The Time Came For The Baby To Be Born

HOOK

Bad news is “time flies”— but the good news is “you’re the pilot”

I talked to you last Sunday about a malfunctioned compass— just a few degrees off could be fatal [BOAC Flight 251 May 25, 1952— what could’ve been an easy flight to Ghana ended up in the Sahara desert]— SHOW IMAGE OF COMPASS

Today I’ll talk to you about time— in aviation both are critically important— and so with our lives— when all else fails, you can land a plane with just a map, a compass and a time piece!

An airline pilot flying over the southeastern U.S. called the local tower and said, “We are passing over at 35,000--give us a time check.”— The tower said, “What airline are you?”— “What difference does it make? I just want the time.” replied the pilot— The tower responded, “Oh, it makes a lot of difference— If you are TransWorld Airline or Pan Am, it is 1600— If you are United or Delta, it is 4 o’clock! — communicating time properly is crucial!

God’s timing is always perfect! Never was God early, neither was He late!—

Nothing demonstrates the importance of precise timing any more than does the birth of Jesus Christ— Had Christ’s coming been either earlier or later, Old Testament prophecies would not have been accurately fulfilled

Writing to the Galatians in one of his earliest letters, Paul alluded to the miracle behind the miracle, saying..

Galatians 4:4 (NIV)

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

We all know that our Savior Jesus Christ was born in the city of David [Bethlehem]— but some are not aware that Mary and Joseph were living in the city of Nazareth— around 70 miles north of Bethlehem

700 years before the birth of the Messiah— Prophet Isaiah prophesied how our Savior will be born— while prophet Micah prophesied where

Micah very specifically said that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem— any mother recognizes that fact that babies come on their own time table— and it isn’t always easy to predict the timing of their arrival

What were the factors that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem when they were living a considerable distance away?

There were hundreds of variables, and if any one of them had failed— Jesus would have been born in Nazareth, far away from the place prophesied by Micah

The scenario began when Julius Caesar was assassinated— and his grand nephew Augustus became Caesar

Others were more powerful, but the leadership in Rome chose Augustus because he was young, weak, and they thought could be dominated— but young Augustus teamed up with Marc Antony and purged the senate

Turning the tables on the “Caesar makers” he quickly became powerful and strong—

As Augustus walked around Rome, everywhere he looked he saw monuments to his predecessor, Julius, and it disturbed him— “I need to carve out my name in the granite of Italy,” he reasoned— and thus the beautification program was launched

Building marble monuments costs money, and political advisors know but one way to do that: tax the people— and in the words of Dr. Luke, “It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed…”

Are you beginning to get the picture?— An order was given— A centurion carried it to the harbor— Passage on a ship had to be booked, and in those days the ship was borne across the Mediterranean by the wind that filled the sails

Had strong winds blown, the messenger would have arrived sooner and Mary and Joseph would have been forced to return to the birthplace of Joseph’s father too early for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem

Had the ship taken longer or the order to tax the empire gone out later, it would have all affected the timing of the birth of Christ.

The events moving towards the birth of Christ were like the gears of a fine old Swiss watch–some were large, others small, but each one was connected to another— and they all had to mesh perfectly for the hands of God’s clock to point to Bethlehem at the hour of Christ’s birth— SHOW IMAGE OF CLOCK

BOOK | LUKE 2:1-7

Luke 2:1–7 (NIV)

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

LOOK

God uses government authorities to carry out His plans

Pledge, when kept can translate prophecy to reality

Joseph & Mary gave up their comfort to obey God’s will

Jesus came in humility

The timing of God is always perfect

Before our Savior was born— God was quiet for 400 years— that was a very long wait!

Few more days and the year is over— have you been praying for something this year that has not yet happened?

TOOK

TRUST GOD’S TIMING

Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NIV)

6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.

If your mind feels worn out all the time, you're not trusting God

He uses times of waiting to stretch our faith in Him and to bring about change and growth in our lives

By seeing God's faithfulness over and over, we let go of trusting ourselves, and gradually we place our trust in Him

Question: How do you feel when things are happening not according to your schedule? If you’re counting the Lord’s faithfulness to you, how could you not trust His timing concerning everything?

IT IS NOT FOR ME TO KNOW THE TIMES OR DATES

Acts 1:7 (NIV)

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

God gives us hopes and dreams for certain things to happen in our lives, but He doesn't always allow us to see the exact timing of His plan

The tendency to want to know about everything that's going on can be detrimental to your Christian walk

Trusting God often requires not knowing how God is going to accomplish what needs to be done and not knowing when He will do it.

Question: We are living in a generation when everything is pre-scheduled. How do you respond to impromptu events in your life?

MY TIME IS IN GOD’S HANDS

Psalm 31:15 (NIV)

15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.

God wants us to live by discernment—revelation knowledge, not head knowledge

It's difficult to exercise discernment if you're always trying to figure everything out.

Question: Do you always try to figure everything out? Who holds your time, you or God?

EXACT MOMENT IS DETERMINED BY GOD

Habakkuk 2:3 (NCV)

3 It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be delayed.

Greek word: Kairos— right time! — Chronos— Time! — Chronos is measured and counted- while kairos is lived and experienced!

We spend a lot of time in our lives waiting because change is a process— Many people want change, but they don't want to go through the waiting process

But the truth is, waiting is a given—we are going to wait— The question is, are we going to wait the wrong or right way?

If we wait the wrong way, we'll be miserable— but if we decide to wait God's way, we can become patient and enjoy the wait.

God causes things to happen at exactly the right time!— Your job is not to figure out when, but to make up your mind that you won't give up until you cross the finish line and are living in the radical, outrageous blessings of God!

Question: How’s your patience? What do you do while waiting upon the Lord?

We have to admit that it is super difficult to know if we are operating on God’s timing— some times we had to learn being in synch with God the hard and costly way

When unsure what do we do?— we ask for signs!— 3 tips from the Bible

God will give us clarity on hot to apply God’s Word in our current situation— Philippians 4:9

Necessary circumstances that needs to happen will happen — Romans 8:28

God will let you experience biblical emotions [Joy, Peace, Contentment]— Philippians 4:4,7 11-13

Let me close with this true story in 1994

In 1994 two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on Biblical principles) in the public schools.

They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage.

It was nearing the holiday season for the orphans to hear for the first time the traditional Christmas story— They told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where Jesus was born and placed in the manger

Throughout the story, the children, according to one of the Americans, “sat in amazement as they listened— Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.”

As a follow-up activity to the story, each child was given three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger— Each child was also given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins which the children tore into strips the paper and carefully laid them in the manger for straw

Small squares of flannel from a thrown away nightgown were used for the baby’s blanket— From pieces of tan felt a doll-like baby was made.

As they made their way around the room to observe the children this is what one of the Americans noted, “All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat— He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project.

As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see, not one but two babies in the manger— Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.

The observer goes on to note that Misha very accurately recalled the story that had been told until he came to the part where Mary put Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay— I told him I have no momma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay.

Then Jesus told me I could stay with him— But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did.

But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift— I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.

So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?” And Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.

So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him – for always.”

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.

The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon or abuse him, someone who would stay with him – FOR ALWAYS!”

How many children will not have a place to stay at this Christmas?

How many children will not be able to spend TIME with their parents [OFW] this Christmas?

As ambassadors of our Lord Jesus, let us be there for these children this Christmas— donate to Agape gives whatever is cheerful in your heart