Series: Christmas Brings…[#1]
HOPE
Hebrews 6:18-20
Welcome
Hymn 87 “Joy To The World” (Vs. 1&4)
Hymn 89 “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Vs. 1&3)
Offering
Hymn 335 “Standing On The Promises” (Vs. 1&4)
Children’s Choir “Meet With Me”
Introduction:
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the Christmas season is officially started. That means that every store will be filled with Christmas trees, decorations, toys for the young and old, etc… That means that we will have to go to those stores to spend ungodly amounts of money on gifts. That means that each one of us will have Christmas parties at work, church, school, etc… That means that many of us are preparing to go out of town while others of us are preparing for company that is coming to town. Each year I grow older and the more I think about what the Christmas season brings, the more I seem to dread the Christmas season. Is that what Christmas brings for you? I don’t want this Christmas season to bring dread. I want you to clear your mind this morning as we look together at what Christmas should bring to our lives.
Hebrews 6:13-17
This passage takes us almost 2000 years back. This passage was written to encourage the Jewish Christians to hold on to their faith in Christ because of all that God had promised them. The writer takes them back to a promise that God made to Abraham. God promised to give him a land of his own, He promised him a whole nation of descendants, and He promised that through Abraham all the nations of the earth would be blessed. From this promise came the nation of Israel and about 2000 years after Abraham, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6:18-20
What is the "two unchangeable things"? It is the promise of God and the oath of God. In order to help Abraham- and us- believe in a God we cannot see, God made a promise and then He swore by Himself that He would keep His promise.
During difficult times in our lives, we need to remember that God has promised and swore by Himself to give us an eternal inheritance. God’s promise and oath gives us hope and encouragement. That hope is an anchor for our soul which cannot be moved. It is firm and secure. Where can we find this kind of hope that will be an anchor for the soul?
Adult Choir: “He Hideth My Soul”
God’s “Track Record”
It’s one thing to say that God always keeps His promises, it is another thing to prove it. God has been making and keeping promises to mankind for thousands of years.
Our story begins in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit. Sin had been introduced into the world. It seemed as Satan had won and God’s plan for fellowship with mankind was ruined. From that moment sin spread across the world damaging everything in its path. Sin had brought darkness into this world.
Go dark.
God was now faced with a dilemma. How was He going to deal with Adam and Eve? He could have destroyed them and started all over again, but He didn’t. God didn’t give up on mankind. He had a plan that had been foreordained before the creation. Satan was not going to lead all of mankind away from God as he had 1/3 of the angels.
After the fall, as God was passing out judgment upon the serpent, Eve, and then Adam; that God gave mankind a glimpse of hope when He passed judgment upon the serpent.
Genesis 3:15
God’s plan was centered in a specific person. That person would be a man and He would enter this world by being born of a woman. God also promised that this man would fight Satan and although Satan would strike a blow against Him that he would not defeat Him. God also promised Satan that he would be crushed and destroyed by this man.
Light 1 Candle and pull up house lights. Keep house lights very dim.
Special Music: “Mystery”
As you travel through the Old Testament, you will find promise after promise that God made to certain people concerning this man that was going to destroy Satan and save Israel. As each promise was made, the qualifications became more and more specific for who this man was going to be.
Summing up many of these promises, God told us that He would be a Jew. He would come from the tribe of Judah. He would be a descendant of David. He would be born in Bethlehem. He would be born of a virgin.
The Garland
The green garland which we use for Christmas decorations represents life. As we place these garlands this morning, let them remind us of the deity of Christ- the child born at Bethlehem who was both God and Man- "Who would spring up like a tender plant"- who would always be green and flourishing and who would live forevermore.
Hang the garland.
Special Music: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Hymn 82 “Emmanuel”
There is only 1 person that could ever meet all of those qualifications and His name is Jesus.
In Matthew 1 we find the family line of Jesus Christ. This list is full of liars, adulterers, cheaters, murderers, etc… There is 4 women listed in the family line of Jesus: Tamar who slept with Judah, Rahab the harlot, Ruth who was a Moabitess, and Bathsheba who committed adultery with David. Three were Gentiles. Three were involved in some form of sexual immorality. Two were involved in prostitution. One was an adulteress. But, all four are in the line that leads to Jesus Christ!
You know what this tells me? God keeps his promises no matter what, and God uses all sorts of people to keep His promises. God has always had to use imperfect people, that’s all He has. That gives me hope!
John 3:16-21
Bring house lights up more, and bring up stage lights.
Adult Choir “O What A Wonder It Is”
God’s “Current Record”
God never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrew 13:8). Not only has God promised us eternal security through Jesus Christ, but He has also given us hope for each day’s problems. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
For many of us, the holidays just remind us of losses and past failures; but God is the place we can run to and be strengthened. Today you can trade in your sorrows, your shame, your sickness, and your shame; for the joy and peace of the Lord.
“Trading My Sorrows”
God’s “Continued Record”
Just as the Israelites found hope in the coming of the Messiah, we as Christians can find hope in what the future holds for us.
John 14:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:12
Hymn 519 “Face To Face With Christ My Savior”
Is there hope in the world? Yes! Hope came into this world 2000 years ago at Bethlehem. And if we want that hope to come into our lives, we must do what the shepherds did so long ago. We must come to Bethlehem and bow before the newborn King. Hope is available but only to those who will humble themselves and bow in faith before the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Candles
Christmas: a season of joy, a time of hope, a promise of peace. "Immanuel has come." "God is with us." "Wonderful Counselor." "Almighty God." "Everlasting Father." "Prince of Peace." These words of Isaiah have come true for our time, and yet the Messiah beckons us still to work for lasting peace in our troubled world. We have worshipped Him with songs of joy, but let us serve Him with hands and feet that bring good news to a hungry world.
In sending His Son, God has given a light that will shine forever. It is a light of truth. It is a light of wisdom. It is a light of joy to all who will accept it.
As we light these candles this evening, let us be reminded that we are to carry His light to our world...let us proclaim the peace of Christmas in the Holy name of Christ who came to us that we might live forever with Him.
Light candles.
Hymn 91 "Silent Night, Holy Night"
The Gifts
Our Christmas tradition of gift-giving stems from the benevolence of God who gives many gifts to His children.
Bring gifts down.
Hymn 610 “What Can I Give Him”
Conclusion:
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God from Heaven? Do you confess that you are sinner? Do you admit you need a Savior? Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins? Are you willing to trust him as your Lord and Savior? Will you bow before him and crown him as your King? As the song we just sang says, “What can I give Him? I can give Him my heart”.
Invitation Hymn 307 “Just As I Am”
