SEASONAL SIMPLICITIES
Introduction: I went to buy a stereo the other day and found myself looking at a contraption that I really didn’t understand. All over this country this Wednesday morning there will be fathers and grandfathers getting overly frustrated trying to put together new toys. Seasonal problems. Seasonal to Christmas. This is never more magnified than this time of year. We too will have the same issues in our lives. One of the biggest problems we men have is that we put together things without looking at the directions. We make every attempt to do it without the necessary understanding of what it is we are looking at. We need to sometimes get a clear look at the problem and understand the directions.
We have always said that the issues of today are not one bit different than they were that first Christmas so many years ago on that faithful day that Mary gave birth to the child that would come to save a world from it’s sins. This year, this Christmas, it is my desire to look at the Christmas story and put it together.
Luke 2:1-20 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
To put together the Christmas story this year I want to look at the birth of Jesus as it was anounced to the Sheppard’s keeping watch over their flock by night.
I. Christmas is Positional/ God comes to the position we are in.
A. To understand the positional aspect of Christmas we must recognize the human side of Christ.
1. His parents were fully human
2. He was a Human Baby in Baby clothes
a. There was no doubt to the human side of Jesus.
b. He came in the lowest position
*He was vulnerable
*He was in the most humble position
3. He was fully God
Heb 4:15-16
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We understand the human position of Christ we must understand the human position of those who would hear the news first
B. He came to a city that had lost it‘s prominence.
International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia
After the time of David, Bethlehem would appear to have sunk into insignificance. But its future fame is pointed at by Micah (Mic 5:2): "But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
1. He comes to the places you least expect him
C. His birth was anouced to the lowest people
Luke 2:8-20 In that day, shepherds were considered to be at the lowest rung of the social ladder. Their work not only kept them away from the temple and the synagogue, but it made them ceremonially unclean. Yet in His grace, God gave the first announcement of the Savior’s birth to lowly shepherds! (from The Bible Exposition Commentary)
1. That is the way it is positioinal
a. when you are in the lowest God comes to you and I
2. I’m not low
a. Maybe you are and don’t know it.
II. Christmas is Directional/ It will always send men and woman in a direction other than what they expected.
A. The Shepard’s were in the field doing what they do
1. When the birth of Jesus was anounced to them they changed their direction.
2. They left what they were doing and proceded to the place where they would find the Baby that came to save the world
B. When we hear the message of Jesus it should change our direction too.
1. Are we in the rut of Christmas
*doing the same thing we’ve always done thinking nothing will change.
Contributed by David Langerfeld I Almost Missed A Christmas Miracle

Bethlehem - May 2000 - The excitement was building. We were standing in the Shepherd’s Fields just outside of Bethlehem. We were ready to go into the Shepherd’s Caves and sing Christmas Carols. Some members of the tour group had done it with me on previous trips. For others, it was their first time - but everyone was excited. Bethlehem... Christmas Carols... Shepherd’s Caves... Who wouldn’t be excited?
We had always done it. We had always sung carols in the caves. Why? Because once you do it, you’re never the same. After my first time, I was never the same. So, I had planned it so that everyone else could experience it, too. My plans were about to be fulfilled. We would sing Christmas Carols inside the Shepherd’s Caves in the hills of Bethlehem.
There was a problem. It was crowded. The year 2000 had bought more groups than ever to Israel. The Shepherd’s Caves were full! We waited... and waited... No groups were leaving the caves. Our time was growing short. We were about to miss out on the chance to sing Christmas carols in those caves.
I was disappointed. I knew what a blessing our group was about to miss. I expressed my disappointment to God. "God, we’ve always sung in the caves. No one is ever the same after they do! We have to do it, Lord. We’ve always done it that way. If we don’t, our group will miss out on the blessing of Bethlehem. Can’t you work it out to open one of the caves for us?"
None of the other groups left the caves. We didn’t get to sing carols in the Shepherd’s Caves. Disappointed, I led the group to the top of the hill - to a small chapel called "The Chapel of the Angels". We would sing there - but I knew it wouldn’t been the same. It couldn’t be, because we had always done it only one way.
Once inside the "Chapel of the Angels", we started singing carols. Most of the group had tears in their eyes as we sang "Silent Night". For them, Christmas already had a new meaning.
A MIRACLE - Then, it happened. A group from Germany entered the chapel. While we were singing "Silent Night" in English, they started singing it in German. Two other groups entered as well. There were now four groups singing Christmas Carols. Every time I started our group in a song, we were joined by an "International Choir" singing in German, French and Spanish!!! There was not a dry eye in the chapel. Everyone called it a "Christmas" miracle.
I almost missed out on that "Christmas Miracle" - me, the "spiritual leader" of the group. Why? Because I was so intent on doing it the way we’d always done it. If we didn’t follow the same traditions of Bethlehem that we’d always done, I just knew that we wouldn’t be blessed.
What about you? Does God have a special blessing or a miracle for you this Christmas? If you’re so intent on making sure that you follow the same traditions, that you do exactly the same things that you always do each Christmas, you may miss out on a special blessing or a Christmas miracle.
Two thousand years ago, the people of Bethlehem were doing things the way they’d always done them. People were working, shopping, visiting and worshipping. Due to the census, extended families from far-away places had returned home and were visiting with their friends and families - swapping gifts and memories. In the midst of their traditional way of doing things, God preformed the greatest miracle of all - the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ.
With the exception of some shepherds, the introduction of God’s Son almost went unnoticed. Don’t miss out on a miracle this Christmas just because "We’ve never done it that way before".
C. To change the direction of our lives we must first recognize the need for it.
1. There is a point we get to and we realize we need help
a. There are many people standing on the bank fishing
b. Jesus calls us to fishing experience that isn’t like any other.
2. That is the story of each and every lost person
a. To get a man save he must first see himself lost.
*To get a man back he must see hate the condition he is in.
Podical son.
III. Christmas is Inspirational/ It always causes us to do things we don’t normally do.
A. Here were the men of the lowliest job inspired
1. You see they no longer saw themselves as the out cast
2. They came to the realization that they to were included in the plan.
B. What happens to people when they realize they savior has come to a place called bethlham
1. It should inspire us.
a. We should have a hearts desire for others to see the Lord.
b. There’s is a message of who was hear for all others to know.
c. It even caused Mary ponder the things that were taking place.
C. What is our life whithout meaning.
1. It is not inspirational
a. If you are not inspired by God how can He use you to inspire others.
Conclusion:
There are misconceptions concerning the birth of Christ and as we close this morning in just a moment I want to say a couple of more things the Lord has shown me through this passage of scripture
IV. It is not seasonal/ This is always the day of the lord
Ps 118:22-24 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
A. The coming of the Lord should be a year long celebration
1. We live in a world that only gets excited about Christmas one month a year.
B. Where will you find yourself the day of and after Christmas
1. Will you be like the shepards in the field
2. Will you be like countless others
a. empty
b. defeated.
V. It is not conditional/ God places not one condition on your salvation.
A. The angel’s anouncement to the men in the field had no condition
1. They came where they were not where they were going
B. Jesus is anounced where you are today, right here, right now
1. what will your reaction be today.
