Boldness A-Z
Bold about the Miracle of Christmas
I know we are into the Christmas season and once again God has made things fit His plan. We have been on Sunday mornings considering how the christian should be bold in the spirit concerning things of the Lord. I do not not like to interrupt a series because sometimes it's hard to get back on track. So, the Lord has provided just the right sermon at just the right time. We are on the letter"M" and I began to wonder how it would fit with Christmas. Many ideas came to me ...Messiah, Messengers, Mary, the Manger, the Meaning. But all of these aare not as important to our faith as the Miracle that took place 2000 years ago. I'm talking about God sending His Son in the form of a baby to a manger in Bethlehem. So why do we need to be bold about this Miracle? If the birth of Jesus is any thing less than a Miracle, our faith is a lie! If Jesus was not born of a virgin, He could not be the perfect sacrifice and we are all still in our sins.
This morning we will look at a few things concerning the Christmas Miracle.
1. A Miracle Prophesied
a. A Foretelling
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
b. A Forthtelling
Luke 1:26-38 Mary
"26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."
Matt 1:20-23 Joseph
"20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
2. A Miracle Pregnancy
a. It was not Immoral
Matt 1:19
"19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily."
b. It was not Immaculate
Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
c. It was Impossible
Luke 1:34 - 37
"34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible."
3. A Miraculous Presence
The Incarnation
Matt 1:22, 23
"22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
John 1:14
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
If Jesus had not come into the world the way it was prophesied. His Miracles, crucifiction, death and resurrection would not have set us free from sin. God required a perfect holy, sacrifice. if He were concieved by anthing but God's holy Spirit , Jesus would have been born in sin, just as all men. This Christmas remember to be bold about the Christmas miracle. It was a Miracle Prophesied, A Miraculous Pregnanacy, A Miracle of God's Presence. He came to seek and to save the world
John 3:17,18 "17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
