Christmas:
The Word for the day is, …OBLIGATION
Can anyone tell me the definition of Obligation?
1. A moral or legal duty.
2. A binding promise.
3. A debt of gratitude
We are all familiar with the Christmas story. Lets read the scripture in today’s lesson and study this word, …Obligation.
LUKE 2:4-20 “The Saviour Is Born”
1. Luke, was obligated through the leading of the Holy Spirit to write about Jesus Christ so that men and women might believe on Him and be saved.
2. 1:9 Zacharius was obligated to burn incence in the temple while the others prayed.
3. 1:19 Gabriel was obligated to speak to Zacharius about the “glad tidings”. (Obliged has the same def. as Obligated)
4. 1:23 Zacharius was obligated to finish his turn in the temple whether he could speak or not.
5. 1:35 Mary, although chosen, could have denied but didn’t. Mary was obligated to fulfill prophecy, and did.
6. 1:46,47 Mary owed a debt of gratitude. She felt deeply obligated to God for chosing her to be the mother of the Saviour of the world.
7. 1:76 From the beginning of time John the Baptist had an obligation set before him, not only to fulfill prophecy but to prepare the way of Jesus Christ, the King of King and Lord of Lords.
8. Luke 2:4 Notice that Joseph, knowing that the trip could kill the child, was obligated to his Government. And God protected them during the trip.
9. 2:15-17 Did the Shepherds have to go? Were they forced to go look for the child? NO It was their duty of gratitude. They left glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.
After all, God chose to tell them first. (Quite an honor)
What about the Wise Men? They traveled a year to find the Saviour.
God works his way thru history. God works His way thru the Ranks.
God starts Humble and ends in Glory.
There are probably more obligations in the Christmas story than there are verses.
I’m gonna’ stop right here and turn this thing over to the class.
WHAT OBLIGATIONS DO YOU AND I HAVE CONCERNING
1ST …CHRISTMAS
2ND …GOD
3RD …THE CHURCH { Is Church Attendance Necessary? }
If there is Time at the end of class go to the “Golden Text Illuminated”
What was God trying to communicate to His people, and to us, through the unique set of circumstances that culminated in the angelic announcement?
1. The end to a long waiting period.
2. God placed great importance on something that was held in low esteem.
3. God linked the city of David to a Saviour.
4. God does his work in unusual ways.
“Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11)
GOD Prophets People
GOD Priests People
GOD JESUS People
The Only TRUE Mediator
Between GOD and Man
Christ’s birth was prophesied and fulfilled 800 years later.
There were 28 prophesies fulfilled while Christ hung on the cross.
