WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

Luke 2:1-20

The Message (MSG)

The Birth of Jesus

2 ^1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

^6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

An Event for Everyone

^8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

^13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

^15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

^19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

(www. biblegateway.com) 

 

Questions 

1.    What amazes you about the birth of Jesus? 

2.    If it had been you instead of God, writing the script for this story, how would you have done it? 

3.    Why would God do it the way He did it? 

4.    From the story, what does God value? 

5.    What especially has stood out to you, from this reading of the birth narrative? 

6.    What difference does the story really make in your life?

 

IMMANUEL

 

Angel appears to Joseph—God’s son to be born to Mary. 

Matthew 1:22-23 

Fulfillment of OT prophecy—“virgin will be with child”—Isaiah 7:14 

Call him “Immanuel”—Isaiah 8:8, 10 

·        “God with us”

·        Messiah—God’s presence with people

·        Anytime God called someone to task in OT, assured the person/people of His presence

·        Jesus was God with people 

Why is that important? 

·        If God is all powerful—and He is—He can change the circumstances from merely human to superhuman

·        If God is compassionate—and He is—there is always one present who cares in all our circumstances

·        If God is loving—and He is—we are never away from One who loves us—always loved. 

Was God present in Connecticut on Friday?  Yes. 

Why did God not change the circumstances?  Only God knows—human sin is allowed to take place.  God allows people freedom to make good choices and bad choices as well.

Today we are still assured that God is with us—in all circumstances of life—through God’s Holy Spirit. 

HOW CAN IT BE?

God is amazing—never know how He will work—He can do it anyway He wants to. 

Luke 1:26-38 

Angel Gabriel appears to Mary— 

Highly favored—found favor from God—a blessing to be chosen by God—though at times, fearful—may wonder “How can you use me?” 

Reminder in every appearance of angel to person—“The Lord is with you or will be with you.”  God can do whatever He wishes.  His presence is the determiner of success or failure. 

Message to Mary:

1. You will have a son
2. He will be great
3. Name will be Jesus—which means “God is salvation”—sounds like Messiah
4. Son of the Most High God
5. Throne of David—a king
6. Will rule forever—Promise of God to David—you will have a kingdom that will never end—will not fail to have a descendant on the throne—suspended during captivities in OT.  Now to be restored.

“How can this be?”  Seems she understood would have a baby without the intervention of a man.  So how could it be?

Baby will be of the Holy Spirit—overshadow you—not in the usual way—a special birth—amazing conception—godly conception—totally different. 

Angel said—“this will happen”—even Elizabeth is amazed at God giving her a son at her advanced age.  Miracle baby but not in the way this one will be. 

“Nothing is impossible with God.” 

Do you believe that? 

What right do you think can not happen?  What do you think can’t be overcome? 

Nothing is impossible with God. 

You may say, "God could not use me"—who was Mary—a teenager—poor girl.  God used her. 

She was chosen because she was living faithfully to God—so she was highly favored—to be the mother of God’s Son, Jesus. 

Do you have to understand all the details to obey God?  No.  Mary did not understand.  Abram told to go and God would tell him when he was there. 

Many others didn’t understand the why or how, but God worked through them anyway.  That’s what faith is—following even when you don’t understand. 

Do any of us totally understand God? 

How did Mary respond? 

1. I am the Lord’s servant
2. May it be as you have said

Obedience even in the midst of the unknown—faith—willingness to believe God—that nothing was impossible with God. 

But after making this commitment, the road got easier for her, right?  Wrong.

Joseph would not understand.  All the people in Nazareth would talk badly about her.  Could be killed for adultery.  Hard trip to Bethlehem when fully pregnant. 

Later—not understanding her son.  Son then was beaten, crucified.  Later resurrected.  Then left earth. 

Mary had a hard life—even after obeying God.  No guarantees that when we follow God, life will be great.   

Promise her of God’s presence in the midst of it all—in doing God’s will—slowly revealed the next step of following Him. 

Is His presence enough for you?  Even when circumstances seem insurmountable? 

“Nothing is impossible with God.”  “I am with you.” 

What in your life do these messages apply to right now? 

Christmas is about:

1. the presence of God
2. the promises of God
3. the hope through God

ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

 

Luke 1:5-17 

Amazement of Zechariah 

v. 13  “You will have a son”—wife no longer barren—great news! 

v. 14 “You will have joy and gladness—many will rejoice with you”—sounds true of birth of a normal child. 

v. 15

·        “great in eyes of LORD”—maybe a priest or help with Temple

·        “no alcoholic drink”—set apart—Nazirite vow—good.

·        “filled with HS even before birth”—Whoa!

o     Only filling of Spirit in OT was for special service to Lord—not everyone--prophets

o     Before birth—amazing 

v. 16  “persuade many Israelites—turn to God”—turn back, repent—message of prophet 

v. 17

• “spirit and power of Elijah”—great prophet—but is there more—prophecy of Elijah’s coming
• “precede the coming of Lord”—predicted in Isaiah 40:3—fulfillment of prophecy—Whoa—my son—the forerunner?
• “turn hearts of fathers to children”—Mal. 4:5-6  Further fulfillment of prophecy—the one coming before Messiah
• Does this mean Messiah is NOW coming?

Do you know any families where the hearts of parents and children need to be restored again? 

Know anyone who needs minds/hearts changed—turn away from sin and turn to God?  Return to God they once served? 

Zechariah amazed—message from angel of who and what his son would be and do. 

Gradually sunk in—gradually revealed 

Message of repentance—salvation—missions

Lottie Moon—message of missions—a forerunner—preparing the way of the Lord in China—now all over world 

Amazing what God has done throughout the world! 

Is He done yet? 

Amazing what has happened through Lottie Moon offering. 

In giving and praying, we are “forerunners”—aid in turning people to God—aid in restoring family relationships 

Going too—Is everyone you know ready for Christmas—real meaning? 

             Show it—by your life 

             Pray it—individually by name/situation 

             Tell it—as opportunity arises 

Missions is not just in China, Nigeria, Iraq or Brazil—missions is here. 

International luncheon is missions—worldwide

Ministry/witness/missions in community—among families—near is missions worldwide also. 

Are you ready for Christmas?

• Amazed at God
• Heart turned to God
• Relationships with loved ones restored
• Living/giving/telling the message of Jesus

Till these are present, maybe you’re not ready. 

What could God do—this Christmas—that would amaze you?

GIVE THANKS

 

What was the best part of Thanksgiving for you?  Family, food, recreation time, time off from demands of everyday life, time giving thanks to God?  Thanksgiving is about remembering!  And it was so for the Israelites as well.  Psalm 136 

Remembering should cause us to “give thanks” to God.  Forgetting often does not.

Psalms—songs of worship—songs are about remembering—the goodness of God—His worthiness of our praise/worship—His love—His blessings.  Those are good things to remember and they caused the Israelite to praise and thank Him. 

The chorus of our songs is repeated in songs we sing today.  In this Psalm, part of that is “Give thanks to the LORD.”  But the most common thing that is repeated here is a reminder of God’s covenant—His promise with His people—“His love endures forever,” or in the KJV—“His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 

The word for “love” or “lovingkindness” here especially reminds of the covenant God made with His people.  And what you notice as you read or sing this Psalm is that it is a repeating—a reminder—of God’s goodness to them through their history.  Much of this talks of God creating, God choosing the Jews as His people, the giving of the land of Canaan to them, and God’s provision to them.  Remembering all of that—their history with God—His provisions for them—His choosing them to belong to Him—was cause for them to remember that “His love to them was everlasting, eternal, never ending.” 

So after recounting an aspect of God’s provision or God’s covenant with them, they would repeat, “His love endures forever.” 

There are times in any relationship when we need to remember our history with the person.  Husband and wife have words with one another over something that comes up—they get angry—say things they don’t mean.  But each needs to remember their history—what caused them to choose one another in the first place?  Love—they committed themselves to one another—for life—good and bad times.  And remembering that love and commitment—the promises they made to one another—the covenant they made—reminds them to forgive and forget—to remember that there are many more good times in that covenant than bad times.  And then they are willing to work through the problems—the crisis—the words. 

Same in relationship with God—Jews needed to remember His goodness—His promises—His blessings when things got hard.  Same with us today—so we have the Bible to remind us of those good things God did—so that we will renew our covenant—our promises with Him—and give Him thanks and worship. 

I like Psalm 103, which reminded Jews and us today who forgave their (and our) sins, who healed their (and our) diseases, who gave them (and us) love, compassion good things, and keeps walking through life with us. 

When you remember your history with God, you remember how indebted you are to God for things you could not provide for yourself. 

• What diseases have you had that He healed?
• What sins has God forgiven you?
• What has He done for you could not do for yourself?
• When were you down and He lifted your spirits and let you go on when you were ready to give up?
• What has He forgiven you of that you had trouble forgiving yourself for?
• How has He helped you to forgive others or love others who have done things to you that were terrible?

God is compassionate, gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love.  Did you deserve it all?  But He did it anyway. 

Are those things you are thankful for?   

But when we forget, we don’t give Him His rightful place in worship or love or thankfulness. 

Each of us has a story with God—our story connecting with His story.  Do you ever take time to remember—to reflect on that—to think of what you’ve already received from Him? 

If you really do, you will remember that “God is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 

So we have Thanksgiving—not just to remember the pilgrims or the Indians or the first beginnings of our nation.  We have it to remember God’s goodness—God’s provisions—God’s love shown toward us—not just our nation—but to each one of us as well. 

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, and His love endures forever.” 

“Give thanks with a grateful heart, to the Holy One, give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ for us.  And now, let the weak say I am strong, … because of what the LORD has done, give thanks.”

GIVE THANKS IN ALL

Thanksgiving—what are you thankful for?  But we are not just to be thankful FOR—we are also to be thankful IN. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  (NIV) 

Apostle Paul—letter to church in Thessalonica—one of earliest letters. 

Church undergoing opposition for their faith in Jesus.  Wrote to encourage them. 

One thing that Paul teaches is that suffering is inevitable for followers of Jesus.  Hard times are part of God’s plan for His people.  We are to live by faith. 

There are things we can learn from hard times that we cannot or do not learn when things are easy.  Trust in God and faith in Him is learned through times of trial and suffering. 

If faith only works in the good times, that is not faith.  Faith is especially for the hard times. 

·        Rejoice always

o      Joy and happiness are not the same

o      Happiness dependent on circumstances

o      Joy is not

o      Joy comes from faith—things will ultimately turn out because of trust in Jesus

o      Can’t always be happy—but can be joyful because of loving, merciful relationship with Jesus 

·        Pray continually—always

o      Pray at all times

o      Does it mean we should always be praying?  No.

o      But we can always be in an attitude of prayer

o      Prayer is a focus on God

o      Prayer is a trust in God

o      Give all your time to God—be constantly reminded of His presence, love, grace 

·        Give thanks in all circumstances—good and bad

o      Does it say, “Give thanks FOR all circumstances”?  No.

o      Some circumstances are very bad.

o      Remember though, Romans 8:28,  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (NIV)

o      In all things God is working for our good.

o      Can God bring good out of very bad circumstances?  All-powerful God

o      If this is true, then we can give Him thanks IN all circumstances—in their midst—while they are happening.

o      The focus is on God—not the circumstances—that is faith, trust, hope in Him.

o      The opposite is worry, and that is sin. 

Community Thanksgiving service—Ralph Brandon said, “Thankful people are happy people.” 

o       Thankful people place the focus on God and others.   

o       Thankful people recognize what they have received that they do not deserve—have not earned. 

o       Thankful people can then be happy people—because thankful people are trusting people. 

What are you thankful for? 

What are you thankful IN the midst of? 

Both are important for us at Thanksgiving—and throughout the year as well. 

(Sing)     Give Thanks with a grateful heart

               Give thanks to the Holy One

                Give thanks because He’s given  

               Jesus Christ for us. 

    And now, let the weak say,

    I am strong, let the poor say,

    I am rich, because of what

    The Lord has done for us. 

    Give thanks.

GOOD SOLDIERS

GOOD SOLDIERS

 

Here was my Veteran's Day sermon from last Sunday:

Veteran’s Day—we remember those who served our country in the military so that we might have the freedoms that we have.  Helped not only our nation—but others as well—be freed. 

How many of you are veterans?  Thank you very much. 

2 Timothy 2:1-4  What do good soldiers of Christ do? 

Be strong in the grace of Jesus Christ 

1.     None of us deserved to be saved—all of grace—a gift

2.     A privilege—not to be taken for granted—not to be forgotten 

Battle will continue 

1.     What you heard from others—message of Christ—commitment to Christ—pass it on 

Endure hardship as a good soldier

1.     Soldier life not an easy life—basic training to get into shape for the hardships that follow

2.     Expect the Christian life to be a battle

3.     Expect the Christian life to be at times a matter of suffering

4.     So many Christians want Christian life to be an easy life—we are in war—war with Satan—a very powerful enemy.  Does that sound easy—fighting an enemy who is more powerful than we are.  Remember 1 Jn 4:4  “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.”

5.     Who is the victor—God not you—at times we suffer 

Keep priorities straight 

1.     In time of war—don’t get involved in civilian affairs

a.       Don’t be sidetracked by things less important than the battle

b.     Don’t be distracted by things less important

c.     Doesn’t that so often happen to Christians? 

2.     In time of war—remember the commander—whose in charge

a.      Soldier of Christ Jesus

b.     Commanding officer

c.     Good soldier wants to please commander—one in charge

                                                  i.      “I don’t like it this way”

                                                ii.      “I don’t think it ought to be done this way”

                                              iii.      “It’s too hard.”

                                             iv.      Who’s in charge? 

3.     How do you please the Commander

a.      Obedience to His teaching

b.     Spend time with the battalion—don’t desert—unity

c.     Keep training—Word, Prayer, Learning

d.     Watch out for things that take your focus off pleasing the Commander 

Are you a good soldier of Jesus Christ? 

In the battle, how do you remember to do these things? 

1.     v. 8  “Remember Jesus Christ”

2.     “Remember others who suffered for their faith”

3.     “Remember you are suffering for others who will follow you”—your family, other soldiers of Jesus—those yet to be soldiers of Jesus