Voices In The Night

VOICES IN THE NIGHT

INTRODUCTION: It seems appropriate to me that in a world where Christmas has become more and more commercialized that the eve of the birth of our savior will fall on a Sunday this year. In the midst of ALL the hustle and bustle of preparations for the many celebrations that will take place, we will on that Sunday morning have an opportunity to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Nearly 2000 years ago a king was born. There were no multi-colored twinkling lights. Not gifts under the tree. No Christmas carols being sung by the fire. He was not born in a palace. He did not have a fancy bed in which to sleep and he was not wrapped in the best baby cloths money could buy. Instead, he was born in a stable. He was laid in a feeding trough and he was wrapped in old blankets. The only people who took notice of the arrival of this new king was a band of shepherds to whom angels announced this miracle. The savior has been born. The one who had come to care for the whole world came in a form that needed to be cared for. The creator of the universe was now a little child.

On this silent night so long ago we can still hear voices echoing in the night. This morning I want to take time and have us listen to those voices and hear what they have to say to you and to me.

I) The voices of the animals. Representing the voice of creation.

Romans 1:18-20

Romans 8: 19-22; 39

II) The voice if the infant. Representing the voice of simplicity

The gift that God sent to us on that night was not to be something that only the scholar could understand. John 3:16 says that :God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

A T-shirt that says, I’m a whosoever.

Let’s personalize this verse “God so loved (insert your name), that he gave his only begotten son that if (Insert your name) believeth on Him (Insert your name) should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

God’s plan of salvation is:

1. We should hear the gospel message.

2. Sin separates us from God

3. All Have sinned

4. All are separated from God

5. Jesus came to provide a means of overcoming that separation

6. We must believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God and that he is the way to overcome the separation

7. We must repent of our sins admit that we are separated

8. We must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the gory of God

9. We must be immersed to wash away our sins and to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

God’s plan was not complicated. But Satan desire it to be complicated and so he has influenced man to the point that we often make it more difficult that necessary.

John 13: 34, 35- They will know we are Christians by our love

I Corinthians 13:13- The greatest of these is love.

How much more simple could it be

III) The voice of Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Representing the voice of awe and of fear.

Throughout scripture, we see how people responded to God.

Sara not realizing that the strangers at her table were from God Laughed when they said that she would have a baby

Moses face shown so brightly with the glory of the Lord, the people begged him to cover his face.

After the capture of Jericho, nations sent representatives to try and make peace with these people

Zechariah- Luke 1: 13 Do not be afraid

Mary- Luke 1:30 - Do not be afraid

Shepherds-Luke 2:10- Do not be afraid

This fear turned to awe after the message had been received Luke 2: 16-20

The people of Israel and even that nations surrounding them had a respect for God that has been lost in the 20th century. For us as we look back at that night long ago, how can we not feel the same sense of awe.

Psalm 33:8

Psalm 119:161

Malachi 2:5

As we look in revelation at the final outcome for those who reject this baby born of a virgin, how can we not be filled with fear.

IV) The voices of the angels. Representing majesty.

No matted how hard some may try, we cannot deny that this baby laying in the manger is God in the flesh. Jesus left his heavenly throne and took the form of a man. He came to earth to redeem creation to himself, yet in those three years of ministry he revealed his true nature to so few.