Christmas Baby Jesus

Christmas Baby Jesus

Valley Grove words 1629

December 1, 2017

Philippians 2:9-11

In the movie Talledega Nights the race car driver Ricky Bobby asks the blessing over a family meal. He said, “Dear Lord baby Jesus thank you for this bountiful meal from Dominos, KFC, and Taco Bell. The family objected to him praying to Tiny Baby Jesus and told him that Jesus was a man and he had a beard. Ricky Bobby said it was his right to ask the blessing however he wanted to and that the Christmas baby Jesus was the one he liked best. Then the family all chipped in as to how they pictured Jesus. Ricky Bobby’s sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, said they pictured him as a ninja fighting evil, another guest pictured him in a tuxedo tee shirt because he liked to party, Ricky Bobby pictured him as an 8 lb. 6 oz. baby in a manger because he liked the Christmas baby best. As the family squabble over how they thought Jesus looked, I remembered a scripture in Luke 2:52 that “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and men.” Jesus did not stay a tiny baby for long in the manger. He grew in four different specific ways in order to be prepared when the time came for his ministry on earth. We, too, often picture him in a certain way. Scripture reveals many things about Jesus as he grew up leading to his ministry. Sometimes we discover things about him whereas we had previously limited him. One man came to him for healing and said, “Lord, I know you can do it if you will.” One translation says that Jesus answered and said, “Of course I will.” He let the man know that he was not only able but that he was willing. There were many such incidents that showed his willingness to do great things for people. Jesus took the limits off when he said, “According to your faith be it unto you.” This also applies to us, but so often we have a difficult time grasping it because we say, “I know he can do it, but I don’t know if he will do it for me.” Think of this translation, “Of course He will.”

Another thing to remember in scripture is “God has given him a name that is above every name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus has the Name and the power and authority. God has given him the Name above every name but we find in scripture that he didn’t keep it all to himself. He passed it on to his disciples to use His Name when requesting something. Praying in the Name of Jesus is powerful because when we pray in His Name we pray with his authority. John 16:23-24 says “In that day you will no longer ask me anything but truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be full.

Story: A boy in a movie theater stopped breathing and people panicked and the boy’s father frantically said, “David breath! David breath!” A woman’s husband boldly walked over to the boy and spoke with authority and said, “In the Name of Jesus, David breath.” In a moment David began to breath.

The believing prayer brought results. David was OK because of faith in the Name of Jesus.

Story: One time Paul Harvey told about a three year old boy I a grocery store with his mother. She said sternly, “No chocolate chip cookies so don’t even ask. In the store she put him in the little child’s seat in the art and wheeled down the aisles. He was quiet for a while until he got to the cookie aisle, stood up and said, “Mom can I have the chocolate chip cookies?” With a strong voice she said, “I told you not to even ask! No! Sit down and be quiet. I said NO!”

Finally arriving at the checkout lane the little boy knew he had to do something. It was his last chance. He stood up and shouted as loud as he could, “In the Name of Jesus may I have some chocolate chip cookies?”

Everyone around him laughed and applauded that little boy. Because of the generosity of the other shoppers the little boy and his Mother left the store with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies. He was happy. There is authority attached to using the Name of Jesus.

What does it mean to have the authority of Jesus? Too often we pray very weak prayers interspersed with ifs and maybes. Jesus comes to our assistance when we all on His Name. Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt them at all and they will lay hands on the sick people and they will get well. ”Jesus has given us authority to us His name. Mark 3:15 “and to heal the sick and to cast out demons.” Matthew 10:1, “And he called his 12 disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction.”