Christmas - A Story Glazed Over

c. The prophets say that He is to be born in Bethlehem.

d. Herod tells the wise men to go to Bethlehem, then come back to tell him where he is so that he can worship him.

e. We know this was not his true ambition

i. Afraid of this new king

ii. Afraid of what he would lose

iii. So much so, that he has the 2 year olds slaughtered

f. HOW many are afraid of coming to Christ because of the change he will do in their life?

g. SOME Respond like Herod, We don’t want Jesus to make any difference in our lives.

4. HEROD’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

a. Why didn’t they go with the wise men? PRIDE

b. Admitting the wise men knew more than they did.

c. AS PROUD PEOPLE having so much. Its hard to admit we need God for anything. WE let our pride and possessions get in our way of coming to the Savior.

d. PRIDE COMES BEFORE THE FALL. As long as we stand in our pride, and think we can handle life, we will never know the miracle of Christmas. Its only when we come, willing to be filled with God’s love, that we find out what Christmas is all about.

5. WISE MEN – Traveled hundreds of miles. No angel, but Stars. Astronomers, not astrologers. They studied the stars. Under the influence of Daniels teachings hundreds of years prior. When they saw the bright star, they began searching for Christ.

a. They found Mary and Joseph and Jesus.

b. They worshiped Him and gave gifts of gold, frankinsense and myrrh

c. WHEN WE WEIGH the evidence, listen to what God has said, and see who he revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Our response should be as the Wise men.

Can you see what God has done? Can you weigh the evidence and realize how much God loves you? How much of his love is communicated by the birth of a baby in Bethlehem?

Behold a Savior is born, HE is Christ, The Lord.

Our response should be that of the Wise man. Accepting Him, Seeking Him, Finding Him.

Our response should be that of the Shepherd. Making haste. Running to Christ.

If you have not asked Jesus into your heart. If you have not asked Christ to forgive you and come into your heart. Do it tonight. On this eve of Christmas. That you might be born again as we celebrate HIS birth and the coming of the Savior to the world.

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My brother John writes this note to his peers this Christmas, I thought I should share it here as well:

“It was over 2000 years ago that God sent a gift of love and hope to a lost and dying world. This gift that many ignore was His one and only son. He sent His son with arms open wide for all to enter His eternal glory. Just as the Shepherds watched their flocks that night ... the glory of the Lord shined down and around them, and they were filled with fear. 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 clothes and lying in a manager.” And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host praising and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)