Christmas Prayer, Promise, and Praise
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Intro:
This is my seventh Christmas Sunday at Vulcan Assembly. I was curious as to what I have preached. For the fact is, there are only four chapters in Scripture that deal with the birth of Christ.
They are found in Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2. I went back to see what I have preached during the Christmas season over the the last seven seasons.
In 2016, 2019, and 2020, my text came from Matthew. In 2015, 16, 17, 18. 19, and 20, I preached from Luke. Four messages came from Matthew, and thirteen came from Luke.
As I prayed and prepared for this service, I decided, why break a streak. So turn in your Bibles:
37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
The title of my message is [Christmas Prayer, Promise, and Praise.]
But after fourteen messages, I wondered, how can I keep their attention?
And it hit me, I have the perfect baby who can play Jesus in my message. But I realize that every other parents feels their child is as wonderful as mine.
Since, we have:
Parents who love their child
A pastor who has returned to the same two chapters
A congregation, whose attention I really want:
why not have our kids help me with my message.
One of the reasons I love Luke is because of the overriding theme of Prayer and the emphasis on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.
There are so many references to prayer in Luke 1 and 2. And where prayer is not directly mentioned, the effects of prayer are evident.
In fact, the names of the people God used at Christ’s birth were individuals who prayed.
By the time God prepared to send Jesus, God’s people really didn’t pray. There was only a remnant, a small minority who bothered to prayerfully await God’s promised Messiah.
IN fact, the Lord had to move beyond the religious elite for they ceased seeking God. Instead, He used a few people I would like you to meet today.
I will introduce them now:
Zacharias— Caden
Elizabeth— Kinley
Mary— Makenna
Joseph— Rylan
Simeon— Ryder
Anna— Hallie
Angels— Cade, Reagan, and Remi
Shepherds— Chris and Hudson
Gabriel— me
Their lives include these three aspects of the first Christmas, prayer, prophecy, and praise.
The events of Christmas really began with an elderly priest named Zacharias. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were Godly people who earnestly desired for God to fulfill His plan and purpose for humanity.
They were righteous, and followed God’s Word and commandments. But they did not have any children. The Lord was about to change that.
It was Zacharias’s turn to burn incense before the Lord in the Temple. He went inside and everyone remained outside praying. Yet, this was unlike any other experience he had, an angel appeared with an incredible list of promises:
You and Elizabeth will have a son
You will name him John
Everyone will praise God
He will be used by God
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth
He will go in the Spirit and power of Elijah
Clearly, God wanted Zacharias to know He was going to give him a son who would be a prophet. Prophecy did not exist in those days. In fact, it had been four hundred years since God spoke to His people.
While he should have been overjoyed and accepting of God’s promise, Zacharias was confused. He wondered how that could happen to them!
Instead of receiving the Word of the Lord, which both aligned with Scripture and no doubt confirmed the desires of these elderly childless children, he doubted.
I love Gabriel’s response— I AM GABRIEL, I stand in the presence of God and He sent me to speak to you. Because you did not believe, you will not be able to speak until your son is born!
Meanwhile, the Angel Gabriel went and spoke to a young girl, with a prophecy that would change her life.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
Luke 1:32-33
Unlike Zacharias who doubted the angel, Mary believed what he said was true, but needed some help understanding God’s plan. She needed a little more clarification.
God had a plan though, He would send the Holy Spirit upon Mary, who would receive supernatural strength to bring Jesus into the world.
The angel also informed Mary about Elizabeth and left a message of hope for everyone.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Mary could not wait to see Elizabeth. When Mary entered the room and greeted her relative, John leapt inside of Elizabeth and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then Elizabeth praised God for Mary:
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Mary couldn’t help herself and she began to praise God:
46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Eventually, they stopped praising and praying God’s promises, went their separate ways, walking in the will of God.
Up until this point, everything that happened was promised by God, the promises had not become a reality yet. But when God makes a promise, He stands by His word.
After nine months of waiting for their son, it was time to introduce John to everyone, but people did not understand his name. They even tried to convince them to change his name. Elizabeth spoke first.
60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”
Finally, after silence, Zacharias:
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
He and everyone began to praise God. Why would they praise the Lord?
He answered their prayer
He fulfilled His promise
Not long after John’s birth, Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem for the census.
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
We have heard the story over and over. The shepherds came in response to the angelic direction. But my favorite part came eight days after Jesus was born.
Being devout followers of God, they obeyed the Law and took Jesus to the Temple. Upon arrival, they met two people who prayed constantly and knew God’s promises.
The first was Simeon. He was elderly but trusted that God would allow him to see the promises of God fulfilled. The Holy Spirit led him past the hundreds of people that scurried about until he saw Mary and Joseph.
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Mary and Joseph could not believe what happened:
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Soon after, another person came, Anna. Here is her story:
37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
After this they returned home:
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Close:
Prayer, Promise, and Praise.
The events surrounding the birth of Christ are nothing short of miraculous. God fulfilled His will, but He used people to make it happen.
He searched for people who prayed, seeking to be in God’s divine will. He found just what He needed in people who were often overlooked.
As I have studied through these chapter once again, the story became real to me.
Having our kids as an active part of the retelling of what God did made it ever more alive.
God’s still needs people who will prayer.
God longs for those who will hold onto His promises.
God desires to hear the praises of His people.
Zacharias and Elizabeth prayed for God’s will. He made them a part of His promise. They turned around and praised Him.
Mary and Joseph dedicated themselves to prayer. They were vital in God’s promise of salvation. They both praised God for His faithfulness.
Simeon and Anna lived their entire lives communicating with God about His promises. I wish I could have seen them when they praised Him for His faithfulness.
On this Christmas Sunday, we’re near the end of a Year of Prayer.
I still believe God’s promises are true.
So let’s praise and thank Him.
Why? Because Jesus is the answer to our prayers, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the reason or our praise.
He had an unnoticed birth.
We know little of His childhood.
He healed the sick, raised the dead, preached the truth, and eventually was sentenced to death.
But He overcame death and rose again.
He promised to send the Holy Spirit and return again.
His Spirit is alive and well. Now we each should look for Him to come back.
Communion.