A. LEARNING WITNESSING FROM THE ANGELS
1. What can we know when angels appear?
a. They have a message. “The Savior . . . has been born today” (Luke 2:11). “The word anggelos means messenger. Will you share God’s message this Christmas?
b. God is working. “Are they (angels) not ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:14).
c. Angels can appear in human form. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them” (Luke 2:9, NLT).
d. Angels reflect God’s glory. “They (shepherds) were terrified” (Luke 2:9, NLT).
e. Angels worship God. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).
2. What did the angels tell Mary?
a. God favored her. “Thou hast found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). Has God chosen you to do something?
b. She would be the mother of the Messiah. “Thou shalt conceive . . . a son and shalt call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31).
c. Her son would rule. “The throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32).
d. It would be a virgin birth. “How shall this be seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). Jesus entered the world without a sin nature. This is an incarnation, i.e., the entrance of deity into humanity.
3. God works through yielded people. “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
4. It’s alright to have questions, they are not doubts. “How shall this be?” (Luke 1:34).
5. We must humbly accept God’s will for our lives, even when we don’t understand what He is doing. “With God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37).
6. What did the angel tell Joseph? (Matt. 1:10-25).
a. Don’t be afraid (v. 20).
b. Second, there was a divine plan for his life (v. 20).
c. Complete the marriage (v. 20).
d. The son was conceived by the Holy Spirit (v. 20).
e. Mary was the virgin who fulfilled Scripture (vv. 21-23).
f. The child would be Emmanuel, i.e., “God with us” (v. 23).
g. Name him Jesus (v. 21).
7. How did Joseph obey the message from God?
a. He married Mary (v. 24).
b. He brought her to his home (v. 24).
c. He named the baby Jesus (v. 25).
B. LEARNING WORSHIP FROM THE WISEMEN
1. They made a journey of faith. “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:2).
a. Didn’t know where.
b. Didn’t know who.
c. Didn’t know if he was alive.
d. The baby was worth the risk of the journey
2. We don’t know if there were three wisemen or more. Most scholars think there were many because the whole city of Jerusalem was talking about this expedition that came to their city. People think there were only three because three gifts were identified. “They . . . opened their treasures . . . presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11).
3. “People think these wise men were kings because kings were in the habit of giving gifts to the son of other kings at their birth. The gift matched the potential king’s importance. Does your gift match God’s importance?
4. Details of the “three” were left out because emphasis must be placed on the Baby. Is Christ the center of your Christmas?
5. The expense of the gifts assumes the “three” were wealthy. Scholars, teachers, or wisemen; were usually not wealthy. Does your gift match your wealth?
6. The wisemen/kings did their homework. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:2). Have you done your homework on Jesus?
7. Wisemen were followers of the star. They did not just gaze at the Bethlehem star, nor did they take extensive notes about the star – they followed what they knew about the star. Today, wisemen still follow the star to Jesus. Do you act on what you know about Jesus?
8. Wisemen were diligent in their search for Christ. They asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:2). Today, wisemen still search for Jesus. Do you study diligently to learn more about Jesus?
9. Wisemen approached Jesus in the right manner. “When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him” (Matt. 2:11). Today, wisemen still worship Jesus with the right heart attitude. Do you worship with the right attitude?
10. Wisemen teach us to be unselfish with our gifts. “When they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11). Today, wisemen still bring gifts to Jesus. Are you unselfish with your gifts to Jesus?
11. If wisemen had been women, they would have:
a. Been on time because they would have stopped to ask directions.
b. Cleaned up the barn.
c. Brought a casserole for the family to eat.
C. LEARNING FROM THE SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS
1. Learning direction from the star.
2. Learning faithfulness from the shepherds
3. Learning witnessing from the angels.
4. Learning worship from the wisemen.
5. Learning humility from the manger.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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