DECEMBER 2, 2007
“THE PROVISIONS OF CHRISTMAS”
SCRIPTURE
READING: Mathew 16:13-19
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you
say I am?"
INTRO:
As we enter this Christmas season it
behooves us to stop and consider what
Christmas is really all about.
Is Christmas just a time for giving and
receiving gifts, spending time with family
and enjoying special meals?
Is it just a time to reach out and help
those who may be less fortunate than we?
Too often even we Christians lose sight
of what Christmas represents and the many
ways the true meaning of Christmas touches
our lives.
I Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and
of angels, and have not charity, I am become
as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge;
and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing. And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body
to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing.
In order for us to celebrate the true
meaning of Christmas we must first answer
the question, “Who is Jesus?”
It is not important to us what others think
of Jesus, what is important is who we say He
is.
Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do
you say I am?"
This is the most important question we will
ever answer.
Where we will spend eternity depends upon
our response.
When we recognize that Jesus is the Son
of God, all of heavens resources and
blessings are open to us.
I. THE PROVISIONS OF CHRISTMAS.
Psalm 31:19 (NLT)
Your goodness is so great! You have
stored up great blessings for those who
honor you. You have done so much for those
who come to you for protection, blessing
them before the watching world.
NOTE:
One of the traditions of Christmas is the
giving and receiving of gifts.
God gave the greatest gift possible; we
can receive the greatest gift imaginable.
John 3:16 (KJV)
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.
This gift has been given to the whole
world but only a few have opened the gift.
A.
THE SIZE OF THE BOX DOES NOT DETERMINE THE
VALUE OF THE GIFT.
Luke 2:7a (KJV)
And she brought forth her firstborn son,
ILL:
Christmas gift of Bar-B-Queue Potato
chips.
NOTE:
God sent His Gift in a very small package,
but His Gift had tremendous value.
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall be
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
B.
THE WRAPPING OF THE BOX DOES NOT DETERMINE
THE VALUE OF THE GIFT.
Luke 2:7b (KJV)
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
Isaiah 53:1-3 (NLT)
Who has believed our message? To whom will
the Lord reveal his saving power? My
servant grew up in the Lord's presence like
a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root
in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing
beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him. He was
despised and rejected—a man of sorrows,
acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned
our backs on him and looked the other way
when he went by. He was despised, and we did
not care.
NOTE:
The world has wrapped their gifts in bright
fancy wrappings while the wrappings of God’s
gifts seem dull and unattractive.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge
by his appearance or height, for I have
rejected him. The Lord doesn't make
decisions the way you do! People judge by
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a
person's thoughts and intentions."
ILL:
The portrait of the son.
C.
WHERE WE FIND THE GIFT DOES NOT DETERMINE
THE VALUE OF THE GIFT.
Luke 2:7c (KJV)
and laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn.
NOTE:
Too often people are more concerned where
the gift was purchased than the gift
itself.
Mark 6:1-6 (NLT)
Jesus left that part of the country and
returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his
hometown. The next Sabbath he began
teaching in the synagogue, and many who
heard him were astonished. They asked,
"Where did he get all his wisdom and the
power to perform such miracles? He's just
the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother
of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his
sisters live right here among us." They were
deeply offended and refused to believe in
him.
Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is
honored everywhere except in his own
hometown and among his relatives and his own
family." And because of their unbelief, he
couldn't do any mighty miracles among them
except to place his hands on a few sick
people and heal them. And he was amazed at
their unbelief. Then Jesus went out
from village to village, teaching.
John 1:46 (NLT)
"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can
anything good come from there?" "Just come
and see for yourself," Philip said.
John 7:52 (NLT)
They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too?
Search the Scriptures and see for
yourself—no prophet ever comes from
Galilee!"
ILL: Things of great value have been found
in second hand stores and yard sales.
A valuable collection of jewelry was
purchased at a Salvation Army Thrift store
in Vancouver B.C.
CONCLUSION:
Do not lose out on the provisions of God
because of its size, wrapping or when it
DECEMBER 9, 2007
“THE NEED A REDEEMER”
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 1:18-25
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Matthew 1:21 (KJV)
And she shall bring forth a son, and
thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall
save his people from their sins.
INTRO:
The world is in need of a Redeemer.
Why is the world in need of a Redeemer?
The sinfulness of man has continually
increased from the time of the Fall unto
this present day.
The flood failed to cleanse the world
from sin, and man is unable to fulfill the
Law and keep from sinning.
Through these two things, God has
revealing to man the inability of anything
or anyone to remove sin.
There is no agent that can clean the
heart and life of sin.
1 Peter 1:18 (KJV)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
No man can either cleanse himself or anyone
else from sin.
Psalm 49:7 (KJV)
None of them can by any means redeem his
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Proverbs 20:9 (KJV)
Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
I.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REDEEM SOMETHING OR
SOMEONE?
NOTE:
It means to buy back, to get or win back,
and to free from distress or harm, to free
from captivity by payment of ransom, to
release from blame or debt, to free from the
consequences of sin.
Leviticus
25:25-27 (NLT)
If any of your Israelite relatives go
bankrupt and are forced to sell some
inherited land, then a close relative, a
kinsman redeemer, may buy it back for them.
If there is no one to redeem the land but
the person who sold it manages to get enough
money to buy it back, then that person has
the right to redeem it from the one who
bought it. The price of the land will be
based on the number of years until the next
Year of Jubilee. After buying it back, the
original owner may then return to the land.
A.
GOD CREATED MAN
Genesis 2:7 (KJV)
And the Lord God formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became
a living soul.
B.
MAN SINNED AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WAS
BROKEN.
Isaiah 59:2 (NLT)
But there is a problem—your sins have cut
you off from God. Because of your sin, he
has turned away and will not listen anymore.
C.
ALL MANKIND IS IN NEED OF REDEMPTION.
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;
II. GOD SENT HIS SON, JESUS, TO REDEEM
FALLEN MAN.
Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV)
But when the fulness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, to redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons.
A.
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE OF THE
LAW.
Galatians 3:13 (KJV)
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it
is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth
on a tree:
NOTE:
The curse of the Law was two folded:
1. Death waited for all who failed to
keep the Law.
2. No one is able to keep the Law.
B.
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM ETERNAL DEATH.
Hosea 13:14 (KJV)
I will ransom them from the power of the
grave; I will redeem them from death: O
death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I
will be thy destruction: repentance shall be
hid from mine eyes.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (KJV)
O death, where is thy sting? O grave,
where is thy victory? The sting of death is
sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ]
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (KJV)
But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the firstfruits of them that
slept. For since by man came death, by man
came also the resurrection of the dead. For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive.
C.
WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM THE POWER OF
SIN.
Psalm 130:8
(KJV) And he shall redeem Israel from all
his iniquities.
Titus 2:14 (KJV)
Who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.
NOTE: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God;
“Did we in our own strength confined, Our
striving would be losing.”
We do not, in ourselves, have the power
to resist the power of Satan and sin.
James 4:7-8 (KJV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw
nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
D.
REDEMPTION COMES ONLY FROM GOD.
Psalm 49:7 (KJV)
None of them can by any means redeem his
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
1
Peter 1:18 (KJV)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers;
Hebrews 2:17 (KJV)
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be
made like unto his brethren, that he might
be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people.
III. WHAT HAS REDEMPTION ACCOMPLISHED FOR
US?
N0TE:
Our redemption through Christ has given us
many things.
A.
THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of his grace;
Colossians 1:14 (KJV)
In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
B.
WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED.
Romans 3:24 (KJV) Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus:
NOTE:
Justification (just as if we have never
sinned.
C.
WE ARE ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.
Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV)
But when the fulness of the time was
come, God sent forth his Son, made of a
woman, made under the law, To redeem them
that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons.
NOTE:
This is what Christmas is all about; the
redemption of fallen man.
CONCLUSION:
This gives us reason to rejoice.
Isaiah 44:22-23 (KJV)
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy
transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins:
return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done
it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth:
break forth into singing, ye mountains, O
forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord
hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself
in Israel.
Isaiah 51:11 (KJV)
Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall
return, and come with singing unto Zion; and
everlasting joy shall be upon their head:
they shall obtain gladness and joy; and
sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
DECEMBER 23, 2007
“THE MESSAGE OF THE MANGER”
SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 2:1-20
SCRIPTURE TEXT: John 3:16 (KJV)
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.
INTRO:
The true meaning of Christmas has been lost
to most people.
People are so busy celebrating that they
don’t take the time to try and understand
what they are celebrating.
They think that Christmas is all about
them, and it is but not the way they think.
Even many who call themselves Christians
fail to understand the true meaning of
Christmas.
The meaning of Christmas can be found in
the “Message of the Manger”, the redemption
of fallen man.
The manger without the cross is just a
nice story.
I. THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH IS A
MESSAGE OF GOD’S LOVE.
NOTE:
God’s love for us began long before we came
into this world.
He planned our redemption before we were
created.
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us.
Rev. 13:8 (KJV)
And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in
the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
In the beginning God…
God wanted man to love Him by choice not
by command.
God had to allow man to make a choice
between Him and sin.
God allowed Satan to remain so man was
faced with the choice between God and sin.
When man took of the forbidden tree it
was a choice to lean evil.
Man had made a choice and now the mission
of the cross came into being.
The mission of the Cross in hidden in the
message of the manger.
Man became more sinful, God sent the
flood.
Man again became more sinful and God sent
the Law.
But these could not provide redemption
for fallen man.
So God came down in the form of a baby,
born in a stable and laid in a manger.
Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)
Let this mind be in you, which was also
in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God: but made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men:
Hebrews 2:14-17 (NLT)
Because God's children are human
beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also
became flesh and blood by being born in
human form. For only as a human being could
he die, and only by dying could he break the
power of the Devil, who had the power of
death. Only in this way could he deliver
those who have lived all their lives as
slaves to the fear of dying.
We all know that Jesus came to help the
descendants of Abraham, not to help the
angels. Therefore, it was necessary for
Jesus to be in every respect like us, his
brothers and sisters, so that he could be
our merciful and faithful High Priest before
God. He then could offer a sacrifice that
would take away the sins of the people.
II. CHRIST’S BIRTH IN THE STABLE IS THE
MESSAGE OF GOD’S ACCEPTANCE OF ALL WHO WOULD
COME.
NOTE:
A stable is a filthy and smelly place.
This shows to me that anyone regardless of
the sin in their lives can come to God and
be accepted as His child.
Unlike the world who is often particular
who they serve, God will serve any and all
who would come for Salvation.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
The Lord isn't really being slow about his
promise to return, as some people think. No,
he is being patient for your sake. He does
not want anyone to perish, so he is giving
more time for everyone to repent.
Romans 2:11 (KJV)
For there is no respect of persons with God.
Acts 2:21 (KJV)
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
1 Tim. 2:4 (KJV)
Who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth.
III. GOD USES THOSE WHO SEEM MOST UNLIKELY
TO FULFILL HIS WILL.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT)
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that
few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or
powerful, or wealthy when God called you.
Instead, God deliberately chose things the
world considers foolish in order to shame
those who think they are wise. And he chose
those who are powerless to shame those who
are powerful. God chose things despised by
the world, things counted as nothing at all,
and used them to bring to nothing what the
world considers important, so that no one
can ever boast in the presence of God.
NOTE:
Consider those whom God used in bringing
Jesus into the world.
A. MARY WAS A YOUNG VIRGIN.
B. JOSEPH WAS A POOR CARPENTER.
C. SHEPHERDS CAME TO VIEW AND WITNESS HIS
BIRTH.
D. SIMEON & ANNA WERE USED TO CONFIRM
JESUS’ MISSION.
E. FOREIGN MEN CAME TO RECOGNIZE JESUS AS
KING.
Luke 1:37 (KJV)
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
For I can do everything with the help of
Christ who gives me the strength I need.
CONCLUSION:
Let us not forget the message of the manger,
The Redemption of Fallen Man.
1.
GOD LOVED US SO MUCH HE CAME TO EARTH TO
SAVE US.
2.
GOD ACCEPTS ALL WHO WILL COME TO HIM.
3.
GOD WILL USE THE UNLIKELY TO FULFILL HIS
WILL.
DECEMBER 30, 2007
“REFLECTIONS & VISIONS”
SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 51:1-6
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you," says
the Lord. "They are plans for good and not
for disaster, to give you a future and a
hope.
INTRO:
There are two things that we should do as we
come to the end of the year:
1.
Reflect on what God has done for us during
the past year.
2.
Have a vision on what we want God to do for
us in the year to come.
I. REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST.
Isaiah 51:1 (KJV)
Hearken to me, ye that follow after
righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look
unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the
hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Reflecting on the past should give us
hope and desire for the future.
Things we can remember:
-
Blessings we have received
-
Victories God has given to us.
-
Needs God have met.
-
Spiritual growth we have experienced.
-
Trial we have faced.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
In every thing give thanks: for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you.
We need to remember every good gift come
from God.
James 1:17 (NIV)
Every good and perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows.
II.
VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE.
NOTE:
The first step in seeking our visions for
the future is to ask God what He wants to do
for and though us.
Jeremiah
29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you," says
the Lord. "They are plans for good and not
for disaster, to give you a future and a
hope.
NOTE:
If God has great plans for us, should we not
seek to know what those plans are?
What are your spiritual desires for the
coming year?
What do you want God to do for and
through you?
Philippians 2:5 (GW)
Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus
had.
NOTE:
Jesus’ attitude was to fulfill His Father’s
will.
John 6:38 (KJV)
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine
own will, but the will of him that sent me.
God has a purpose for each of us to
fulfill in our own personal lives and in the
life of our church.
Philippians
3:14 (GW)
I run straight toward the goal to win the
prize that God's heavenly call offers in
Christ Jesus.
Prayerfully consider what God has done
for you this past year and what are your
goals for 2008.
