Respond to the Presence
Crave More Presence
Luke 2:8-20
12/20/09
The Gentlemen’s Guide on What not to Get Your Wife for Christmas
#10: A Vacuum Cleaner
The only possible way to make this a cool gift would be to give the hands-down coolest vacuum cleaner of all time... which I’m afraid hasn’t been invented yet and probably never will be considering that there is pretty much only one thing to do with a vacuum... which is vacuuming.
#9: Socks
Nothings says you didn’t try as much as socks.
#8: Sweatpants
Even if she likes them you run the risk of coming across as Merry Christmas, Fatso!
#7: Gag Gifts
Gag gifts aren’t funny. To anyone. Especially your wife.
#6: A Magazine subscription to Field and stream, Sports Illustrated or Shooting Today.
Even if she likes sports you’re like in trouble fore this one.
#5: Pets, But Especially a "Grow A Frog" Kit
The only way this makes sense is a white elephant gift for a neighbor you don’t mind lousing.
#4: Donations to Charity
Noting like making your sacrificial gift that costs somebody else.
#3: A cleaning kit.
Just because it was boxed doesn’t mean it s a gift.
#2: Christmas Decorations
It says you waited until the last minute and bought the first thing you saw inside the door at Wal-Mart.
#1: Red Glassware
I Learned this one from my mom. (I had given her a lot of cheap glassware one year. She never used it and I never knew what happened to it.)
CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT DISCOVERING A GIFT THAT IS SO INCREDIBLE THAT WE RESPOND TO IT WITH TOTAL ABANDON.
Watch this video with me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWH_f8D-hgM
From the Shepherds in the fields we learn clues about how we should respond to the discovery of His presence.
Luke 2:8-20
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
NIV
I. We may be surprised by the circumstances of the encounter
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
We will need to be careful not to miss the encounter since it may be. . .
A. Unexpected
We will need to be careful because it may occur while we are
B. Distracted
The ordinary cares of life.
II. We can expect the encounter to be innovatory
Innovatory -- Characterized by new ground, new things.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
A. The encounter will stretch us
The Shepherds were first overwhelmed by fear.
B. The encounter will enrich us
The news was intended for their good.
III. We should follow the encounter where it leads.
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
A. It will always take us out of our comfort zone
They had to leave the fields, their place of comfort and risk going into Bethlehem
B. It will always lead us closer to his presence
The difference between a maze and a labyrinth is that a labyrinth is only one path leading to center. A maze has many paths with many turns and dead ends.
As we respond to his presence every step draws us closer to him. There are no wrong turns as we respond to his presence. God will use everything to draw us in.
IV. We ought to, we must share our discoveries with others.
Luke 2:20
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
NIV
