How To Celebrate The Season

Topic: How to celebrate His birth

Text: John 1: 1-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Introduction:

This is the period of the year tagged “Christmas”. It is a time mankind all over the world remembers and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. To some it is a time of travelling, vacation, family reunion, enjoyment, exchange of gifts, etc. Often time the commerce and funs associated with the season gets people carried away to the extent of forgeting the real essence of why Jesus Christ the Beloved Son of God came to earth and had to be born by a virgin.

In this message we shall be seeing how God the Father expects us to perceive and celebrate His birth.

1. Promise of His birth

God the Father used both prophet Isaiah and Micah to prophesize the birth of His dear Son Jesus Christ.

a. By Isaiah – Isa 7: 14, 9: 6-7,

Isaiah 7: 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel

Isaiah 9: 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

b. By Micah – Mic 5:2

Micah 5: 2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. "

c. By the angel to Mary – Lk 1: 31, 35

God the Father also used the angels to prophesize his birth

Luke1: 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

d. By the angels to Joseph, Math 1: 20-21

Mathew 1: 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

e. By the angels to the shepherds – Lk 2: 10-12

Luke2: 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Not only did God use the prophets and the angels to prophesize His birth, but He also gave Him names before His birth.