Now the target buying power is the the pre-teen 6th and 7th grade. Where early 90s the cellular phone was a bag phone and had to be mounted in the car, and you may have one if you were a business tycoon. Now they are marketing cellular phones as young as kindergarten. Joy has not increased.
Toys have increased recently an ancient Egyptian tomb was uncovered. We knew that they had running water and probably light piped into their dwellings but for some reason this king wanted to be buried with his i-phone. Just kidding. These days I-pods are the new things along with video games that can make your body movements a part of the game play. And screens that make you feel as if you are really in the game. Joy has not increased
v. 5 The only way we know to accomplish peace is by brute force- Peace by war
Please don’t misunderstand, the time to beat the sword into plowshares has not come But the point is that for all our advancements, we are incapable of producing peace or joy We’ve multiplied the people but not increased the joy and stressed out in the process
It is as big a sham as when Herod announced a desire to come and worship Him also
Application: A. That is a Grim Outlook, But joy is not to be found in the number but rather found at the removal of a burden
II. A GIFT OFFERED-
Explanation: A. There is the sudden appearance of a Great Light to shatter the darkness of men’s hearts
A peaceful revolution that destroys the Enemy that oppressed mankind
This wonderful change is the result of the gift of God to us, For unto us a child is born
It was not for His sake that Jesus came into this world, clothed in human flesh
But rather, it was for our benefit, to raise us from despair and improve our situation
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We were without hope and every effort only made our situation worse
Argument: A. We were separated from God by our trespasses and sins, alienated from His favor
But then God bridged that gap, satisfied the debt and made a way for our deliverance
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Our every hope hinges on this Gift of a child, a Son who can redeem what was lost
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.
III. A GREAT OFFICIAL
Notice that this Son of God, this incredible gift will be a ruler who establishes order His identity is here revealed in the names and descriptions ascribed to Him
He will bear the government of the kingdom upon His own shoulder, being the head of all things
He has preeminence over thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers because He created them
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He is Wonderful
Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this!
Conclusion: All you’ve had, all you can hope for apart from Jesus is a Grim Outlook. But the cure is to accept and embrace God’s Gift. Let His peace rule in your heart today. Allow Him to remove the yokes of sin’s bondage and scatter the darkness in His life-giving Light.
The state of a child…
Fragile.
impressionable
