Please Don’t Come For Christmas Part 1 Series

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Please Don’t Come For Christmas – Part 1

4 reasons why Jesus shouldn’t have come

Celebration Church - November 29, 2009

Matt 2:1-8 (NIV) “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied … Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

Reason #1 - Why Jesus shouldn’t come – He wasn’t wanted by the ruling authorities

Herod felt threatened by Christ because:

Magi called Jesus King

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

Magi came to worship Jesus, not him

“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed…”

Others were disturbed

disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him… where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied…”

Matt 2:16 (NIV) “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under…”

Fear causes us to feel threatened, faith causes us to be at peace

Luke 2:10-12, 14 (NIV) “…the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

HOW TO WELCOME CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS

Release your fears

"Do not be afraid…”

I John 4:18-19 (NIV) “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.”

See Christ as good news

“I bring you good news of great joy… today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…”

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Rest in God’s peace now

“…and on earth peace to men…”

Eph 2:17-18 (NIV) “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

TEXT

Please Don’t Come For Christmas – Part 1

4 reasons why Jesus shouldn’t have come

Celebration Church - November 29, 2009

Today we start a brand new Christmas series and I’m pretty excited about it. Now some of you have already seen the title and have said, “what?” In puzzlement you’re wondering why we would tell people not to come for Christmas.

Well the title is little more than shock value, we’re not telling people not to come here for Christmas, the message of don’t come was clearly stated to Jesus when he came to the earth and we’re going to look at four main events that show that He really wasn’t wanted in our world.

Now, let me say up front, I’m so glad He came and I hope everyone in this community will come here for Christmas, but with every church on every corner saying please here for Christmas, I wonder what the psychological effect will be when they hear, “please don’t come for Christmas.”

People often go after what they’re told they can’t have. Anyhow that’s not our message, just how it might be interpreted.

So let’s get into this today. We’re going to look at the ruling authority in the place where Jesus was born and his take on Jesus’ coming his name was Herod.

Matt 2:1-8 (NIV) “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied … Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."