HOPE IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIPS (Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:13-15)
Shall we bow down before our LORD to ask Him to bless our worship this morning:
Dear Heavenly Father, grant us listening hearts, unity of minds, and humble hearts, for we want to worship You. May You be honored this morning. In JESUS' name, Amen!
INTRO
My title for this morning is "Hope in the Midst of Hardships." Someone ask, what does hardship got to do with Christmas you are preparing. Well, let's see what the Bible tells us!
As we all know, whenever the Christmas season comes our way, almost all the people are excited about it. It is the most joyous season, especially in the Philippines. However, things have changed since our country has encountered a lot of problems this year.
Consider the typhoon that struck the whole Luzon, the Zamboanga crisis, the Napoles’ Pork Barrel Scam, the big earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu, the monster typhoon that devastated the Leyte and Samar provinces, and lastly, the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) scam. Just this week, the price of gasoline increased, LPG price hiked to P13 per kilo; and electricity will hike up to P4 per kilowatts. We are all affected whether you are rich or poor, young or old.
We need to keep praying for our country amidst all the crises. The situation our country is currently facing reminds me of the difficulties faced by Joseph and Mary during the first Christmas. The first challenge they encountered was…
A. The Hardship of the Journey (vv. 1-5)
According to Luke 2, when Caesar Augustus issued a decree for people to go back to their own hometown to register for census, that was also the time Mary was due to give birth to JESUS. They had no choice but to leave the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem.
It would take them about a week or more to reach Bethlehem, which was around 80 miles away. Just imagine how difficult and stressful it was for a pregnant woman to travel on a donkey for that long. It can result in miscarriage and might lead the mother to death.
Last October, I watched GMA’s I-Witness’ anniversary presentation. Kara David tells the story of a woman in delivery who has both feet in the grave. Marina Catanao lives in the forests of Agusan del Sur. Because of their meager resources and lack of access to a clinic or hospital, she decided to give birth at home.
The hard-working mother goes on with her day as usual… oblivious of the dangers of her fifth pregnancy. But a midwife wanted her to go to the town clinic for further check-up and wanted her to deliver there, because some lives have been claimed by the unforgiving rough road to town. If you watched this presentation last October 28, you will understand more of what i describe to you now.
This was the hardship that every town women in far flunk area suffer the same mischief. Thank GOD that Marina and the baby surpassed the risk of miscarriage and death.
In July of 1994, my wife, Nancy, who was about 8 months pregnant with our first baby, faced the risks of death and miscarriage. We were driving on our way home from the church’s prayer meeting when our car was hit by a big bus! We thank GOD that nothing serious done to my wife, but the car was damaged. Thank GOD for protecting and preserving the lives of my wife and daughter.
In the same way, GOD protected Joseph and Mary all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Bible tells us that they arrived there safely but they have to face their next challenge…
B. The Hardship of Finding a Place (vv.6-7)
The Bible tells us that there was no available room for Joseph and Mary to rest. Everybody returned to their respective hometown for the census and all the inns were fully occupied.
After a tiring long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, they had difficulty looking for a place to stay, rest, and eventually deliver the baby. As they searched, Joseph and Mary may have gotten more and more hopeless and desperate.
In GOD's perfect timing, He provided someone to open up his stable for them. Staying in a stable was not a pleasant experience. It did not offer the comforts of a room. The place was smelly yet, it was better than having no place to stay at all.
As I prepare this message, the devastation caused by the Typhoon Yolanda came to my mind.
The three hours of heavy rains, strong winds and storm surge claimed thousands of lives. The dead toll still kept on rising. The whole Leyte province was almost erased from the map and became ground zero. Many houses were destroyed. Debris was everywhere. Dead bodies scattered all throughout the city streets. Electricity and water were cut off. Looting began when food shortages was felt. The survivors have to look for their loved ones, food and a safe place to stay. It was truly an ordeal for them!
One high school students from Tacloban testified in the recent concluded Senior Retreat that she had to walked through 15 miles of garbage and debris piled up along the paths just to look for food and yet found none. As she walked back, she found a muddied can of sardine, and had it for two days.
Another old woman who was already more than 80 years old was trapped in a house with some of her children. Another daughter who lived in Manila was very worried about her, because there was no line of communications at all. But somewhat, her siblings managed to go to a place where communication was provided by the government. So the daughter in Manila asked her sibling to let her mom to take the first flight out of the ground zero. And she waited for two to three days, and the LORD opened an opportunity for her mom to ride on a private helicopter which was only one seat left just for her. The daughter witnessed the power of prayer, there is hope in the midst of hardships.
Now, those who were finally able to fly out of Tacloban to Manila have to start rebuilding their lives. Amidst all of these difficulties, GOD opened the way for the students of Tacloban through Hope Christian High School. By faith, the school has accepted 172 students from Tacloban. We thank GOD for using you and raising compassionate donors so that these students could be provided with scholarships, books, uniforms, food, clothing, and many other things.
The school have provided a dorm for the 90+ students who don’t have a place to stay in Manila. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are likewise provided. For all of you who have donated in cash or kind to this noble cause, thank you doing this in the name of our LORD. Because of your love and generosity, these students found hope in the midst of hardships. Let me encourage you with these words found in Matthew 25:40, "The King will reply, 'Truly i tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.'"
I don’t know what kind of crisis you are undergoing right now, but like Joseph, Mary and the Tacloban survivors, we can trust GOD to work things out for us.
The next challenge Joseph and Mary encountered was…
C. The Hardship of Staying in a Stable (vv. 7)
We all know that a stable is a place where different kinds of animals were kept. It is a place full of dirt, germs, bacteria, and viruses. Certainly, it is not a suitable place for where a baby should be born much less stay.
During that time, there were no other places for Mary to give birth. There were no hospitals yet at that time. The Bible didn’t record any complaints coming from either Mary or Joseph.
Though Mary may be worried about the baby’s condition, but she believed that GOD will take care of them for it was His will for her to give birth to His son. The Bible tells us that she gave birth to JESUS, who was wrapped in a swaddling cloth and placed in a manger.
My wife, Nancy, was supported by our church to serve as a missionary to the Smokey Mountain. It is where the residents of Manila and the nearby cities dumped their waste. Every waste you can think of was dumped there.
Hence, flies, mosquitoes, worms, ants, spiders, cockroaches, rats, stray cats and dogs abound.
During her third year of ministry, Nancy found out she was pregnant. We struggled against informing our parents because they will surely ask her to quit the ministry. But we turned to GOD in prayer and chose to live by faith
and not by sight. By His grace, my two daughters were born during Nancy’s ministry at Smokey Mountain. GOD protected Nancy and my two children from the airborne viruses and bacteria-causing sicknesses.
You may be worried about something, it may be about your family… Don’t lose hope. GOD will take care of you just as He had taken care of Mary and my family.
The last challenge Joseph and Mary had to hurdle was…
D. The Hardship of Fleeing to Egypt (Matt 2:13-15)
For Joseph and Mary, the difficulty they were facing was far from over. They were warned by an angel not to go back to Galilee but to go to Egypt, because King Herod had issued a decree that all male children born under two years old will be killed.
Joseph and Mary obeyed without hesitation though they don’t have any relatives or friends in Egypt. They had to travel more than a month and more than 200 miles from Bethlehem to Egypt. They have to be very careful because the Romans soldiers were looking for JESUS in order to kill Him. This was a very stressful and frightening time for them.
Nowadays, traveling from one place to another is very convenient. The conditions of most of the roads are good. We have air conditioned cars, ships and planes.
During that time, roads were rocky and dusty. They have to go up and down the hills. Their only transport was a donkey. Mary, JESUS and their meager possessions were loaded on the donkey while Joseph walked.
In the midst of hardships, there was hope. GOD sent His angel to warn them so that they have enough time to flee. GOD provided them with the resources through the gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense given to JESUS by the Magi.
In the face of danger - be it your own life, that of your loved ones, take courage! For GOD is our refuge, our strength, and an ever present help in times of troubles (Psalm 46:1).
May the story of the first Christmas' experience brings you hope in the midst of your hardship. May the good and gracious LORD supply you with all your needs. May all these things happen according to His plan, purpose and for His glory!
HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!
