Born in a Manger.. Raised on a Cross

Introduction

A little boy knelt at his bed and said his bedtrime prayers. “Lord, please bless mom, dad, and auntie, and uncle. Lord, give us a good day today. And please give me a bicycle for CHRISTMAAAAAS! The boy’s mother heard him yelling and wondered at his behavior. She walked into the room and said, “Son, son, you don’t have to scream. God can hear you.” The boy looked up with big eyes and said, “Mama, I know God can hear me, but Grandma can’t hear very well and she’s got the money for the bike.”

Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Born in a manger: Is there place if your life? - Some may be busy doing good things and they have no time to worship and love Him.

1. CROWDED OUT OF THE HEART

2. CROWDED OUT OF THE HOME

3. CROWDED OUT OF THE HEAD

4. CROWDED OUT OF THE HABITS

It’s hard to imagine the scene that night

Luke 2:8-14 “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””

Raised on a Cross

There is something comforting about the Christ in the Manger. But can we really grasp the meaning of the manger apart from the cross?

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God So Loved.

Parisees practiced strict legalism: They saw God as a Lawgiver and not as Love

What is God Like?

Egyptian - God is immortality.

Hebrew - He is righteous law.

Hindu - He is truth and bliss.

Buddhist - for of life in the universe.

Ancient Greek - He is wisdom

Mulsim - God is authority

Humanist - God is the power of the human potential

Scientist - He is natural law.

In Christianity, God is Love (1 John 4:16).

Love that is concrete action Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God so Love the World.

God loves everyone in the world

We all have a common problem, sin, and a common solution, Jesus Christ.

God so Loved the World that He Gave His Only Son.

Jesus is the expression of hte love of God.

Jesus is the essence of God. John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.””

The divinity of Jesus - He is the Son of God, who is coexistent, eternal and equal with the Father.

Jesus is God’s gift to us.

Grace - to give freely.

Whoever Believes in Him.

Whoever -

John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

Believes.

What will not happen - you will not perish.

What will happen - you will have live everlasting!

Conclusion

One year a man’s wife asked him to wrap some boxed to use for decoration. His wife gave him several empty boxes and had them wrapped to use as a decoration at their front door. Those boxes sat in from of the house, perfectly wraped, topped with bows, and empty… The man never worried about a theif coming and stealing any of those empty wrapped boxes. There wasn’t anything in there!

See, a lot of people are well wrapped but there’s nothing going on in the inside. Unfortunately today, many people don’t want to be truly blessed; they just want to be well wrapped. True, authentic Christian living starts on the inside and the evidence of that life works its way out.