Jan 16, 2022 Sunday Worship Service

Came across a few things. I'd like to share with you this morning. I got the okay, by the way to do so. What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It's Christmas Eve.

It was better earlier. It was better mother was much better earlier. Who was the greatest greatest comedian in the Bible? Samson because he brought the house down.

Alright, one more. We come from dust, and we will return to dust, and that's why I do not dust in case that someone I know. So.

Well, we had Christmas, believe that Christmas. Again. There's nothing wrong with that. And so we're thinking about the birth of Christ as we talked throughout the next week and we are actually the previous week this week and next week, but there are some things about the birth of Christ that are significant for us, to know, to understand, particularly dealing with the nature of Jesus Christ who Jesus really is. End of the story of the guy who was trying to get home for Christmas and he was at the airport and it was very busy and hectic at the airport and he is brought his luggage and he put the luggage on the scale. And and he noticed that there was a mistletoe hanging by the the scale and so he has to the lady said what's the mistletoe for and she said to kiss your luggage. Goodbye.

You see because the airports are really bad at that is the epitome of Christmas really, because all of us travel at Christmas at least at one time or another and you have all these people traveling on the roads. We have all the people traveling through the air at the airports. And so there's a lot of traveling and so I think it's a proposal because when you think about the original Christmas when you think about the original the birth of Christ at the time that there was traveling there as well. We had Mary and Joseph traveling all over the place during the turn of her pregnancy. They went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, back to Jerusalem to Bethlehem, back to Jerusalem on down into Egypt, back to Bethlehem. And then back to There's a lot of traveling at night, especially when you didn't have a car, you had to go buy a slow walk or a slow horse. And so also, you had to do a lot of traveling. If you were an angel, right? The angel had to come down for whatever the angel came from. In fact, when we think about Jesus, and his nature, Jesus Is God, he is down from heaven in order to be born of this version. So even Jesus is traveling on his birthday. And and so traveling is a part of the holidays. We can see even from scripture and as we think about the birth of Christ, you can't help but think about, first of all, the birth of John, the Baptist was talking about that little bit this morning and bible class, but the Bible tells us in Malachi chapter 3 and verse one that he was going to send the messenger of Lord. And that he would prepare the way of the Lord before him. And so that was John, the Baptist John the baptizer, and he went forth and did his work just as God wanted him to do, and he preached about the coming Messiah. He preached about who Jesus, was he preached about the coming Kingdom? And then, at one point when he actually baptized Jesus Christ, in the Jordan, he said, Behold the Lamb of God who takes the sins of the world away. And so, John, the Baptist plays an important role in intricate part of the Plan of Salvation that we enjoy today. It's all as we think about the birth of Christ. We think about who was involved. Think about John's birth and that of Zacharias. John's birth was also announced by God, Zacharias and Zacharias gets the message and he doesn't know what to do with a message. And so, as we think about what he had to say, here's the background to the story and Luke chapter 1, but the angel said to him, do not be afraid. Zacharias. Will, your prayer Was Heard and your wife, Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name, John. And Zachariah said to the angel, how should I know this? But I am not. I am an old man. And my wife is well advanced in years and the angel answered and said to him. I am Gabriel, who was sent to speak to you and bring you these, Glad Tidings, but behold you will be mute until the day, these things take place because you did not believe my words. And so we come to the announcement to Joseph. But before we get to that house, one of Joe's, still want to deal with Zacharias because what we just read is something like this. Gabriel comes to Zacharias or says. Hey. God said, you're going to be our son. I saw you heard your prayers and he's going to bless you when the sun and Zacharias turned around to Gabriel said, oh, shut up and turn around cuz that the rights of sudden you shut up and he did became you, right? And so for the next 9 months, at least Jack arrives, can't he can't talk because he disbelieve what Gabriel said, he disbelieves a promise that God gave to him. And so because of that, he could no longer open his mouth. And so, we will think about what must have happened, and what took place. But the people realize something Supernatural did happen, but they hadn't understood. Why it happened? Because no one could tell them what had happened. And certainly Zacharias couldn't tell them but we find that Elizabeth is pregnant. And she, she gives birth to John and the people were relatives and her friends. They all want to name the sun after the father, right? Every every firstborn Sons to be named after, after Dad and besides, who in the Bible is named draw. Who are the Hebrew history is named John. Nobody. The wild name. A child. Mary said, I'm going to name the boy John. And there was an ensuing fight. So now you have a baby was born, everyone's happy, but now the families in fighting over what to name the baby and and so we find that in the end there, talking back and forth, arguing about who's going to be. And finally, people are signing language to Zacharias and Zechariah says, give me a pedi, takes the pain and he goes down on the scroll. And he writes the name, John. And a moment, he wrote the name, John his mouth was open and it began to speak. And then you can read about the praise that he gives to the father because of the birth of his son was going to prepare the way for Jesus. The Christ, on the way up to verse 80, but here we find why they're going to name the boy John. Now the birth of Jesus was as follows after his mother. Mary was betrothed to Joseph before they came together and Hebrew days. You were Was I married when you were engaged not like today and then he had to wait a year or so and then you would have a wedding banquet and then you have your wedding night and that would consummate the marriage and so they were betrothed to each other and Mary was the trolls to Joseph before they came together. She was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Helen Joseph, her husband being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example. Think about that for just a second. Put yourself in Joseph shoes. What would you think? What would you think that your wife-to-be is now carrying a child is pregnant and you haven't done with your wife. Well, he's scheming. He's thinking he's contemplating and in his heart. He wants to be with Mary but it can just emotionally can't deal with this predicament. And so he's thinking about divorcing her putting her away, sending away would be the appropriate phraseology. And the angel comes to Joseph and says wait, before you do that. You need to know this. She's been faithful to you. This is a supernatural work of God. This is from the Holy Spirit. Came upon Mary. And she now carries the Son of God in her womb. And so you can imagine the relief if you will and Joseph. Now, you also got to think about Mary's perspective here. She's pregnant. And she realizes that all the people, you know, probably not so much today, but in Years Gone by, if you were young woman and you were pregnant and you were pregnant out of wedlock. It was a big, big deal, a big Scandal indeed. And I can remember going to high school and the one of the one of my friends who became pregnant and I feel so bad for her because she was treated so poorly and such a terrible terrible way, but that's the way people responded and that's exactly the way people responded in the first century. And so Mary has some thinking to do here because she knows that she's going to start showing here. And people going to start talking. So what is she doing? She heads down to her. Cousin's house, Elizabeth? And that's the story. We were just reading about where she's now with Elizabeth and and she's there for 3 months. And so I'm sure she had some good conversations with your cousin about what she might could do. But there was really nothing she could do it, but tell the truth. And so after 3 months, she would go back to Bethlehem. And so you find all of that going on at the same time. So he says, but while he thought about these things appeared to him in a dream Saint Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take to you. Marry your wife for that, which is conceived of hers on the Holy Spirit and she will bring forth a son and you should call his name, Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophets saying behold, the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they should call his name Immanuel, which is translated god with us. Then Joseph being aroused from sleeps in as the angel of the Lord commanded in and took to his wife and didn't know, we had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name, Jesus in similar fashion with John. God told. John told Zack Araya Saint Elizabeth that their son was going to be named John, you will call his name John. And so you read about that in the first opening portion of Luke Chapter 2. It's so while everyone in the family is arguing, all we're going to call and check the rice. We're going to call his name time or Roy and Mary said no going to be John. Lennon, Zacharias came around and said no, it's John because God said, so and Jesus. The young responsibility for the young woman. Given to her at this time, was to name her own son. And here you have someone else telling her what to name her son, and I wonder is a young girl when she was dreaming about being a mom and about having children, what she would name her children. What would be her favorite names to give her children? But she didn't have that opportunity. God came along and said, you will call his name, Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. And so what is the name? Jesus stuck Emmanuel God With Us. How it translated. And so, Jesus Christ. Last name, Christ is a title called the Messiah. Meaning the anointed one, Jesus, the anointed one. That's who Jesus. The Christ is at saw the announcement to Joseph has some significant events attached to it. So there's a three-month visit with Elizabeth and and at this time she's probably showing and Shoji Joseph comes along and he's not sure what to do. And again, the angel sets him straight and so we come to more of that which took place Joseph have mixed feelings before that, but the Bible tells us in chapter 1 verses 24 and 25 that he awoke, and did, as the angel of the Lord commanded him. He did that. And previously I said that he did not want to leave Mary. And the reason I say that is because when someone typically divorces someone for Fornication, adultery. They usually leave with resentment, anger, fear, and they'll act hurt the other one who hurt him. But it said that Joseph did not want to disgrace her. That's how much you thought about her even though he perceived in his mind. That she was unfaithful to him. But in reality, she was not. And he would have wakened to that and understand that. And so here we find that Joseph is establishing establishing that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah Emmanuel God With Us or so that gets us back to the birth of Christ chapter 5 in verse to it says, but you Bethlehem ephrathah

But you Bethlehem ephrathah. Do you are little among the thousands of Judah? Yet out of you shall come forth to me. The one to be ruler. In Israel, who's going forth are from all from Everlasting, some translation safe from Everlasting to Everlasting or from Lever lasting to Eternity. That's so the idea here. Is that Micah the prophet Micah is now prophesying about not only the birth of Christ, but where Jesus would be born and I think it's highly appropriate to think about that because here we find in Israel. There are at least two bethlehem's to bethlehem's up here up on the North. I don't know if you can see it. The terrible map. But there is Bethlehem outside of Nazareth. And then the other Bethlehem is the Bethlehem ephrathah, which is in Judea, which is in Judah, which is right outside of Jerusalem. And what did Michael say Bethlehem ephrathah is going to be the best man where Jesus was to be born? So with pinpoint accuracy Micah. Where is the exact place where Jesus is to be born? But Micah also declares the eternality, the Eternal nature of Jesus by declaring that he is from Everlasting to Everlasting. And so these types of passages point to the coming, Messiah is going to save the people from their sins. But this coming Messiah was God. And God would become flesh and dwelt among Mankind and they beheld. His glory, the glory of the only begotten, son of God. And so we come back maybe. Well, there's another map. I don't know if you can see it. But anyhow, there's two bethlehem's. And Bethlehem ephrathah is the one that is mentioned, are the one is part of the prophecy. So God, use an angel and unlikely Source in fulfilling his prophecy, the emperor. Arone the emperor of Rome. You see it was at this time that the emperor came forth and said, hey, we're going to run a census this year and the Sharks just meant that all the people of Israel would have to go back to their hometowns, the towns of their ancestry and register. So now she has to go back to Bethlehem and register for the census. And so here, the birth story is includes the sensors. So God working behind the scenes, as it were, the Divine Providence of God Is Now using the law of the land, by the emperor to be a part of the birth process. It's amazing. How God unfolds all of this. And when you read it, you see it on the folding before your own eyes. And so everyone had to return the back to the city. And of course, Joseph had to return to Jerusalem, because that was the city of David. He was descended of David. That's all in the Bible tells us in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered. This census first to place, require nyhus was governor of Syria. So all went out to be registered everyone to his own City. Joseph also went up From Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there. The days were completed for her to be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them at the end. Until we find here in Luke Chapter 2, the basic summary of the birth of Christ. And how is compared with Matthew's account that were taking these events in chronological order, but we find here that he's in a Manger in the manger, is simply the feeding trough for the animals. And there's hang in the manger in the feeding trough and the babies laid in the feeding trough and the baby is wrapped in swaddling cloth, right? And so, the Bible tells us again about the shepherd's. We read about that this morning. That that they were this would be a sign to the Shepherds. They would find the baby in the manger wrapped in swaddling cloths. And and so they would have to be looking for that particular, baby wrapped in swaddling clothes throughout the town of Bethlehem as they looked for the coming Messiah, but as we think about Jesus and we think about the birth of the Christ, we can't help thinking about Mary. Mary's decided to follow what the Lord has said. Joseph, has decided to follow what the Lord said to do. And so both are following God at this point. You know the Bible tells us that we are to follow Jesus. Jesus said all those who desire to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Nowhere in the Bible. Does it say, well, why don't you sit around and follow me? No idea about Mary is her faith. Her faith is always moving. It's moving forward. In a progression. Forward to the regression toward God. Her face is growing stronger each and every day and it began by going down and having a talk with her, dear cousin, Elizabeth and Elizabeth health or straighten yourself out and now things are in proper perspective. And now she is free to stand up and say, God has done this. There's nothing wrong with me. This is all the working of God and I am just grateful to be a part of his plan. I asked the mothers this morning, you were in the class. How would you feel if your son was the son of God? How would you behave? Would you do anything differently? But Mary understood this and realize the responsibility, got it placed on her own shoulders. To make sure. Now there's anybody who's really a godparent. This would be married. She actually was there to make sure Jesus went to bible class. Jesus went to church. She nature. Jesus read his Bible. So much. So by the age of 12, be standing in the temple, and he's actually teaching the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the leaders of the Jews of the temple. Anywhere Spanish that. This bright young man was saying the things that he was saying all because no, it wasn't Supernatural Mary Mary brought that responsibility and she taught Jesus Will. And so This significant events of Christ's birth. First of all, what I told whether or not Joseph and Mary knew that the baby was to be born in Bethlehem. Maybe they were, maybe they were or not sure, but Nazareth to Bethlehem trip was not recorded for us. It's not recorded for us. And does the bible even say that perhaps, they were disappointed over? The whole idea of the travels that they had an indoor. Going from place to place of city, the city back and forth. And then to find themselves where people are talking about them. Because now she's pregnant out of wedlock. So all that's going on and we don't read anything in the Bible about how depressed Joseph was or how depressed Mary was. They accepted it, accepted it. And they accepted it with joy. When it was finally revealed to them, the purpose that God had in mind for both of them. And so we fun finally come to the fact that the Messiah is Born. The Messiah is born. That's called the Incarnation. The Latin term means in flesh, in flesh, and this is something amazing because it's only happened one. Or God is infused into human being and now Jesus is the god-man. One time in history. Never to be repeated again, and then we coming to John chapter one. We talked about the birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew talks about it, Luke talks about it, but John gives his perspective. It's a little different but it's about the birth of Christ noticed. It says, in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, Jesus The Log House. The word is God. Is God, he was God, a continuous being God. He was in the beginning, and he is God. That's what John is saying. And so and the word became flesh and dwelt among us to think about that. You have God, which involves Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And there was a meeting of the minds of the godhead. And I got together and he said mankind is going to need help? Who's going to go. And this guy, the second person of the godhead stood up and said I'll go send me. It's all it was and he comes to Earth. It becomes Flash and they call his name. Jesus God with us Emmanuel. And so we literally God becoming flesh be coming in. We talked about in class, Christianity is the only religion that teaches God became man and lived among their Then we learned about God, and Jesus was the perfect demonstration of God because he says, I came to interpret or to explain the father to you. And that's what he did. So Jesus being God explain God. Jesus created everything as God. In fact, the very person who he was born out of, he created a magic reading your own mother. And Mary is coming in the flesh, through the mother. He had met and Paul says it this way in Philippians chapter 2 Christ Jesus in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation taking the form of a bond servant or slave and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance. As a man. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Are there finally, we find here. Jesus spoke these words before he went to the Cross. Talking about his glorification. Jesus says, five of The Hours come glorify your son, that your son Also may glorify you as you have given him authority over All Flesh. While I'm in time that he should give his that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is eternal life that they may know you. The only true God and Jesus Christ. Who do you have sent? I have glorified you on yours. I have finished the work with what you have given me to do. And now father, glorify me together with yourself with the glory, which I had with you before the world was, that's what Jesus was saying in his prayer. Remember after the Lord's Supper, they institution of the Lord's Supper. They went out to the Garden to pray. And here's that prayer and Jesus saying, I'm going to be glorified by you father.

And I'm going to have the same Glory here that I had with you. When I was with you, Jesus was God. A lot of people don't understand that. They think Jesus simply became Jesus at the birth. Through Mary. But that wasn't the whole story. The story is Jesus, as God, who became flesh, and his name was Jesus and God dwells among us Emmanuel. God With Us. And so the story of the birth of Christ story of Christmas As Told by one of the greatest prophets of all time. Linus. Linus, what is he say? Now, there were the same country Shepherds living out in the field. Keeping watch over their flock by night and behold. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them in the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold. I bring you Glad Tidings of great joy, which will be to all people for was born to you this day in the city of David, A Savior Jesus, who is Christ, the lord. And this will be the song to you. This will be the same to you to the shepherd's. This will be a sign to you. You'll find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger lying in a feeding trough. And suddenly there was with the angel, get this, a multitude of the Heavenly Host, praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest and on Earth. Peace, Good Will toward men. Can you imagine He see one Angel and then all the sudden a multitude whatever that is Thousands Legions, who knows? But just the sound of them singing. Glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth and Goodwill toward men. It something you learned from this account this morning, the accuracy of Prophecy. The accuracy of Prophecy Micah prophesied, some seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, and prophesy the exact place. That's not coincidence because there were two bethlehem's and so the Prophecies of the Messianic prophecies that we read about in scripture. I've been fulfilled and God's purposes. We will always be accomplished, you know, mankind. Thought I'd lost the battle when Jesus hung on the cross, but I used that cross to win the battle against Satan. And so, he had that all planned out. An eternity long before he created anything and lack Joseph. You and I ought to have that attitude, never disgrace. Someone who has disgraced. You never returned. Vengeance against somebody for doing something member says, I am the Lord God. I will repay. Let me repay with vengeance. You that's not your job, your to love people. Even when they hurt you. That's what Jesus said. When he said, love your enemies, love your enemies. And in all of this, we are understand that we need to come and serve the king we come and serve him every Lord's day. We not only on the Lord's day, but every day we serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Where did you go to all people? The way Jesus did good. All people understand the teachings of Jesus Christ, and let those peaches live in our hearts that we live by them. Davidson Walnut Cove in Psalm 119 verse 11. That word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against, that's exactly what. And you can do that this morning when Jesus says this. If you love me, keep my Commandments and one of The Commandments that Jesus gave was in Mark chapter 16, he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. You believe that you can do that this morning. You can be assured of your salvation. I have that confidence of going through life that you are in Christ, Jesus, because Jesus Promised, how you could do it and when you could do it, he that believes it is baptized shall be saved. You have that opportunity this morning. If you've done that already, perhaps you haven't been too faithful to the servant to the king. But he still King and he still desires that you submit yourself to his authority. So Jesus says repent, repent of your sins and change your mind about your direction and come back to Jesus. You can do that this morning. If that day if you're willing to while Together We Stand and sing.