Christ Is Born, God With Us Series

Christ is Born,

God with Us

Christ is born

Christ’s birth announced

Christ visited

Dillingham Bible Fellowship, Christmas Sermon 2002

December 22, 2002

No matter how many times I read it or hear it, the story of God’s hand in and around the birth of HIS only begotten son, touches my heart deeply.

The fact that a portion of God’s triune nature Jesus Christ would put off HIS greatness and majesty to come down and be constrained and remain in a human body for about 33 years is amazing to me.

To think that the Creator, put off HIS greatness to come down and walk with HIS creation is a very humbling thought to me.

God himself, who enjoyed HIS commune with Adam and Eve, came down to walk with us sin stained vessels designed to bring HIM praise, honor, and glory.

I am sometimes saddened by the words spin on this glorious time. To stores and marketers it is the most productive time of year.

To parents it is the most hectic time of year, battling other parents for the toy most desired by their off spring.

To children it is the most grand time of putting in requests then sitting under the tree and seeing if your every wish was realized.

Of course, this also necessarily makes it the very worst times of years for people disappointed in their ability to provide for themselves and their children.

It is the time when more people attempt or succeed in committing suicide. There are numerous alcohol related crimes so that people do not have to feel bad about themselves or the situations.

On a day that should be remembered as the day that “HOPE” was born to man in the form of a child in Bethlehem, look around you and see what “man” has made it to be.

Go back with me today, and look at this great mystery, how God came down to man to bring not only “HOPE” for this world but eternal “HOPE” for all who would call upon the glorious and saving name of “Jesus Christ”.

Christ is born

Luke 2:1-7 (KJV)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)…Why would this seem important to anyone???

So someone went somewhere to pay taxes that were required, it’ s a coincident that this census was called and at the time that Mary was to give birth.

Imagine a seventy mile trip (Nazareth to Bethlehem) by donkey with a full term pregnant wife. Those fathers among us know that we would not do that just for coincidence sake.

In the fullness of time, God decreed that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 (KJV)

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Isaiah 9:1-7 (KJV)

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

[2] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

[3] Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.