"Intruder Or Welcomed Friend?"

Southern Hills Baptist Church

December 8th 2002

Intruder or Welcomed Friend?

Luke 2:6-7

By Pastor Mark Hensley

6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

Introduction: It used to be socially acceptable to just "drop by" someone’s house for a visit. That’s becoming more and more difficult. In Faith Popcorn’s Dictionary of the Future, she offers two new terms that illustrate this. One is the word neo-fortress, which describes an architectural style many new homeowners are choosing.

A neo-fortress is a large imposing structure that says "stay away" to would-be "drop in" guests. Neo-fortresses are intimating, castle-like houses that say to people "you are not welcome here." The second, related term is privatopia. A privatopia is a gated, secured, subdivision of neo-fortresses. Apparently, email and cell phones have made us so accessible that in our loss of privacy, we think we need such structures.

"I hope I’m not intruding." How many times have we heard or said these words? But there are moments in life when a Christian is called to intrude and to keep intruding. Why? Because we have an intrusive God. Jesus was the biggest intruder in all of history. His birth, the Word made flesh, was The Great Intrusion-of eternal into the temporal, the divine into the human, the spiritual into the material.

The entire Bible, Old and New Testaments, testifies to the power of an intrusive God to break into our busy and crowded existence with the news of God’s amazing grace and love. Dr. Frank Lewis First Baptist Nashville Tennessee.

Transition:Today as we focus on the events in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago we will be challenged to make room always for The Lord Jesus Christ.

6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

God’s interruptions are for a reason

God arrives in a particular place

We must make room for God’s arrival.

I. God’s Interruptions are for a reason “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born”

For “The time” is the Greek word for "filled to overflowing". It was time for Mary to have the baby. Jesus Christ was God’s only begotten son. God had provided seed in Mary’s womb to fertilize her egg. This was the first and only time that God ever did (or will do) this. Therefore, Jesus Christ was His "only begotten son". Mary, however, had other children and Jesus Christ was her "firstborn" son.

His arrival had been prophesized for centuries:

“Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:13-14

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrata, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born”

The one promised had arrived!

What God promises he fulfills…always!

God steps in to humanity just as planned! God’s interruptions are for a reason! The anticipation of our Lord’s birth reaches it’s natural and overwhelming advent….He has come at last!

To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year. E. B. White

God’s interruptions are for a reason! We must refuse to allow Christmas to be just the giving and receiving of Gifts…it’s much more than that!

It’s much more than family gatherings and loved ones following the winding ribbon of our nation’s highways to the homes of their childhood! It’s more than that!

The interruption of God is in fact an invitation to a new life a new paradigm a new understanding of His great love! It’s an interruption with a divine purpose! God steps into our lives in many unique ways! He desires to stretch our faith to compel us to a new level of devotion and he will do what ever it takes to bring us face to face with who he is…and who we can become by following him! An irritable boss can teach us more than we sometimes want to know!