Christmas – Miracle of Transformations
Luke 2:1-20
As Christians we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus the promised Messiah. Jesus came to bring hope, forgiveness and change the hearts of people. Christmas is about miracles of transformation.
When we talk about Jesus changing the hearts of people we are not talking about physical hearts. We’re talking about spiritual hearts—that involves our will and our total being as a person.
Heart transplants are increasingly more common today then several years ago. The first heart transplant was performed successfully by Dr. Christiaan Barnard. He transplanted a human heart into Dr. Philip Blaiberg. After the surgery, Dr. Barnard carried the ld heart in a plastic box and showed it to his patent. The two physicians sat in the hospital bed examining the scars and thickening of the dead useless heart. Dr. Barnard said, “Dr. Blaiberg, do you realize you are the first man in the history of humankind to sit and look at your own dead heart?”
Dr. Blaiberg received a new human heart to extend his life. Jesus came to transform the lives of people and give them a spiritual heart that will last for eternity.
When you understand the true meaning of Christmas it brings about a change in your heart and outlook on life. In the Christmas Carol Scrooge lived a miserable life of greed, but when he awoke from his sobering encounter with the ghosts of Christmas: past, present and future. Scrooge sees his empty, bitter life for what it is. He wants his life to change, so he humbled himself and retraced the steps of his offenses committed on Christmas Eve. As he did, he revealed a remarkable change of heart.
Scrooge declares: “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the past, the present, and the future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.
Scrooge’s life changes: instead of grasping now he is giving. Instead of being bitter, he is now loving. Instead of being indifferent to the needs of others, now he is caring. Scrooge’s life is transformed from humbug to hallelujah.
The birth of Jesus brought about many dramatic changes. We date our calendars AD and BC. - After the death of Christ and before the death of Christ.
People surrounding the birth of Christ experienced different transformations. From their experiences we learn several life principles to live by.
I. Don’t Give Up on Prayer.
From the experience of Zechariah and Elizabeth we learn the first life principle: “Don’t Give Up on Prayer.”
Zechariah a Priest and his wife Elizabeth were faithful followers of the Lord. They evidently had been praying all their married life to have a baby. To not have children in Old and New Testament times was to live in disgrace. To have a child was a demonstration of being blessed of the Lord. The more children the more blessed.
Now Zechariah and Elizabeth were older and beyond child bearing years. Down through the years they had faithfully prayed to have their own child, but so far no children. They were about ready to give up on praying for a child. They may have thought that it must not be God’s will for us to have children. They often would ask: “Why doesn’t’ God hear our prayer?”
Luke 1:11-25 gives the story that God did heart their prayer. God wanted to answer their prayer with a miracle birth.
When Zechariah was in the temple offering prayer at the altar and angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him that his prayers had been heard and his wife Elizabeth would have a son and his name would be John.
Zechariah had been praying for years and now that an Angel of the Lord announced that his prayers were answered he doubted. He said, “How is this possible, we are both too old to have children?” The Angel answered, “I am Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you to tell you this good news.”
After nine months Elizabeth did have a baby and they named their son, John. I imagine this family became talk of their town. Zechariah and Elizabeth proudly waked through their village with their newborn son. Village people would comment: “There goes a happy family. There goes a blessed family.”
Can’t you imagine the transformation of attitudes in Zechariah and Elizabeth? They not had a glowing testimony, “Praise God our prayers were answered.” John is our miracle baby.
For twelve years my youngest daughter did not become pregnant. I don’t know that they were desperately praying for a child, but God is full of surprises. Joseph Raymond is now the delight of their lives. Baby Joseph has brought about a transformation in their family. Their Chapeau dog has been demoted. His job now is watching out for their baby.
Principle one from those involved in the Christmas story: “Don’t Give Up Praying.” God does answer prayer—it may be “wait,” it may be “yes” and it may be “no.” For Zechariah and Elizabeth it was “wait.” God answered with a miracle boy – John the Baptizer- the preacher that prepared the way for Jesus the Messiah.
Zechariah and Elizabeth reached the end of themselves and God responded with an answer.
You need to realize that you are not self made person. You are a God-made person. II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come?”
John D. Rockefeller, Sr. is an example of a person that had to reach the end of him self before he could get a proper perspective on life.
Illus. Rockefeller drove himself to achieve one ambition in life, to make money. At the age of 33 he earned his first million. At the age of 43, he controlled the biggest company in the world. At age 53 he was the riches man on earth and the world’s only billionaire.
Then he developed a disease (alopecia) that caused all his hair to fall out, his eyelashes and his eyebrows disappeared and he became skin and bones. His weekly income was one million dollars, but he could digest only milk and crackers. He was so hated in Pennsylvania that he had to have bodyguards day and night. He did not sleep, did not smile, and did not enjoy anything in life.
The doctors predicted that he had one year to live. One newspaper had written his obituary in advance in case of his sudden death. Then one sleepless night John D. Rockefeller came to his senses and realized that he could not take one dome with him into the next world. He learned and accepted the fact that money is not everything.
The next morning he was a changed man. He began to help churches with his amassed wealth and established the Rockefeller Foundation. The foundation’s funding of medical research lead to the discovery of penicillin. John D. Rockefeller began to sleep will, eat and enjoy life. He did not die at 54, but lived to 98.
#Testimony by Christy Randolphi
II. Build Your Life on the Foundation of Faith.
A second principle to live by is – “Build Your Life on the foundation of faith.”
We see this principle lived out in the lives of Joseph and Mary. The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and greeted her with dramatic news: “You will be with child and give birth to a son and give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.” ( Luke 1:31-33)
Mary replied that this would never happen because she was still a virgin. The Angel Gabriel assured her that with God nothing is impossible. God would give her a baby sent from God, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Her son would be the incarnate Son of God. In Jesus God would be come a human person, all man but also all God. While on earth he would live as a man, 100% devoted to His Heavenly Father. He would take upon Himself the sins of the world and defeat the powers of Satan and darkness.
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be to me as you have said.” Mary responded in faith. Mary did not believe she was worthy of such an honor, but because she was humble and faithful she was worthy.
Mary responded with miracle faith – “I don’t know how this is possible, but may it be as you have said.”
From time to time we need to join in with Mary and sing: “Only believe, only believe, all things are possible, only believe.”
God took a chance on Mary and Joseph and they came through. They accepted God’s mission and responded in faith.
When you expect the best out of people you encourage them to make changes for the better.
Illus. An elementary school teacher, Jean Thompson, a fifth grade school teacher helped bring about change in one of her students named Teddy Stoddard.
Teddy didn’t play well with other children, his clothes were always dirty and he constantly needed a bath. Teddy was a sad, sullen little boy.
One day Mrs. Thompson reviewed his school records and was surprised at what she found. His first-grade teacher wrote: “Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners; he is a joy to be around.” His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student well-liked by his classmates, but is troubled because his mother has terminal illness, and life at home must be a struggle.” His third grade teacher wrote, “Teddy continues to work hard but his mother’s death has been hart, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps are not taken.” Teddy’s fourth-grade teacher wrote: “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class. He is tardy and could become a problem.”
It was nearly Christmas time and children brought her presents wrapped in colorful paper, except for teddy’s, which was wrapped in heavy brown paper from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson opened his present and found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was ¼ full of cologne. The other children in the class room began to laugh but Mrs. Thompson put the bracelet on and commented how pretty it was. She also dabbed some of the perfume on her other wrist. After the party Teddy Stoddard stayed behind just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my mom used to.” When the children left, the teacher cried.
That very next day Mrs. Thompson took a new interest in teaching her children. She worked especially hard with teddy. As she worked with him he seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him the faster he responded. By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the class.
A year later she found a note under her door at school from Teddy telling her that of all the teachers she was his favorite. Six yeas went by and she got another note from Teddy. He wrote that he had finished high school and was third in his class and she was still his favorite teacher. Four years later she got another letter saying he had graduated from college with the highest of honors and assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher. Several years later she received another letter telling how much he had appreciated her as his teacher and she was still his favorite. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
A year later Mrs. Thompson received a letter stating he was getting married. He explained his father had died a few years earlier and wondered if she would sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Mrs. Thompson did attend the wedding on that day she smelled just like she had smelled many years before, on that last day of school, before the Christmas holiday began.
Transformations come when you believe that “With God all things are possible.”
Jesus came to earth as a baby; the very Son of God humbled himself and became a man, because He believed you and I were worth it. God believes in you. The coming of Jesus proved that fact. God believes you are of infinite value.
The example of Zechariah and Elizabeth give us the life principle: Their lives were transformed because they didn’t give up on prayer. Your life principle: “Don’t Give up on Prayer.”
The example of Joseph and Mary teach another life principle: Joseph and Mary had their lives transformed because they “Build their Lives on the Foundation of Faith.” “Build Your Life on the Foundation of Prayer.”
Third Principle comes from the Shepherds watching their flocks near Bethlehem.
III. Live Committed to the Praise Principle.
The lowly shepherds experienced a transformation of their lives. The song “Nothing ever Happens to a Shepherd” describes the life of a Shepherd watching their flocks at night.
It’s cold out tonight in this God forsaken place and we’re stuck here with a thousand sheep. While life is exciting everywhere else the highlight of our day is sleep.
Shepherds are notorious for making little profit. We garner just enough for room and board. While everyone else wallows in their wealth we’re financially ignored.
It’s lonely out here in this isolated job, Our position is without esteem. We’re socially challenged; we’re societies scourged we’re not exactly every woman’s dream. Shepherds have a humble purpose. Of our fate few people really care; some times I wonder if God knows we exist. If He does I’m certain He’s forgotten where.
Nothing ever happens to a shepherd; Life is as boring as boring can be. While exciting things occur all over the world; nothing ever happens to me. Nothing ever happens to me.
Back then no one through God would be interested in Shepherds. Shepherds were not religious. Rabbis ranked them on the same level with Prostitutes and “habitual sinners.” Shepherds were outcasts, barred from the Synagogue and not included in “Polite Society.”
On that special night an Angel appeared to the shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone around them and the shepherds were terrified. The angel said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has bee born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
The shepherds found the baby in a manger just as the angels said and the spirit of the shepherds was changed from gloom and insignificance to joy. Luke 2:20: “The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” The shepherds were transformed from humbug to hallelujah. They rejoiced and said, “Now shepherds are notorious. We are the first to see the Messiah, the new born King.”
Their fear was transformed into joy. Their bewilderment was transformed into wonderment.
This Christmas practice the principles we learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth, 1. “Don’t give up on prayer.” From Joseph and Mary, 2. “Build your Life on the Foundation of Faith. From the Shepherds- 3. Live Committed to the Praise Principle.” Turn your humbugs into hallelujah this Christmas.
