Video… Social Network Christmas
Slide #1
Welcome…Coffee
Please stand… with me as we read from…Luke 2:1-20
“ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14”Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom he is pleased.”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Prayer
Slide # 2 Please be seated…
Most of us here have heard this story read time and time again.
I believe it should be shared with our friends and families all over the world.
But as I have read thru this passage the past few weeks…God brought several things to my attention…
First…that God revealed His love for all mankind in this story by using everyday people to reach out to those who are lost.
Second…God also revealed to those who were present (those living in that day)… that the time for the long awaited prophecy had finally arrived.
And third…I believe the most important for you and I today……was… that night over 2000 years ago…when Jesus came into this world…life itself as we know it changed forever.
In Luke chapter 2:1-20…we find where God used several entities to complete His plan for the world…
The First and most amazing entity we find in this passage is…
Slide#3 God Working Through Deception
Many times in life… Christians get the opportunity to see God work… thru people who have a passion/desire to serve Him. (Thus the existence of Christianity)
But very few times do we witness where God works thru a person who if were given the choice first… would more than likely choose not to participate.
We find this lack of participation I’m referring to in…
Luke 2:1
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
Slide #4
When I read this verse…3 questions come to mind…
1) Who was Caesar Augustus?
2) What was this decree about?
3) And how did God use a man with worldly passion to work for His good?
Caesar was a man that loved the spotlight… --he felt the need to always have the best of everything… --he always wanted people to see that he was in control.
He was the current ruler of the Roman Empire…and if he would have had it his way…all the people in the whole world (and not just in the Roman Empire) would have looked to or treated him as a god of this world.
Greedy people…are never content with what they have…they always want more…and this was Caesar…
This is why he sent out the decree….
Plain and simple…Caesar needed more money so he could raise a bigger army to help control his empire….
This decree was no more than an order to raise taxes…
If you’re here today and are questioning whether or not God is in control of this world…let me explain.
God has the ability to use both the disciple/and deception (un-willing)
To build His Kingdom
With God’s permission…Caesar Augustus’ had un-intentionally placed into motion…God’s Plan…the fulfilling of the long awaited prophecy.
We find proof of this long awaited prophecy when Micah shares in…
5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem…
from you shall come forth for me
One who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.”
One thing that I’m very certain of is this… If Caesar Augustus would have known that he was (merely the tool…in God’s hand to bring to pass the forecasted prophecy.)
He would have not ordered the census to be taken.
He was the only god that he wanted the romans to know…
Just a side note…
It’s kinda funny that “Caesar Augustus tried his best to make himself a god… and today nobody makes reference to him… (He’s been forgotten)
But the little child that was in Marys’ womb…Millions of people still today worship Him and call Him their Savior.
Aren’t you glad that God uses more than just the willing to share His message?
The next entity that we find God working thru is…
Slide#5 He works thru the Innocent
Thousands of people were affected by this decree which forced them to return to the land of their heritage.
Luke 2:4-5… “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
Because of Caesars’ decree…
The journey that Joseph and Mary were soon to travel on… was to be difficult.
The Journey between Nazareth and Bethlehem
-Both young
-Mary was pregnant
Luke 1:26-35…Gabriel -Terrene…80 miles…mountain/rocky
-Theft (had to cross the barren Wilderness of Judea……the same road… Good Samaritan encountered the beaten man) -Cross the Jordon River(possibly flood stage) -desert climate…cold nights
-Travel…week +
I’m sure that this trip was one that seemed to never end.
For Joseph… -who likes paying taxes? -Carpenter -Ready…Phase II of life (Dad/Husband)
For Mary -A teenage mother -Informed as Mother of Jesus
-The only thing that gave her comfort…was the assurance that she was doing the will of God.
Both Joseph and Mary displayed tremendous Character…Not just by their obedience to God…but their obedience to each other.
Neither Joseph nor Mary wanted to make this journey…But God did…
God has always had a plan to protect the innocent.
Through their obedience…“They also avoided the gossiping tongues in Nazareth”.
Life back then was totally different than what is accepted today.
Mary/Joseph…betrothal…child…stoning
For those of you here that feel your early marriage is difficult?...
Not only did God work thru deception and the innocent …He also
Slide#6 Worked thru Shepherd’s (8)
Luke 2:8…“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
As Pastor Church shared last week…
Shepard’s were commonly known as the lowest group of people in their society…
They were…
-Dirty -Stinky -Known as Outcasts (didn’t fit the mold) -Poor -Worked all hours of the day -Very few friends
But we also know from scripture that these were the people that God first approached to share His message!
And I still believe that God uses people like them today… (Us).
We are poor…
we work all hours… Before Jesus (Dirty)
Shepard’s spent most of their time alone…this allowed them unlimited time alone with God.
-When do you spend most of your time with God...when you’re Alone?
I believe that God went to the Shepherd first as an example for us to follow…
Slide #7 Jesus came to earth to Shepherd…
In John 10:11 Jesus Himself shares that.. “I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
I’ve shared many times in the past that if you claim the name of Jesus as your own…you are a servant …and a servant is nothing more than a shepherd… (One who cares about another).
God went to the shepherd’s first because He knew they were a humble group…and an obedient group. (Did not confirm)
God not only used the Shepard’s to reveal the birth of Jesus… He also
Slide#8 Sent His Angels
Anytime that God wanted to get someone’s attention…He would send His angels’
God sent and angel to Zechariah in Luke 1:8-15 to inform Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son… who they were to name John…”John the Baptist”
God allowed Balaam’s donkey in Numbers Ch. 22-24 to see and veer away from an Angel... 3 times… that had his sword drawn ready to kill Balaam if he were to continue traveling the way he was heading.
In Daniel 6:22 God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouth…keeping Daniel safe until King Darius returned the next morning.
Slide #9
And one of the greatest Angelic appearances is found in the book of…
Luke 2:9-11…“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them,
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will before all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Christ is born in the flesh….
All those times that He appeared for others…He now appears for you!
Slide#10 God came as a Baby
Luke 2:11-12… “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
God brought the Savior of our World… to life with the hope of saving people.
God knew that life would be full of challenges…
When God worked thru…Caesar Augustus’… His desire was that all men would follow…but not all men will.
Pride will keep the richest men broken…and life itself will never be rewarded.
When God worked thru Joseph and Mary
He knew their marriage…would be far from normal… but He also knew that they would be faithful.
What an honor to be chosen in that manner
When God Appeared to the Shepherds
God wanted you to realize that He still uses the unpopular of our society for His purpose.
Who all here this morning would like to start off 2013 by leaving behind your… past?
Our past is full of -dirt -regret -loneliness
-Anger -doubt
For those of you here today that said yes…I want to leave these behind…let me share with you a Very Important Verse.
Slide #11
It’s found in the book of John 3:16…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life”
This is the truth about Christmas that needs to be shared this year.
Please Stand
Slide #12
