A Thrill of Hope: The Greatest Story Ever Told

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas To you & Happy Birthday to Jesus!

This truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Tonight all around the world, billions of people are gathering together to worship King Jesus!

The birth of Jesus is the most significant event in all of human history.

He wasn’t just a good man, he was the God-man.

He is not some fictitious character like Santa Clause, Kevin McAllister, or Ralphie from a Christmas Story.

He really was born, he really lived, and he really died on a cross for the forgiveness of your sin and my sin so that we could be eternally reconciled to God and live forever with him.

His birth was so significant that our calendar is literally based around his birth.

All around the world, time is recorded as BC - Before Christ, and AD which is Anno Domini (Anno-Dom-in-Eye) - (in the year of our Lord… not after-death).

Whether you live in the United States of America, Brazil, China, Turkey, Iraq, Uganda, or Israel… your calendar says it’s the 2021 based on His birth!

There have been many significant people who have done amazing things throughout history, but only one Son of God.

Hundreds of years before his birth, through the ages, there were over 300 prophecies and holy writings that spoke of the coming messiah. These prophecies said where he would be born, how he would be born, what would happen when he was born and even the family line (who his great great great great great great Grandpa would be - King David). There were even prophecies about the season of when he would be born.

Hundreds of years before his birth, there were prophecies that said he would

+ Born of a Virgin

+ Born in Bethlehem

+ Live in Egypt for a season

+ That he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

+ He’s the only guy in history who predicted his death and resurrection who actually pulled it off.

He’s not just some good guy that lived a good life and did some good… NO!

He’s not a baby to be adored but a savior to be worshipped.

He’s the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of God and the Savior of the World.

JESUS!

Though the world may be closed, Heaven is open!

The world is bad and getting worse, Jesus is good and the more you know him the better life is.

Jesus is still LORD GOD, SAVIOR KING AND CHRIST.

He is the Image of the invisible God. Firstborn of all creation.

By him all things were created in heaven and on earth… the visible things you can see and the invisible you can’t see.

And tonight, we gather together with friends family and loved ones and BILLIONS around the world to celebrate The most historic event in all of history.

AMEN!!!

Morse Code

115yrs ago tonight… December 24th, 1906, on a cold night in a little town just outside of Boston Massachusetts, there was a sound produced that had never been heard before. It was a marvel in science and technology unlike the world had ever heard.

In those days, to communicate messages of long distances, you would have morse code…

On that Christmas Eve, the inventor sent out a Morse code message, alerting those listening and the ships out in the harbor and ocean that an important transmission was coming.

Beep-beep…beep…beep-beep-beep… beeeep....

On that night, 115yrs ago, for the first time ever, there would be a new sound coming through the radio… no longer would they be able to communicate w/ just Morse code, but for the first time ever, people would hear a voice come over the airwaves with the Radio.

With such a significant technological breakthrough, it was only fitting that the first words ever spoken over the radio was the reading of The Christmas Story.

One could only imagine the amazement as the radio operators who were used to hearing Morse Code, heard the words of the birth of the Savior of the World.

Tonight, I’m going to read us the Christmas story. And as I do, I want us to see this with fresh eyes, and hear this with fresh ears, because I believe the God that spoke the world into existence, is speaking to hearts and minds tonight with eternal implications.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY - LUKE 2

Luke 2:1-20

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed [a]wife, who was with child. 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 [b]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 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 [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT IN ALL OF HISTORY.

TIME WAS SPLIT IN TWO… BEFORE CHRIST (BC) AND from His Birth forward… it would be forever known as Anno Domini - the Year of our Lord.

For some of you in this room, you might have read these words hundreds of times. But there was a first time.

For some of you, this is the first time that you’ve ever heard these words…

For some of you, you know this story, but the message has gotten muddied through the years… what was once a crystal clear message has become more like Morse code.

I have 3 points tonight that hopefully will take a message that might sound like morse code and make it crystal clear.

POINT #1: The Timing of God is PERFECT

God’s Timing…

God is not short on his Time (Dahrius Daniels interjection)

Why the Census?

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-did-the-census-accomplish-at-the-time-of-jesus-birth.html

God’s Timing is Perfect

When God is doing something, He’s doing something.

When God is not doing something, He’s not doing something on purpose.

There are things going in your PRESENT, that will only make sense in your future.

Just because something doesn’t make sense NOW, doesn’t mean - it doesn’t make sense.

It may mean that you not gotten to the place, space or season in your life where GOD makes sense out of it!

I think we can all agree that there have been things in our past, that we didn’t understand THEN, that we didn’t value THEN, that make sense NOW.

As such, there are things NOW, that we may not understand at the present time, that will make sense in the FUTURE.

When we read the Christmas Story, Jesus our Immanuel - GOD WITH US - comes down, in 2021 we have the beautiful perspective of knowing the End from the Beginning. Because of our perspective, understanding the PURPOSE in how God came and why he came, we can celebrate that moment with our Christmas Pageants, and presents under the tree, and all the joy of the season.

But how many of you know, for Mary & Joseph, while it was a joyous night, it was a difficult season… and it didn’t make sense at the time, but looking back later on, as Luke records the account of the birth of Christ, NOW it all makes sense.

God’s Timing Is Perfect!

CENSUS:

Of all times a Census could have been taken, it happenned to be during a time when Mary was late in her pregnancy.

Because Caesar wanted was not getting the taxes he felt they should be paid… God shows up, and the first thing the government does is tax him! LOL.

4 Day walk to get from Nazareth down to Bethlehem

Ladies, how many of you who have had Children would want to walk from here to Mexico in your last month, right before your baby is due? Sorry God…

Micah 5:2 - old prophesy 700’s before Christ birth prophesied that he would be born in Bethlehem…

BACKSTORY ON MARY & JOSEPH:

Mary - teenage girl, probably 14 or 15yrs old. *small town, rural region. *small close-knit community. *close family…

Engaged to marry her high-school sweetheart Joseph.

Due to the nature of how marriages were back then, it conceivable (pun intended) that there families were friends.

A high-chance of probability that they attended friends and families parties, weddings, synagogue, worked in the fields together, etc.

Rural, farming town.

Joseph learned a trade and was a carpenter… which in those days was more so like a General Contractor who worked with stone, could build stuff, and was a Mr. Fixit. The guy you called when something is broken and needs to be fixed.

Joseph has to go to the city of Bethlehem to be registered.

Fun fact that might ruin your Nativity Scene… If Joseph had to go to Bethlehem to be registered, and Mary had to go to be registered… statistically speaking their familis would have gone to be registered as well. Now, we don’t hear about them, which sort of leads us to believe that they were most likely osteresized from their family during this time.

Quite possibly a

Maybe your sitting her today and you’ve felt osteracized from your family In this season. Good news, God promises to place the lonely into Families.

You have a spiritual family here at Authentic Church that loves you as you are, for who you are, no matter what your story is.

Some families don’t need to exchange gifts for Christmas. They need to exchange forgiveness and make peace. Life is short. Eternity is real. People and the relationships you have in this life matter most.

GOD’S HANDS: Mary & Joseph learned this principle quickly:

Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hands in everything.

POINT #2 - JESUS IS GOOD NEWS that BRINGS GREAT JOY

YOU HAVE PURPOSE:

I want to remind us all and inform others that your life has a purpose. You are not the result of some cosmic coincidence, you’re not the result of some relational accident… your parents might have been surprised at your arrival, but God was not. God by his grace and providence, strategically and intentionally orchestrated your existance on this place called earth… And just a reminder: This Place, is not YOUR HOME. This is a temporary dwelling place but God’s plan is that you would live forever with him and loved ones in Heaven.

Visoneering Series - January

ADVENT: Season of Expectation!

WAITING: Advent Candles lead up

The season of advent is such an incredible opportunity to lean into the experience of anticipating Christmas the moment of Jesus the light of the world came to earth to bring salvation to those in darkness waiting patiently is rarely easy and waiting during tough times is even harder if we’re being honest most of us have had seasons in our lives been waiting for like a long dark winter and maybe that’s where you are right now waiting and waiting it was seems like darkness for the light to shine and then waiting some more let me encourage you today that the darkness won’t last forever we think of Advil as the time of waiting but the word advent actually means coming so this season really isn’t about waiting it’s in true anticipation of the light that has come and will surely come so don’t lose sight of what you’re waiting for expect light to come into your life because the light of the world has come Jesus said in John 1246 I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness let me encourage you to keep your eyes on the light of the world this advent season even if all you see is just a glimmer because he’s with you even when you can’t see him and he is coming it will carry you through this time God bless you and merry Christmas

Those who leave everything in God’s hands eventually see God’s hands in everything.

POINT #3 - JESUS IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU

John 3:16 (ESV)

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

All You Need:

Sometimes you don’t realize HE IS ALL YOU NEED, until you find your place in a season where HE IS ALL YOU GOT.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

1 John 5:11 (ESV)

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Later on in Jesus life, he’s walking with his disciples and they are sharing with him all the things people are saying about him

+ Prophet + Teacher + Old Leader reincarnated…

JESUS: Who Do You Say? Matthew 16:15 (ESV)

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Who do you say Jesus is? How you answer that question has eternal ramifications.

Is he just a good figure for a holiday?

Is he just a prophet? or a good teachers?

Or would your response be He is the Messiah… the Savior of the World.

Friends, he came to save & change the world, and tonight, He’s extending that same invitation again to you… to save you and change not just THE WORLD… but YOUR WORLD.

COMMUNICATION WITH GOD

Maybe you feel like your relationship with God is like morse code… like that Christmas 1906 - maybe you feel like that ship at sea… Connecting w/ God feels like morse code. But then Jesus shows up. And now, you’re hearing something in a new way unlike you ever heard before.

Just like that night, God’s plan isn’t for the message to be something you hear one time a year, or through a box or a device… He wants to speak to you directly.

My in-laws are here… they were HIGHSCHOOL sweethearts. Married for 50yrs… I’m guessing in 50yrs, their relationship has progressed. They know each other more now than they did 50yrs ago.

That’s the way it is with God… He has a desire that you would know him more in 2022 than you did in 2021.

No matter what happens in the coming year, this world is not your home. God wants you to be with him for all of eternity.

SHEPHERDS INVITATION

Just like the Shepherds recieved the news of Jesus, they were given an invitation.

Tonight, God is giving you an invitation.

Are you ready to receive him?

CANDLE LIGHTING

John 12:46 (ESV)

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.