His Birthday, My Birthday Series

“His Birthday, My Birthday”

3rd In Series: “Why Christmas Is Not Optional”

Rev. Todd G. Leupold, Perth Bible Church, 12/24/2009 PM

INTRODUCTION:

Frederick Leboyer declared: “Birth may be a matter of a moment, but it is a unique one.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: “Youth comes but once in a lifetime.”

William Wordsworth rejoiced: “

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;

The soul that rises with us, our life's star,

Hath had elsewhere its setting,

And cometh from afar;

Not in entire forgetfulness,

And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come

From God, who is our home.

CELEBRATE BIRTH TOGETHER:

1.) SPECIAL DAYS

Celebrating life. Not just any life, but a very special and unique life!

Lots of family and friends celebrating together.

Gifts and song to demonstrate personal value, love and appreciation.

Lots of lights, whether from candles or bulbs.

2.) PURPOSE

To mark the passing of another year. An earlier birth we are grateful for. A look ahead for future accomplishments and blessings. An explanation and plan for it all.

The birth of male and female:

Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth." So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth."

We were all created from the beginning to live on this earth in such a way as to accurately reflect the character and glory of God!

Celebrating our physical birthdays should be an annual reflection on this privilege and evaluation of how well we are living out our life's purpose.

Jesus was born to restore our ability to fulfill this purpose; an ability that had been lost since Adam & Eve chose to sin in the Garden.

John 3:16-21 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. "This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."

John 18:37 "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice."

3.) EXPECTATION

Parents, remember the building expectation at the birth of your children? The thoughts and dreams that consumed your mind? The fears, worries and hopes?

Does a child's birthday ever pass without a parent remembering in particular those final hours, minutes and finally the moment of birth?

Will it be a boy or girl? Healthy? Who will the child resemble and in what ways? What kind of personality will one day shine through? What purpose will the child's life fulfill? How will he or she be most remembered?

For young Mary, it was wonder and praise! Luke 1:46-55.

For Jesus' specially called cousin, still in the womb, it was a celebration tumble. Luke 1:41

4.) ANNOUNCEMENT

Finally, the babe is born and we are so full of joy, wonder and love beyond our ability to contain that we must announce to any and all alike; sometimes whether they want to hear it or not!

“This is the best, cutest, most special, loveable baby EVER!” Phone calls, cards, plastic storks, balloons, email, FaceBook, Twitter, you name it!

Jesus' impending birth was first announced by the great angel, Gabriel to Mary in private. Luke 1:26-38.

At the moment of His birth, God the Father really pulled out all of the 'stops.' A new, unique and unmistakeable star in the sky, and an entire choir of angels surrounded by the glow of the LORD's glory in the night sky! Luke 2:8-14