The Coming of Jesus' Birth - CHRISTMAS (*)

Lead Off Question

Have you ever been promised something by someone, and it took a really long time for that promise to be fulfilled?

Illustration

remember back when I was in 1st grade, my brother and I both wanted dirt bikes. I can remember it clear as day, I wanted a blue dirt bike, with yellow and white shocks, a black seat and yellow tires! Hideous now, but man when I was in 1st grade, I remember thinking, I will never need a car, I will just have my dirt bike! Anyways, my brother and I both really wanted dirt bikes, so my dad made a promise to us. For every A that we got in school we would get another part to our dirt bike. I remember studying and working harder than I ever had those first six weeks of that semester. I remember being so excited at night thinking about my new dirt bike, and what my friends would like, and I would probably get a girlfriend because of it, and I could go on about my excitement for this gift. And then the day finally came, I got my first grade report back for the six weeks, I had 5 A’s and 1 B. I was stoked! 5 A’s, that was going to be 5 parts for my bike! I remember thinking, okay, an engine, a shock, a tire, another tire, and a seat. Wow, I thought, I am already almost on my way to having a fully built dirt bike in just a few weeks work. THIS IS EASY! I remember, 6:30 hit the clock and you could almost time it to the second that Dad would walk in every day, and I was pumped to show him how well I had done. I had the grade report in my hand as soon as he walked in that door, and no sooner than my mom could welcome him home I was shoving the grade report in his hand. I remember saying, “Dad, look at all these A’s, when can we go shopping for my dirt bike parts.” My Dad looked at it for a few seconds and then said, well we don’t have to go yet son, you don’t even have a tire yet. I said, “WHAT? I have 5 A’s; what do you mean I don’t even have a tire yet?” And without missing a beat my Dad said, “Well as far as I can see it, you have 5 spokes on one of your tires so far…”

I sat there thinking, 5 measly spokes. I had done all of that work for 5 spokes. I thought my reward was going to be so much more and all he gave me was 5 spokes. So, I gave up, I stopped working hard in school because to me, the reward wasn’t going to come as fast as I wanted it to, or in the way I had expected it to, so I quit.

Transition

Students, some of you have asked of things from God. And it isn’t that God has said no, he has just said wait. There are things that God wants you to change about your life, your relationships, your perspectives, your attitudes. There are things that need changing before God can allow you to have what you want because God knows that in your current state you cannot handle or are not yet ready for what he has prepared for you.

Bottom Line

He has great things for you.

___________________________

Context

Tonight, we are going to be taking a look in three different areas in the Bible where you see the promise and the prophecy of the birth of Jesus. You see, multiple times throughout the Old Testament Jesus’s birth, his ministry, and even his death were  mentioned. This is a point at how the Bible continually proves itself as truth and how God is faithful to keep the promises that he has made to his people.

Bible Verse

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

* Our God is a God who makes plans.

Breakdown

The book of Isaiah was written somewhere between the years 740-680 BC. Which, when you look at that, means that about 700 years before the birth of Jesus the prophet Isaiah had spoken of how he was going to come. To put this into perspective for you, 700 years ago from today was December 9, 1320. 1320!! Which also means for us, the book of Isaiah is approximately 2,700 years old. Our God is a God who makes plans, and even better than that, he follows through!

Bottom Line

He has great things for you.

___________________________

Bible Verse

Genesis 3:15 NIV

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

* Our God is a God who seeks the best for us.

Breakdown

You see not only does our God makes plans, but his plans are those which have our best interest in mind. He cares for you, he loves you, and he wants what is best for you, unfortunately, too often we choose to separate ourselves from God.

Bottom Line

He has great things for you.

___________________________

Bible Verse

Luke 2:1–20 NIV

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. 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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

* Our God is a God who fulfills His promises.

Breakdown

You see not only does our God makes plans, and not only does he have our best interest in mind, BUT HE ACTUALLY FOLLOWS THROUGH ON HIS PROMISES!!

Bottom Line

He has great things for you.