12.24.2008 Christmas Eve
Luke 2:10-15
Matthew 2:11b
Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 23:1 says it all...The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need
Good News we all can have
Peace, Hope, Joy and Love
By the will of God, His Good Will to all mankind.
Driving around the countryside, we were taken by all the Christmas lights we could see. As a matter of fact, when we left our home, Santa was coming up the road on the top of a big Red Firetruck. We pulled over to the side and put our windows down to wave and shout out. In that moment a big gust of wind took off Santa’s Hat, Hair and Beard and blew it to the back of the hook and ladder. It was such a sight. I had to laugh. The things we will do to make the holiday festive.
As we went on our way, we took note of the homes decorated, the beautiful lights and decorations as well as the nativities or crèches displayed on the front lawns of the homes.
We trekked down to brother Larry’s home and saw something not seen in most, it was the silhouette version of the nativity, shown on your bulletin cover. What I liked about it was that it shows the star, Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, a few animals, and a shepherd. It is simple and peaceful and honestly, it followed what scripture says about that event. As the wisemen actually came a few years later to their home, not the stable.
But that is not what is important here, what is important is the truth and meaning of what was displayed.
I have to wonder, as folks put their crèches out on display, do they really know what they are doing? Do they really take in the reality of what the scene is all about? Do they realize the most important piece in the whole scene is probably the smallest as well?
Its interesting, along side of most of these nativities, we find a few feet away, Frosty the snowman, Santa Claus in the chimney, Rudolf the red nosed reindeer, and SpongeBob Square pants.
Here you have it...Truth and fiction, Reality and Fantasy. No wonder so many folks are confused.
On the radio, we listen to the Christmas Songs. How many times do we hear the words and the tune, and only the tune rings in our minds. We need to not only hear the joyous tune, but we need to LISTEN to the WORDS! There is TRUTH in the WORD. As many of the songs were taken from the WORD.
Therefore, it is important to let everyone know...the truth.
Luke 2:10,11, 13-15 (King James Version)
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Wisemen brought gifts to the Savior
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
9 ...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
As the wisemen brought gifts to the Savior...
So was it that the Savior brought a gift from God to this world
As savior...redeemer.
Throughout the bible – waiting and seeking the savior who would get us right with God
Throughout the old testament, the books of the bible that the Jews refer to as the Torah and the Tanak, we see that God required the blood of a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. For centuries, and even millenniums, the nation of Israel sacrificed the blood of the lamb upon the alter for the forgiveness of sins, in order to get themselves right before God.
But they had to do it continually. Yet prophesy spoke of the one who was to come that would be the once and for all final sacrifice.
We celebrate prophesy fulfilled in our celebration of Christmas. It is the day that the Messisah, Y’shua had come. It was the day that God’s promises were fulfilled.
This IS GOOD, GREAT, EXCELLENT NEWS!
HOPE
Jesus, The Christ, The Messiah, brings hope to a dying world.
His death on the cross would be for the sins of the world
His resurrection from the dead to show us the hope that this life is not the only thing for our existence.
PEACE
"Peace on earth, Goodwill towards men" Angels to the shepherds
Peace, set at rest the war between good and evil
The battle between right and wrong
The nation of Israel, Jews, looking for peace against their oppressors.
Real oppression is Satan and his power and stronghold of sin in our lives
It began from the very beginning of time when he deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden to do that which God told them not to do.
This deception brought sin into the world.
God had created what was perfect, and sin broke it down. Angels with flaming swords were put at the gate of the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were banished from that place were God walked and talked and had a personal relationship with them. It brought forth a disturbance that needed to be put at rest. There needed to be peace.
GOODWILL
Peace on earth...goodwill toward men.
Good will? God’s will for peace.
God’s desire was to give us another chance, for peace with Him.
With our sinful nature, he knew we could not do it on our own. Without a way for peace, we could not please him.
Since the deception in the Garden, man has been separated by sin. God’s good will was to send Jesus to bring peace to the separation by filling the gap.
This gap could only be filled by a sacrifice in blood. Jesus lived for that moment, to fill the gap himself.
JOY
The joy of the LORD is my strength
Nehemiah 8:10 "...for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
When we think of this savior who brings us hope and peace with our creator. This is true joy. Joy comes from knowing and living in and through our Savior Jesus Christ.
LOVE
Our hope, our peace, our joy, all come from the Love of our creator.
His love for us is so great.
He has our best interest in mind.
His desire is that his creation would love and live with Him forever.
Just as he created it in the beginning.
God walked the garden with Adam and Eve, enjoying the obedience and fellowship of his creation.
As a parent longing for the return of a wayward child. God’s desire is for us to realize our sinful nature sets us apart for Him.
His plan was for this child, whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day, to show us the way back to Him.
Do you believe it?
If you do, you too can have...
Hope, Love, Joy and Peace this Christmas time.
It all comes through Jesus, God’s only begotten son.
And when you have Jesus, you have everything you need.
He will fulfill all we desire
The message of Christmas is a message of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
How can we not find what we’ve been looking for? And, how can we keep quiet about it? Once you have the Son, you have everything.
* * * * *
Whoever Takes the Son
Many years ago, there was a very wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting with his son. They had priceless works by Picasso and Van Gogh adorning the walls of their family estate.
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His son had died.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season had vanished with the death of his son.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands who said, "I was a friend of your son. I was was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you."
The soldier mentioned that he was an artist and then gave the old man the package. The paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man hung the portrait over the fireplace, pushing aside millions of dollars worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.
The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces of art for which museums around the world clamored.
The following spring, the old man died. The art world waited with anticipation for the upcoming auction. According to the will of the old man, all the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he had received the greatest gift.
The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled that day.
The auction began with a painting that was not on anyone’s museum list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" No one spoke. Finally someone said, "Who cares about that painting. It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s move on to the good stuff."
The auctioneer responded, "No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a neighbor of the old man offered $10 dollars. "That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it."
The auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice...gone." The gavel fell.
Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can bid on the real treasures!"
The auctioneer looked at the room filled with people and announced that the auction was over. Everyone was stunned. Someone spoke up and said, "What do you mean, it’s over? We didn’t come here for a painting of someone’s son. There are millions of dollars worth of art here! What’s going on?"
The auctioneer replied, "It’s very simple. According to the will of the Father, whoever takes the son...gets it all."
* * * * *
Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? The message is the same this Christmas. Because of the Father’s love...whoever takes the Son gets it all.
Do you need Peace, hope, joy and love in your life. God wants you to have it. It is his GOOD WILL toward you. And all you need do, is accept and believe in His Son, His only Begotten Son. If you believe and trust and commit your life to Him, confessing your sins to him and taking on the understanding of his sacrifice on the cross for your sin. If you believe that he came and died on the cross and rose again, signifying the hope of eternity. If you TAKE THE SON, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THESE THINGS.
Will you take Him this Christmas?
We celebrate birthdays for our loved ones each year.
It is a day to give gifts. And Celebrate Life.
This Christmas time, You’re all invited to a birthday party. It’s the birthday of Jesus.
It’s His party, and He wants to give YOU a present. He wants to give YOU the gift of Himself.
Will you take Him?
Take Him Now as your Lord and Savior.
Give him the gift of your Heart and Life this Christmas.
Let’s pray
