WHAT DIFFERENCE A BABY CAN MAKE?
Luke 2:8-16
INTRODUCTION:
A. We are now heavy into the Christmas season
1. Many presents have been bought
a. Others still need to be purchased
b. Many families have already started having their Christmas celebrations
2. Through all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, donft miss the point
a. Donft miss the reason that we celebrate
b. You need to understand this„ŸChristmas is a reminder that YOU MATTER TO GOD
c. Thatfs why Jesus came into the world to let you know that you matter to Him.
d. So, for you and for me, Jesus was born in a stable, a barn, so that He could bring Godfs gift to the world
e. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son
f. What a precious gift, the gift of Godfs child
B. You know, all children are gifts from God
1. Oh, you may become frustrated at times in trying to teach and discipline, but they still bring joy
a. Just ask Abraham and Sarah who were 100 and 90 years old when their first child, Isaac was born
b. Just ask Hannah who had prayed earnestly to God that she would have a child and finally God sent Samuel into her life
c. Just ask my brother Jim and his wife who thought that after 12 years of marriage that they were destined to be without children
2. With children comes change
a. At least one in the household doesnft get as much sleep as they once used to
b. Takes longer to prepare to go anywhere
c. Finances get tighter
d. A big change„ŸDIAPERS
3. With Godfs gift of children comes change
a. The same is true of the gift of His Son
b. When that babe enters in your life, change will come
4. But donft be afraid!
a. Even the angel in Luke said, gDo not be afraidh
b. Are you afraid of God? a lot of people are
c. Afraid of what God might lead you to do?
d. Afraid that God will ruin your life?
5. Change will come, but change for the better
6. For you see, the gift of Jesus Christ is really a gift within a gift
ILL> I heard of one lady that received a pair of gloves for Christmas. When she put them on she found a $20 bill in each finger of the gloves.
Ifd love to receive a pair of gloves for Christmas, wouldnft you?
ILL> On November 16, 1982 I gave Kay a gift for her birthday. We had been dating for about 9 months„Ÿthings were starting to get a little serious. She was excited to get a new Bible cover. She was even more excited when she opened the Bible cover and inside was a dictionary. What girl wouldnft want a new dictionary„Ÿespecially a girl in college. Insdie the dictionary was a ring.
7. A gift within a gift
a. That is what Jesus is
I> ACCEPT GODfS GIFT OF HAPPINESS
A. VS 10 - I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people
1. We have something to be excited about
a. Thatfs why we sing songs that are uplifting and exciting
b. Thatfs why we sometimes clap our hands when we sing
c. PSA 47:1
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
d. Thatfs why we sing the songs we do with the youth on Wednesday evenings
ILL> I heard someone say that a lot of churches start at 11:00 sharp and end at 12:00 dull.
2. Shame on us if that is all a church service is„Ÿa burden to be borne
a. Some may say, gEverybody has a cross to bear, and I bear my cross for an hour every Sunday morning!h
b. We have a reason to be happy and excited
ILL> Itfs now been a little over four years ago when Kay and I found out that we were going to have a third addition to our family. While this would usually be a time of excitement and celebration, I was not excited or in the mood for celebration.
Alan was getting ready to enter school. We were looking forward to a little more freedom. Kay and I had planned to go to Haiti together. All of that changed.
Suddenly, we found our freedom being taken away. Changes had to be made in our travel plans. Financially, things were going to be tight. I have to admit, that I was a little bit in shock.
3. Some people look at church like that
a. They look at God in the same way
b. They are afraid that God will take away their fun
c. They wonft be able to enjoy life anymore
d. Thatfs not true, life is great„Ÿit just may be enjoyed in a different way
ILL> Suppose Alan came up to me one day and said, gDaddy, I love you and Ifve decided that I want to be the kind of boy that you want me to be. I want to live for you and do what is right.h
Me: gMy son, Ifve been waiting for this day. Youfll regret it the rest of your life. Ifm going to make your life miserable. Your going to sit in the corner and do math problems all day. Youfre going to get spinach for every meal. Ifm going to break all of your toys to make sure you donft have any more fun. And donft even dare smile or Ifll knock your teeth out. I really am glad that youfve made this chioce.h
e. Sounds pretty far fetched, but for some reason, that is the image of God that some people carry in their minds
f. That God is some kind of cosmic kill joy
g. That once you become a Christian you can never laugh or have fun again
h. When we commit our lives to God He doesnft say, gOh, Ifm so glad youfve finally accepted me into your life. Ifve been waiting to make your life miserable.h
4. God wants you to be happy
a. JOH 10:10
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
II> ACCEPT GODfS GIFT OF HOPE
A. VS 11
1. One of the most troubling things for me at Christmas time is trying to figure out what gifts to buy
ILL> In my family, my brothers and I have decided to have a gift exchange, but you can only spend between 5 and 10 dollars. Itfs hard to find much of anything for less than 10 bucks, especially when you want the gift to be meaningful. Try to find something that they need. Something they will like. In our world today of excess, itfs hard to buy things that are really needed.
a. God did not have to fret about what gift to give us
b. God knew exactly what we needed„Ÿand He gave the perfect gift of His Son
c. You see, for people that are lost, the greatest need is a Savior
ILL> There is a Christmas card with these words:
If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent an entertainer.
But our greatest need was for forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior.
d. MAT 1:21
Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
B. Salvation means...
1. Forgiveness of the past
a. Freedom from problems that mess you up in the present
b. Fulfillment in eternity
2. But, you must accept Godfs gift in order to be saved.
ILL> When Kay was a teenager she got her lifesaving certificate sot that she coul be a life guard. I asked her last week how you go about saving someone that is drowning especially if their arms are flailing and they are kicking. She said that you swim out to them and point your feet at them. If Ifm drowing, I donft want anyone to put their feet in my face.
What do you do if they donft stop splashing around. She said you wait until they stop. Itfs only when they give up trying to save themselves that you can move in and pull them to safety.
3. As long as you are trying to save yourself, God cannot save you either
a. You might say, gI donft need God. Ifm getting along pretty well by myself.h
b. No, you need a Savior
c. Only Jesus can give you hope for tomorrow and for all eternity
4. JOH 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
III> ACCEPT GODfS GIFT OF HARMONY
A. Christmas is the time to mend and restore broken relationships
ILL> In the movie Home Alone McCaulley Caukin played the part of Kevin who was mistakenly left behind when his family went on vacation. He was afraid of his next door neighbor, an elderly man who always kept to himself.
During the movie Kevin talks to the man and finds that he hasnft seen his son for years. No phone calls or letters. They had parted on bad terms and never spoken since. The elderly gentleman had never even seen his granddaughter.
Kevin tells him to call him and tell him how he felt. After all, what harm could come out of it.
At the end of the movie, the old man is pictured with his son and hugging his granddaughter for the first time. A severed relationship had been restored.
1. Christmas is a reminder that God desires to restore the relationship between us and Him
a. Because we have sinned, mess up, done things that are not in Godfs will, a wall was created„Ÿa relationship was severed
b. But Jesus Christ was sent to tear down the wall and restore our relationship with God
c. You must be willing
2. Itfs said that, gFirst you get peace with God
a. Once you have peace with God you can have the peace of God
b. With the peace of God you can then be at peace with other people.h
IV> CONCLUSION:
ILL> I heard the story about a guy that was given a gift 52 years ago, but he never opened it. Thatfs dumb.
A. Some go Christmas after Christmas and never open up the gift God wants to give you.
