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Introduction
As we transition from the Thanksgiving Holiday unto Christmas, we’re going to begin a series titled ‘Experiencing the Christmas Story’
(Over the next several weeks, we’re going to examine the sights & sounds of the Christmas story.)
What I mean by the ‘Christmas Story’, is everything that transpired on the lead up to a Saviour’s birth in Bethlehem, and the short time afterwards.
Understand that what I’m speaking about and what we typically incorporate into the ‘Christmas story’ takes place over a time period of up to 3 years.
From the time of John the Baptist’s announcement and conception, the massacre of 2 yo and under babies in Bethlehem.
In this series we will be looking at Joseph & Mary of course, we’ll examine John the Baptist, his parents Zachariah & Elizabeth, King Herod, the Shepherds & the wise men.
Today, we’re going to examine some of the things that people heard in that day.
With that being said, we’re going to start off with Mary the mother of Jesus, and what Mary heard in that day.
Mary heard Words of Blessing
I. Mary Heard Words of Blessing (Luk.
1:26-38)
(She heard)
She was Blessed (v28)
In the introduction by Gabriel, we see that Gabriel communicates three things to Mary:
She heard that she was Loved
‘Highly favoured’ is what Gabriel said.
What a wonderful things to hear from them messenger of God!
Church, let me say - you are loved today!
Joh.
3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
You’re blessed today!
God loves you with an everlasting love!
I like the words of what God said to Jeremiah in Jer.
31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
I like them because I know that God drew me unto Him! God spoke unto my heart, revealed unto me the sinner that I was and that He was a Saviour!
Mary heard those words, that She was Loved
She heard that she Wasn’t Alone
‘the LORD is with thee’
Christian let me tell you something today: You are not alone.
You are never alone!
When you’re in the valley - He’s there
When your’e in the furnace - He’s there
When you’re in the Lion’s Den - He’s there
When your’e in the Prison - He’s there
When you’re shipwreck - He’s there
No matter what trial - no matter what trouble you’re in, He hath said ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee!’ (Heb.
13:5)
She heard that she was Special
It’s something of a conundrum to know that I am special in God’s eyes, but - isn’t everybody?
You see, God’s Love toward us is collective in the sense that God loved ‘the world’ - all of us enough to send Jesus to die on the Cross for our sins.
But God also loves me in a unique sense as well
In that God knows me intimately - like only God could know me.
God cares about me intimately - to where He knows the very hairs upon my head.
God loves me intimately - to where He laid down His life for me!
Eph.
2:4-5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
Allow me to tell you as Gabriel told Mary:
You are loved
You are not alone
You are special in the Eyes of God!
She heard words of Blessing
She would Bring Forth a Blessing (v30-33)
Because she was Blessed, she would bring forth a blessing to all people
That which was conceived in her, she would bring forth to be a blessing to all people.
And church - that’s the way it should be for you and I!
You and I have something conceived within us - when we were what - BORN AGAIN - we were born anew!
And that which was conceived within us should come forth and be a blessing to the world!
The Bible says: Col. 2:6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
Do you know how you ‘walk in Him?’
Love as He loved - God first, others second, Himself last
Serve as He served - Be willing to wash the feet of others
Speak as He Spoke - the Truth in Love - to the edifying and educating of others.
Christians, we’ve been blessed - let’s strive to be a blessing!
Mary Heard Words of Blessings.
Next, we see that Joseph heard words for Course Correcting.
II.
Joseph Heard Words for a Course Correcting (Mat.
1:18-21)
The Revelation of Joseph (v18)
We see that Joseph found out that Mary was with child - and he knew (because they’d not consummated their relationship) that it wasn’t his.
Now think about how that would make YOU feel.
Because up until this point, there’s never been a pregnancy without a consummation.
So this fact is Revealed unto Joseph
The Decision by Joseph (v19)
So Joseph knowing his espoused wife was pregnant with a child of another, was going to end the engagement.
But notice a character trait that speaks well of this man:
I would imagine that he felt humiliated & betrayed - and the flesh would want to exact a our ‘pound of flesh’, yet Joseph being ‘a just man’, desired to protect her from humiliation.
Joseph may have thought that he was betrayed, but he wasn’t going to betray her.
He was going to break things off - and normally, rightfully so, but this situation was anything but normal.
We see the decision by Joseph
The Correction of the Holy Ghost (v20-21)
Joseph was about to make a mistake.
He was about to mess up, but the Holy Ghost stepped in to change his direction!
(Ill.)
21 years ago, I was headed the wrong direction.
In my ignorance and pride I was heading the wrong direction.
But thank God the Holy Ghost stepped in with a ‘COURSE CORRECTION’!
Yes I was on my way to a Hell prepared for the devil and his angels - and well deserved I might add.
But the Holy Ghost stepped in and spoke unto my heart, showed me the error of my ways and gave me wisdom to change direction.
This is just what He did for Joseph.
But understand this - the COURSE CORRECTION ONLY WORKS, IF YOU TAKE THE DIRECTION FROM THE HOLY GHOST!
We see that Joseph did that: Mat.
1:24-25 “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
We see the Correction of the Holy Ghost
Mary Heard Words of Blessings.
Joseph heard words for Course Correcting.
Next, we see that the Shepherds Heard Words of Good Tidings
III.
The Shepherds Heard Words of Good Tidings (Luk.
2:8-14)
There was Deliverance for Them (v11)
They were the Recipients (‘unto you…’)
Of a Redeemer (‘…a Saviour)
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