After Christmas

Posted on December 29, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Christ Is Christmas Series

Sermon Notes: Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Every year we have the excitement that leads up to Christmas Day. The crowds. The shopping. Black Friday after Thanksgiving, and the numerous merchant sales promoting the “savings” to be had if we but buy from them. I heard one product advertised:

One of the best buys by far, so buy now!

Then after Christmas the numerous 50% off sales at the stores. The “guests” we had for Christmas go home, and we go back to our lives. If we ignored Jesus before, we ignore Him now. Too many put Jesus away until the next Holiday we call Easter. I think you do yourself a disservice if you live your life this way. Jesus is more than just Christmas. Jesus is for every day. Jesus is the greatest Friend you will ever have. Christmas celebrates His entrance into the world. But once He entered the world we need to understand He did so for us. Jesus came for us.

Tonight I want to talk about After Christmas, after Christ came into the world. The last few weeks we have been seeing the Christmas story, the birth of Christ of a virgin, born in Bethlehem. Tonight we’re going to see Jesus after Christmas, and those visitors who came after the night of His birth. We’re going to talk about the Wise Men from the East, and the idiot in the Palace.

The Wise Men Came AFTER The Birth Of Christ

Many people don’t understand this. They take the account of His birth from Luke and try to merge it with the account of Matthew. As a result the story – and an important story it is – has been hidden from most people. Let’s compare some things between these two stories.

Both the Shepherds of Luke and the Wise Men of Matthew saw Christ in Bethlehem. That’s true. But they did not see each other. Look at the accounts:

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) {the Wise Men} saw the YOUNG CHILD WITH MARY his mother …

Luke 2:16 (KJV) And {the Shepherds} came with haste, and found MARY, AND JOSEPH, AND THE BABE…

When the Wise Men came they found Jesus with Mary, but did not see Joseph. When the Shepherds came they saw Mary, Joseph, and Jesus lying in a manger. They didn’t see one another. Nor should they.

Though both Shepherds and Wise Men saw Jesus in Bethlehem, they saw Him in a different place. The Bible says:

Luke 2:16 (KJV) And {the Shepherds} came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe LYING IN A MANGER.

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) And when {the Wise Men} WERE COME INTO THE HOUSE, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, …

The Shepherds found Jesus laying in a manger, an animal’s feeding trough in a place where animals were kept. Why? There was no room in the house proper for Christ because of the crowd in Bethlehem during the census. But the Wise Man found Jesus in a house, not in a barn. No manger is mentioned because He is no longer in the manger.

Though both Shepherds and Wise Men followed a sign sent by God to the Christ, they followed different signs. Again looking at the Scripture:

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) {The Wise Men asked} Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 2:9-10 (KJV) When {the Wise Men} had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

The Wise Men followed a star from the East to where Christ was. This was a supernatural sign from God as the star moved, then “stood over where the young child was”. What of the Shepherds? The Angel told them:

Luke 2:12 (KJV) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES, LYING IN A MANGER.

“Swaddling clothes” are bands of cloth wrapped tightly around a child, used to keep the child snug and safe. The swaddling helps the child transition from the womb, and keeps the baby from scratching himself with his fingernails.

The child was swaddled because the child was loved.
But the enigma is that this loved Baby was “lying in a manger”.

If you love your child, you want the best for your child. You want a crib, a warm room, a clean place. But Christ was laid in a manger, a place where animals ate. He was laid here not because His mother did not love Him, but because this was all they had. The Wise Men followed a star, but the Shepherds followed an enigma. They followed different signs.

The Wise Men and the Shepherds looked for a different Christ. Yes, this was the same Jesus, but He was represented differently to both groups of men. The Shepherds were told:

Luke 2:11 (KJV) For unto you is born this day in the city of David A SAVIOR, which is CHRIST THE LORD.

The Shepherds looked for a Savior when they went looking for Christ. Yet the Wise Men did not look for a Savior, but a King. They asked:

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) Saying, WHERE IS HE THAT IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

They looked for a King to worship, the “King of the Jews”. When Jesus was first born, He was born to be King of the Jews. But He was not yet King of the Jews. Why is this? Because Jesus had not yet been circumcised when the Shepherds saw Him, and no person, no matter who, could be “King of the Jews” until they were first circumcised. Matthew goes on to talk of this in …

Luke 2:20-24 (KJV) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. [21] And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [22] And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; [23] (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) [24] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

The Bible tells us that our Lord Jesus:

Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, BORN UNDER THE LAW, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Christ the Messiah was born under the Law so He could redeem us from the Law. Being born “under the Law” his mother and stepfather had to follow the Law. What did the Law say about children and their mothers? We read in:

Leviticus 12:1-4;6-7 (NKJV) Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled. … 6 ‘When the days of her purification are fulfilled … she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7 Then he shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.

Mary was unclean according to the Law for 7 days after the birth of Christ.
On the eighth day Christ was to be circumcised
as all Hebrew Males were circumcised.
Then for 33 more days Mary was considered unclean
and excluded from the Temple,
at the end of which time a sacrifice was made
“to make atonement for her uncleanness”.

Mary was not exempt from the Law of Moses and neither was Christ. The Baby was circumcised on the eighth day just as all Hebrew Males were circumcised. If Christ were not circumcised then what God told Moses was:

Genesis 17:14 (NKJV) And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, THAT PERSON SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE; he has broken My covenant.”

When you understand what is going on you understand two very important truths in the Christmas Story.

First, Mary and Joseph remained in Bethlehem after the birth of Christ because Mary was considered unclean and had to be purified, and Christ had to be circumcised.

Mary was unclean because of her delivery of the Child according to the Law. The Child had to be circumcised and Mary’s uncleanness had to be atoned in the Temple. Nazareth was about 92 miles away from the Temple of Jerusalem, but Bethlehem was only about 5 miles away. The Law required that Mary and Joseph do certain things in the Temple. As a person walks about 3 miles an hour, both Mary and Joseph could walk to Jerusalem in about 2 easy hours while they were in Bethlehem. That would not be true if they came from Nazareth, the place they both lived.

Mary and Joseph had to stay in Bethlehem about 40 days
So they could fulfill the Law as God required.
The Wise Men could not bring gifts to the King of the Jews
Until He was circumcised.
He could not be King of the Jews until He was circumcised.
No matter Whose Son He was.

Second, God was not done with Bethlehem. We must see the evil Herod killing babies to understand how bad people can be without Christ.

People without Christ will eventually sink into doing some of the most awful things. There is hardly a day goes by that I don’t hear some liberal confused individual talk about the inherent goodness of people. We are not inherently good. We are all sinners who need a Savior. We are all in desperate need on the King of Kings in our lives.

When God Came Into The World He Placed Himself UNDER Time And Law

When the Wise Men came seeking “The King of the Jews” they knew He would be in Bethlehem, the City of David. They knew this because they had studied the Hebrew Scriptures, the same Scriptures that Herod – the false king of the Jews – would not read.

In the Old Testament a young man by the name of Daniel was taken into captivity in Babylon. Though Daniel was a stranger in a strange land he continued to love and serve our Father.

God spoke to Daniel and told him of the coming Messiah, and Daniel – a Chief Wise Man in the Palace of Babylon – shared his knowledge of Christ with the other Wise Men. I am sure Daniel also shared the other Scriptures relating to the Messiah, such as His birthplace:

Micah 5:2 (NKJV) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.

And the fact that a Star would lead them to Christ:

Numbers 24:17 (NKJV) I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A STAR shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

The Wise Men came to see Jesus in Bethlehem because Daniel had been faithful in sharing the Gospel. Though over 400 years had passed since Daniel’s time in Babylon, the seed of the Gospel he planted continued to grow. The Wise Men (and Beloved, we do not know how many Wise Men went to see Jesus) headed to Bethlehem at least 8 days after Christ’s birth carrying gifts for our Lord and His Family.

When God entered the world through Mary He placed Himself inside His creation.
The God Who created gravity subjected Himself to gravity.
The God Who formed the Laws of Physics placed Himself under those Laws.

As I preach I see behind you a clock, the second hand sweeping, the minute and hour hands moving.

God is outside of eternity, outside of time. Until He created the Sun and the Moon and gave this planet a 24 hour cycle there was no time. There is no time in Heaven, for there is no sun nor moon in Heaven. The light of Heaven comes from the Eternal Throne of God. We are creatures on time, but God is not. God is outside of time. But with His entrance in Christ He made Himself a part of time.

God is outside suffering. Yet God lowered Himself into the pool of suffering that is humanity. I am sure He cried when He was circumcised. I am sure He bled. I know He bled on the Cross as He suffered for our sins. Oh how God loves us.

God is outside the Law. The Law was made for sinful man, to convince us that we are sinners. The Apostle Paul said:

Romans 7:7-25 (NLT) … it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9 At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. 13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.

The Law was given to show us as sinners. Mary had a Baby, and though this Baby was Christ, a Child without sin, she herself still had to make sacrifice for her sin. By the killing of an innocent animal Mary cleansed herself. God did not make the Law for Himself, but coming into humanity Christ lowered Himself to the Law. He kept the Law perfectly, and never sinned. He did this so that He could save His people from their sins. He stands outside the quicksand of sin, and holding out His hand, draws whosoever will to the Island of His Love. Oh Beloved, how God lowered Himself.

So at least 8 days after Christmas – the birth of Christ – Mary looks up to see the Wise Men.

Joseph is not with her perhaps because she is yet unclean. Or maybe he’s out working. I don’t know. I do know that Christ has been circumcised, and Mary stays with Him her precious Child. They are in Bethlehem. How do I know? The Wise Men came seeking Christ, and Herod sent them to Bethlehem. They are still in Bethlehem because God is not finished there.

Matthew 2:8 (KJV) And {Herod} sent {the Wise Men} to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Herod had no desire to worship Jesus, or he would have went with the Wise Men. Herod was a fool. He was a narcissist. He occupied a throne that was clearly not his. Like most usurpers he wanted to keep what he had connived and stolen and cheated to get. “You go find Jesus, then come get me, and we’ll have a worship party! Trust me” the liar lied. So the Wise Men went to Bethlehem, and there – following His Star – they found Jesus.

Matthew 2:10-11 (KJV) When {The Wise Men} saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. [11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Listen to this little poem I wrote:

The Wise Men came to Bethlehem
After Christmas Day;
Looking for a King they found
The One Who was the Way.
Upon seeing Jesus they fell down
And worshipped Him as God.
Though miles they came it was worth
Every step that they had trod.
Weary but refreshed they loved Him,
And gave this King their all;
The Greatest Treasure given that day,
Was this Child Who would save us from the Fall.

I have heard and preached myself that the gifts were symbolic, gifts worthy of a King. This is so true.

Frankincense was used in the Temple to symbolize the prayers of the saints going upward to God, a gift most useful to priests. Jesus Christ came to be our High Priest:

Hebrews 4:14 (NLT) So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

This young Christ would grow up to be our High Priest, the One Who represents us before the Father. Frankincense is a worthy gift for our High Priest.

Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. Jesus would not only be our High Priest, but would die for our sins as the Lamb of God. Jesus said:

John 10:11 (NLT) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

John 10:18 (NLT) No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

On the day that Jesus died they offered Him wine drugged with myrrh (Mark 15:23) but He refused it. He took the full penalty for my sin and yours on the Cross of Calvary. When they came to embalm Jesus they took about 75 pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh (John 19:39). Myrrh was a wonderful gift to bring this King Who died for me.

Gold was a wonderful gift for a King. The Temple was laced with gold, and thrones were clad with gold.

The Wise Men brought King Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh after Christmas. Herod, on the other hand, sent to Christ lies, ridicule, and death. After Christmas Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem to kill Jesus, but God sent Joseph and Mary out of that place and into Egypt. In Egypt the Father protected His Son until Herod was dead.

The King of Kings could not leave this earth until He accomplished all the Father would have Him do.

After Christmas.

I love you.

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Whatever Happened To “Service”?

Posted on December 27, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (Colossians 3:23)

It was a great day today until I went to eat my lunch. I’ve been praying and seeking the Lord on our Sunday morning sermon from Isaiah 30, “The Lord Is Waiting”. I really enjoyed my time in His presence today. My God is so awesomely good!

So I thought I’d take a late lunch.

I called and ordered a meal from one of my local fast food restaurants called “The Jumbo House” (1410 Nashville Highway, Columbia, TN). Normally I can get a pretty good meal here if I order it in advance. So I called. The phone rang about 20 times before anyone picked up, but that’s fine. They’re busy.

“Hello”.
Yes, is this the Jumbo House?
“Yeah. Whatddaya want?”
I’d like to order a fried chicken platter.
“Is that all?”
Yes, that’s all I want.
“Name?”
My name is “Buffaloe”.
It’ll be ready in 15 minutes.

Great! So I finish my study, and head toward Jumbo House after about 20 minutes. When I walk in the cashier asks what I want. “I ordered a fried chicken dinner. The name’s Buffaloe.” So she starts looking. No meal. Can’t find it. Then she goes through the paid tickets. Ah, here’s one for Buffaloe. “That’s not my fault. Someone gave your meal away. But the good news is I won’t charge you for it.” I know you won’t charge me for it. I didn’t get it. Someone else is eating it. If you look in the phone book there is only one Buffaloe in this mean city, and you gave my meal to a fake Buffaloe. Ok. That’s fine. I turn to leave. “It’s not my fault, but we can make you another meal if you’ll wait another 15 minutes.” Dear heart, I have somewhere to be. Sorry. I’ll go elsewhere.

So I head toward Hardees (113 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia TN). I drive to the drive through, lower my window, and enjoy the 27 degree breeze blowing through while I wait 5 minutes for service. I’ll not bore you with the details, but I ordered the “All Star Double Cheeseburger with Onion Rings”. It looked good on the menu. The waitress/ cashier gave me my drink, then passed out an “All Star” box. I take it and head back to my office. On opening it I find 4 onion rings and a handful of french fries – all dripping with grease. The free “Cookie” is sitting in the bottom of the box in a pool of grease. The burger – small and underdone – is disgusting. I eat about 3 bites and throw the rest in the garbage.

What has happened to service in America?

Someone posted a picture on Facebook of another local Restaurant called “Farmer’s” (800 James M. Campbell Blvd, Columbia, TN). They ordered their meal and it came complete with a roach, believe it or not.

Everywhere you go service is at an all time low. It is as if people don’t care. They want the paycheck, but have no pride in what they are doing. Sadly many of these people profess to be Christians. I cannot speak to the unbeliever. They are dead in their sins, and enslaved to the flesh. But if you are a Christian you are to do EVERYTHING as if you were doing it for the Lord. God deserves better representatives than we often are.

And I deserved better treatment as a paying guest at these places.

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God lives in the NICU

Posted on December 27, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

great post. God is there, always, watching over His children

New Roots, Old wings

Show your ID, even though you’ve been there 100 times. Don’t forget to sign in.
Wash your hands for 3 minutes, all the way up to your elbows… don’t forget to clean under your nails
Put on your hospital gown.
Head to his bed.
You greet the nurse with a smile, you don’t have the strength to give. You strike up a conversation that, quite frankly, you don’t feel like having.
Get his daily report. You know all the things he should have done, but couldn’t. All the things they want to see happen, but aren’t.
You watch her mouth moving, not hearing every word. You nod. The conversation finally ends. You sit down.
That God awful rocking chair.
It’s cold in the NICU, always cold.
You watch his monitor, see how he’s breathing.
You hear loud dinging. You know the sound.
It’s a ‘low sat’ alert.
You look back…

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Recipe for A Happy New Year!

Posted on December 25, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

beautiful!

CHRISTian poetry ~ by deborah ann

Take a cup of Forgiveness,
stir in some of God’s grace
then fold it into your heart
and this recipe you’ll embrace.

For, you’ll need to keep adding,
more ingredients as you go
if you plan on having a year
where Love can rise and grow.

You’re going to need Patience,
at least a cup or two
if your want to have Meekness
bubbling up inside of you.

At times you’ll need to blend in,
a heaping spoonful of Goodness
then beat it into the mixture
so you can whip up Gentleness.

Don’t forget to add a pinch of Joy,
as you whisk it into Peace
a smidgen of Faith and Trust
will cause Hope to be released.

If you live in the Spirit,
you’ll need to walk in it too . . .
if this year you follow this recipe
it’ll produce His fruit in you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Galatians 5:22-23

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Happy Birthday Jesus ~

Posted on December 25, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

What a wonderful heartfelt poem. Loved it!

CHRISTian poetry ~ by deborah ann

Happy Birthday Jesus,
today, I’ll make You a cake
so my family and I . . .
Your life, we can celebrate.

The candles will be Your light,
the frosting will spread Your love
and the filling, will be a mixture
of every good gift, from above.

I’m going to give You a present,
to show my heartfelt, gratitude
by having everyday for You . . .
a thankful, pleasing attitude.

I’ll wrap it in Your grace,
tie it with ribbons of Your peace
with the promise everyday . . .
my praise for You, will not cease

We will sing songs to You,
to show our heartfelt adoration
with verses to include the reason
You’re, the joy unto salvation!

Happy Birthday Jesus,
I’m so glad that You are here
today we will celebrate . . .
with a hallelujah cheer!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Isaiah 9:6

“For unto us a child is…

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Glory To God In The Highest

Posted on December 24, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Christ Is Christmas Series

Sermon Notes: Luke 2:8-14 (KJV) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

8:30 AM Audio:

Every year most people send Christmas cards. I am told that 1.8 BILLION cards are delivered every year. Many of those cards have the words …

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

None of the cards express the main reason why God should be glorified, or why there should be peace on earth and good will toward men. The Angel concluded his message with these words because the One in the Manger is the Only One Who can bring

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Angel when he brought these good tidings of great Joy. Mankind was wallowing in sin and in death, and God tossed man a life rope. Jesus Christ came into this world not as an Angel, but He was made lower than the angels.

Hebrews 2:7 (NKJV) You {O God} have made {Jesus} a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.

Jesus Christ was made lower than the Angels. Why?

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death

Hebrews 2:16-17 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. {17} Wherefore in all things it behooved 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.

The angels praised God, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”, even though “God spared not the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell” (2 Peter 2:4). These “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14) focused on a tiny Baby that lay in a manger and praised the Lord. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”.

God did a new thing, a prophetic thing, a wondrous thing.
God “did a new thing.
God made a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).
Where death ruled, life came to conquer in Christ.
Christ came to give Himself for you.
He left the splendor of Heaven to come to earth.
He was born to die.
He Who made all things was “made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
Whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Jesus Christ is the Reason for this season, the center of the mark.

Glorify God For His Great Love

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

As the angels praised God – “Glory to God in the highest” – they praised with wonder in their voices. They were amazed at that which God was doing. Man is a fallen race. God allowed man free will from his creation, from the very Garden of God. Man had absolute freedom to serve the Lord in a place where there was absolute and perfect peace. And yet man abused that free will – and we abuse it yet today. The most often question that I am asked is

How can a holy and loving God allow so much suffering in this evil old world?

It was by our free will that suffering came into the world. The Scripture declares “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12). Adam, given the capacity for free will, chose to do the evil. He chose to follow Satan in disobedience, and chose to neglect the Will of His Creator. Adam, created to rule and reign with God, chose to be enslaved by Satan rather than the Lord Who loved him. Adam took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of death. The gift of God given him was abused, and God had every right to destroy Adam, this earth, and all. Yet God did not. The Scripture declares …

Ephesians 1:4 According as He {God the Father} hath chosen us in Him {God the Son} before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love …

How can man go from out of control sinner to Saint, to child of Adam to Child of God. It is by that Baby in the Manger, that Child of Nazareth, that beautiful Jesus Who is the …

Revelation 13:8 … Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Before the first star was made, God knew. Before the Lord uttered the words “Let there be light” and there was light (Genesis 1:3), God knew. God the Father knew that He would have to send His only Begotten Son. God the Son knew that He would have to come to this earth – leaving the splendor of Heaven – and take upon Himself the likeness of sinful man.

Suffering is terrible – but can you imagine how terrible upcoming suffering must be?

Jesus knew before the foundation of the world that He would have to die a terrible death for our sins. And yet He came to Bethlehem anyway. He came to die for you and for me.

Glory to God in the Highest! Glory to His Name!

1 Peter 1:18-19 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; {19} But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot ….

but do you know the following context, which reads:

1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, but was manifest in these last times for you,

That Baby in the Manger was no accidental birth, no travesty. He was born to die. He came to save.

Hebrews 9:26 … now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Knowing what was coming, God so loved He nonetheless – with His free will – chose to form us in His image. Knowing what was coming He chose the nails for us.

Jesus Christ chose the nails. He chose the beating, He chose the mocking, He chose the bruising, He chose the humiliation. Jesus Christ chose to hang on a Cross between two felons. He chose to pour out His soul unto death. He chose the sponge filled with bitter gall. He chose to bear your sin and mine, and to “make intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). He chose to give Himself for you before creation itself. As the old African spiritual said,

“What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, Oh my soul!”

Jesus chose the nails. He chose them long before He walked and talked among mankind. He chose them long before He was a baby in a manger. He chose the nails from eternity past. Will you not choose Him?

Glorify God For His Great Salvation

Luke 2:8-9 (KJV) And there were in the same country SHEPHERDS abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

The Shepherds watching their flocks were – I am told – raising sheep to be sacrificed at the Temple in Jerusalem. I forget which commentary I read this in, but it makes sense to me. Bethlehem is only about 5 miles from Jerusalem, and the pastures around Bethlehem (also called “The House of Bread”) were beautiful and fertile, great places for feeding sheep. The Shepherds were used to breeding and delivering sheep, and looking for lambs without spot or blemish, for no other could be used for the sacrifice of sin. God had said:

Exodus 12:5 (ESV) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep …

These Shepherds are keeping watch over their flocks by night. Imagine being in the dark with your companions. You can see movement. Maybe there was enough moon to see a little, or maybe not. Then suddenly the glory of the Lord shines round about them. A bright star appears in front of them. Pure energy! Pure light! God’s glory breaks forth, and night becomes day. And they were SORE AFRAID.

But the Angel said …

Luke 2:10-11 … FEAR NOT: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

That which God promised has come to pass. This is not a time for FEAR but for REJOICING. God has fulfilled His Word. He has kept His promise.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

That which the Angel told Mary …

Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

… has come true. God touched woman, and perfect Man was born.

Luke 1:35 … The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The Lord has come to us, Oh Emmanuel! The Shepherds were used to taking their little lambs to the Temple to be slaughtered … was not this the Way of Salvation?

Isaiah 9:6 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.

We have no peace in our world today because people are pursuing peace on their own terms. They seek peace through their efforts, through their governments, through their agencies. The angels sang of “peace on earth” because the Prince of Peace had arrived. The angels did not sing of peace in the Garden of Eden. There was peace there, it is sure, but that peace was soon voided. The Babe in the manger showed the angels to what lengths God would go to save His creation. There was no true possibility of peace on earth in any capacity prior to the Coming of God in Christ. Man was at war with God, and proved that warfare at every turn.

Peace is not to be found in ourselves, but in the imputed righteousness of Christ. There can never be peace on earth, good will toward men if Christ is not in the center of that peace.

unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord

You Shepherds used to carry the Lambs to the Temple so people could be saved. You yourselves sacrificed Lambs to save yourselves. But this was only temporary. Now that which is perfect is come, so that which in part can pass away. That Baby in the manger was wrapped in the white flag of peace. On the mountain of Sinai God challenged the conscience of man and showed us that we can never have peace with Him through the keeping of Law. Christ came to us in a lowly manger, and through the Body of His flesh abolished the warfare between ourself and our conscience, and between ourself and God. He has, in Himself, made ..

Ephesians 2:15-17 … ONE NEW MAN, SO MAKING PEACE; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

If you have been saved, you are at peace with God. You are receivers of the New Covenant, a Covenant made with the precious Blood of Christ. We who are born again by faith in Christ are not like those under the old Levitical laws. God has written His Law in your hearts, O Christian, if you have believed in Him.

Hebrews 10:16-20 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; {17} And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. {18} Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. {19} Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

We are consecrated because of that Babe in the manger. We are forgiven because that Child became perfect Man, and bore our sins on Calvary’s tree.

Adrian Rogers once said “I can’t get too mad when someone says something bad about me. I’m just thankful he doesn’t know anything else”!

Go on, legalist, and work your way to Heaven through your toil and through the Law. I myself am quite content to stand with the angels and sing Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will toward men.

We who know that we are firmly in the family of God can always, and with all confidence:

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Glory be to God, salvation is all of God! I rest in that!

To Enjoy Salvation Run To The Savior

Luke 2:15-16 (KJV) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. [16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

When the Shepherds heard the Gospel message of the Christ they did not wait. They said “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see the thing that has came to pass”. They went. The Bible says “they went with haste”. They did not hesitate, but went with haste. What does this mean?

If you are a Shepherd you know that sheep cannot be driven. You do not “go with haste” with a flock of sheep. You go at THEIR pace. If the Shepherds went with haste, they dropped everything and walked away from their sheep. To see the Christ became the most important thing in the world for them. They went with haste.

The legendary Evangelist Dwight L. Moody wrote one time of staying with an orange producer. He had been preaching to a crowd in a nearby city, and a well to do orange producer invited him to stay at his mansion. He agreed. He went to the man’s home, knocked on the door, and was ushered into great luxury. The orange producer said “Whatever I have is yours – just help yourself”. Moody loved oranges, and got up every morning, walked outside of his palatial room, and picked fresh oranges from the trees in the groves all around the house. Moody spoke about this in a later sermon, saying:

“When I wanted an orange I did not go to an orange tree and pray the oranges to fall in my pocket; but I walked up to a tree, reached out my hand, and took the oranges. He said “take” and I took. God says “there is My Son; take Him as your Savior. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”

The Shepherds left their sheep, a means by which a person in Israel’s day could use to approach God. These were sacrificial sheep raised for the Temple, an old covenant work. The Lamb of God has been born. Him Who came in the Father’s Name to save us is born in Bethlehem. The Shepherds rightly left everything behind:

The old works salvation
The Law
Their possessions

… and ran to see the Bread from Heaven laying in a manger in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. These Shepherds did not stop and clean themselves up. They have been in the field looking after sheep. They did not take the time to put on a new suit or a tie. No – one thought possessed them.

Let us go to Christ.
Let us see the Savior born for us!

Dr. R.G. Lee remarked … “… in such faith – a reckless faith – Jesus takes the keenest delight. There is nothing that so pleases Him as the most daring and reckless and romantic faith. He is never so joyed as when we trust Him with a mad abandon.”

and going to see the Christ, what did they do afterward?

Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

They told others. They shared what they saw – they experienced – with others. They made known abroad what they had seen. Have you seen Him? Have you experienced Christ? Will you not run with haste to Him today, giving Him all of your life? May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Sermons Preached | Tagged Christ Is Christmas, Christmas, Series | Leave a comment

God Loves The Godly Man

Posted on December 22, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Christ Is Christmas Series

Sermon Notes Matthew 1:18-25 (KJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Audio of Sermon:

Last week we talked about the parents of John the Baptist, the Herald of Christ. We spoke of faith filled Elisabeth, and praised God for Godly women. Godly and faithful women are so important to the preaching of the Gospel. It is the efforts of the mother and particularly my grandmother that planted the seed of the Gospel in my heart, a seed that would one day bloom forth into eternal life.

But we also need to recognize the importance of the Godly man.

In the Christmas story and the children’s plays Joseph of Nazareth is often pushed back into the shadows, relegated to a third wheel sort of position. But Joseph was very important to the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Joseph was a carpenter who lived in Nazareth (Matthew 13:55, Luke 2:4).
His name means “Yahweh Will Increase”.

He carried the same name as the Old Testament Joseph who, sold into slavery by his brothers, became the savior of the nation of Israel.

The Old Testament Joseph would not take vengeance on his deceitful and envious brothers, but said:

Genesis 50:20 (NLT) You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

A Godly Man puts his faith in the Word of God, and puts God before his own base desires. Had the Old Testament Joseph taken vengeance then Israel would have never been a great nation. The New Testament Joseph has much in common with his namesake. The Reverend Francis J Peffley wrote a paper called “The Two Josephs” in which we see some very interesting parallels between the “Joseph of the Coat of many Colors” and “Joseph the husband of Mary”:

Both Josephs had a father named Jacob
Both Josephs were of the Household of David
Both Josephs suffered without complaint for God’s glory
Both Josephs left home and ended up in Egypt
Both Josephs were chosen by God to bring Bread into the world
Both Josephs were Godly men who loved the Lord

Let’s honor our Lord by studying what He wrote of His Stepfather Joseph.

The Just Or Righteous Man Has A Changed BEING

Matthew 1:18-19 (KJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away …

In the ancient world marriage and engagement we both looked at with equal seriousness. The commentator William Barclay noted:

“The Jews were usually betrothed ten or twelve months before marriage. So sacred was this relationship that unfaithfulness to it was considered adultery, and was punishable by death.” (Deuteronomy 22:23-28)

Mary and Joseph had not yet consummated their marriage when “she was found with child”. The Child she carried was the Christ, the Messiah promised to be our Savior. But Joseph had no way of knowing this. She was discovered to be pregnant by Joseph – I suspect she began to show as the Child within her grew. This caused Joseph a problem.

Joseph her husband, BEING a JUST man

Joseph was BEING what he was supposed to be – He was BEING a JUST or RIGHTEOUS Man.

The JUST Man is a person who first of all has been saved by faith in God, the God of Scripture. The Bible repeatedly says:

Hebrews 10:38 (KJV) Now the JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH.

The “Just”, “Justified”, or “Righteous” person puts their faith in the God of the Heavens. The faith that they have shows in the life that they live. There are a lot of people who say “I am saved” but live just like the darkness around them. The salvation that does not touch your heart or change your lifestyle is but a fake salvation.

The JUST Man Is Not Like He WAS. Salvation comes to us the day we receive Christ as our Savior, but with SALVATION comes SANCTIFICATION.

Romans 1:16-17 (KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

A “Just” person has first realized that they are sinners, then realized that they needed God as their Savior. The “Just” person is saved by faith. Once that person is saved they begin a non-rebellious relationship with God. They become a son of the Father, and begin to walk in His paths.

There is no such thing as a just or righteous person who does not obey the Father.

Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:24).
Noah “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time,
WALKED FAITHFULLY with God (Genesis 6:9).

Those who are “Just” obey their Savior.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? TO ACT JUSTLY and to love mercy and TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.

If you are JUST you will ACT JUST.

The JUST Man honors his God FIRST, not last. Discovering that Mary was pregnant meant that he – according to the Word of God’s Law – should “put her away”.

The Politically Correct crowd are, I am sure, experiencing their heads spinning around like the little girl in the horror movie The Exorcist. “What!” they declare. “How dare Joseph not look the other way?”. The Just Man does not debate what God has clearly stated. God tells us in His Word that sexual activity is only to be between two married people – one man and one woman (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 18; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5).

Those who are saved by faith in Christ – justified – are not to make light of sin, but are to honor the Lord Who saved them. So Joseph moved to ACT JUSTLY.

The Just Man Is Not Self Righteous But COMPASSIONATE

Matthew 1:19 (KJV) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and NOT WILLING TO MAKE HER A PUBLIC EXAMPLE, was minded to put her away privily.

COMPASSION is the mark of the Christian because it is the mark of Christ.

Matthew 9:36 (ESV) When {Jesus} saw the crowds, HE HAD COMPASSION FOR THEM, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 14:14 (NKJV) And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was MOVED WITH COMPASSION for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 (NKJV) So JESUS HAD COMPASSION and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

The word COMPASSION is a compound derived from COM which means WITH and PASSION. The word means “To have passion with, or to empathize or put yourself in their place as you have sympathetic pity for the sufferings of others”.

Joseph knew that Mary was carrying a child who was not his, and he wanted to obey the Law of God because he put God first. Joseph could have said:

“How dare she do this to me?
I’m going to the priests and have this little girl taken care of.”

That’s the way of the flesh, the world, and the devil. But this is not the way of Christ. Joseph had compassion. He empathized with Mary. His thought processes ran this way.

“Mary is with child, but it’s not my child.
I need to honor my God and His Word.
But we are all sinners, and I have often stumbled.
I love Mary still, so I will divorce her privately.”

So often I hear Christians who, being offended, get on their High Horse so they can ride over a fallen brother or sister. They puff up their chests and look up to the Heavens, saying:

“Lord, I thank Thee that I am not like this Publican over here.
What an honor You bestowed on Yourself the day that You saved Me!
(Blessed be My Name forever)”

Jesus spoke against this type of person in Luke 18:10-14 when He taught of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple. Being righteous means to do things in a Godly, loving, and right way. Those who are saved by faith are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit – we are His Temple (1 Corinthians 3:17; 6:19).

Joseph was saved by Grace, and lived by Grace. He emulated the teachings of the Apostle who declared:

1 John 4:7-8, 11-13 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. … 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

The saved person is first of all loving as God is loving, and merciful as God is merciful. Those who are “just” are righteous, not self-righteous. Joseph was not self righteous, but he loved Mary … even if she had made a mistake (which she had not). Joseph was not out for vengeance, but realized that his actions reflected on his God. So he chose to be compassionate. He chose to be loving. The Godly man is much like God, for God is inside him.

The Just or Righteous Man CONVERSES With God

Matthew 1:20 (KJV) But while HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying…

The word translated “thought” is the Greek ἐνθυμέομαι enthymeomai which means “To MEDITATE on”. Joseph was in deep meditative PRAYER. He approached God in prayer with the problem. Oh, that we would PRAY and SEEK HIS FACE rather than worry!

1 Chronicles 16:11 Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.

James 5:13 Is any one among you in trouble? Let them PRAY ….

Proverbs 15:8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the PRAYER of the UPRIGHT pleases Him…

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who CALL ON HIM, to all who CALL ON HIM in truth.

Joseph was not approaching the problem himself, but seeking God’s face while meditating on God’s Word. I want you to notice that as he meditated – not MEDICATED but MEDITATED – it is THEN that God sends the Angel Gabriel to answer his prayer.

The Angel came to Mary out of the blue.
The Angel came to Joseph when he was blue,
But in obedient prayer!

Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV) … JOSEPH, thou son of David, FEAR NOT to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And SHE SHALL bring forth a son, and THOU SHALT call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

When Joseph prayed I want you to notice:

The Angel called him by NAME. If God saved you, God knows you.

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV) … “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

John 10:3 (ESV) …. the sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out …

God did not die for no body on that Cross. God gave His life for YOU. He knows you by name. Joseph! Hear Me, Joseph! I have numbered the hairs of your head. I know you, and love you.

God told Joseph “Don’t be afraid”.

Isaiah 41:10 So DO NOT FEAR, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

“Joseph, that Baby is not a mark of Mary’s unfaithfulness.
That Baby is a mark of MY Faithfulness.
I promised the Messiah, and have chosen you and Mary
To be a part of this great plan!”

“Mary SHALL bring forth a Son … the unique Son of God … and You Joseph have a part in this. YOU get to name the Savior of the world. YOU shall call His name JESUS.”

Righteous men often fall. King David fell. Noah fell. We all fall. But righteous men PRAY. They are people of prayer. They love the Lord, and converse with Him frequently.

The Just or Righteous Man COMPLIES
With God’s Direction

Matthew 1:22-25 (KJV) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Isaiah – a Just man – prophesied what the Lord told him to prophesy. Joseph – a Just man – did what God said so that the prophecy would come to pass. Joseph raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord told him to do. He obediently received Mary to be his wife. But he did not have intimate relations with her until she brought forth Jesus.

Jesus had many step brothers and step sisters that were born after He came into the world. Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55-56 tells us that the half brothers of Jesus were James, Joseph, Jude and Simon. The Catholic Church tries to make these out to be cousins, but the Bible calls them “brothers” and “sisters”. And our text specifically says:

and Joseph KNEW HER NOT TILL she brought forth her firstborn son

Joseph KNEW HER INTIMATELY after Jesus was born, and other children came into the family. But Joseph obeyed God. He obeyed God in loving his wife. He obeyed God and became a beautiful example of fatherhood to Jesus.

God bless the Godly man. We are in desperate need of Godly men in the world today, men who will not mistreat women, but who will be as Joseph was. May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Following Disciples, Following Jesus, God's Children, gospel, grace, Sermons Preached | Tagged Christmas, Godly Man, Joseph and Mary | Leave a comment

It Came To Pass

Posted on December 17, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

Audio of Sermon & Music:

Sermon Notes: Luke 2:1-7 (KJV) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I love the words that start chapter 2 of the Christmas Story.

“It Came To Pass”

The phrase is found 452 times in the Bible. It’s not found in the first three chapters of the Bible in the Book of Genesis. Though time was created by God in those first books as He set the lights in the Heavens, and established 24 hour days, time didn’t matter until Adam sinned. Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life, and lived infinite lives until the day that they listened to that old serpent the devil. With one bite the devil led all humanity into sin.

Romans 5:12 (NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned …

The phrase “it came to pass” doesn’t come into being until Genesis chapter 4, showing us that the phrase is tied to time and death. You see, we all shall cease to be. Why? Because Adam not only brought sin into the world, but his action separated us from God and from Paradise. We do not have access to the Tree of Life. We will not live together forever, defeating death, in our own ability. The clock is ticking. When you are a young man or woman you may think you are infinite and immortal. But as you age you realize you are fragile. The things I used to be able to do I can no longer do without effort, if at all. “It Came To Pass”. Time is ticking.

The first “It Came To Pass” is found in the story of two brothers, Cain and Abel. The Bible says:

Genesis 4:3 (KJV) And in process of time IT CAME TO PASS, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Man was separated from God by Adam’s sin, and man wanted God. We were created to walk with God. So Cain – a farmer because his daddy was a farmer – brought the fruit of the ground to God to offer it to Him. But there was a problem with this offering. Though a day would come when God would allow man to bring food offerings, the only covering for sin was blood. God showed this to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The Bible says …

Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV) And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Why is this? Why does God require the shedding of blood to cover sin? Because God’s Word to Adam was “the day that you eat that which is forbidden YOU SHALL SURELY DIE” (Genesis 2:17). The penalty for sin against the Holy Creator is death. God said it, and God meant it. So death hovers over all of Adam’s children.

But what if Someone died in my place?
What if Someone worthy died in my place?

God wanted all of Adam’s children to understand that sin is not a trifle, but it is an act against the Holy and Righteous Who runs all things. When Cain brought his offering to God no Blood was shed. I’ve never seen a stalk of corn bleed, or a radish hemorrhage. Vegetables have no blood. But then Abel his brother brought an offering to God …

Genesis 4:4 (NKJV) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.

Abel didn’t go into the family business, but was a Shepherd. He brought the “blood of the Lamb” to God. And “God respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:4b-5). Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. It requires the blood of the innocent – the death of the innocent – to cover sin. Abel’s offering was of blood, and his sin was covered. But what of Cain? God could not accept his offering, the works of his hands.

You cannot work your way to God, but must obey His Word.
God wants none to perish, but wants all to be saved.

Ezekiel 18:23 (NKJV) Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

God is not pleased with the death and sin of mankind. He advised Cain to do as his brother Abel did, to offer the blood of the lamb for his sins. What did Cain do? In the second “It Came To Pass” of the Bible we see:

Genesis 4:8 (KJV) And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and IT CAME TO PASS, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Rather than do what God says, Cain rose up against his brother and killed him with a 357 Magnum! That tragedy would never have happened if the government had intervened and made a law against it. Is that true? No. Cain killed his brother with whatever he had at hand. He did so not because of government laxity, but because of sin in his heart. Cain didn’t want to listen to God. He felt that he knew better than God, and would do it his way. As a result his brother was murdered – the blood of an innocent – because he knew better than God.

So “It Came To Pass” begins human history, and that history is bloody, filled with violence and evil. Man grows so evil that “It Came To Pass” that God would send a flood on the earth in Genesis 6. Erasing all of humanity but Noah and his family, surely thins would be better. No, because sin is in us, and death by sin. We are all fallen.

But God never forgot us.
God was not willing that we perish, but wished us life.

God Who Controls Time Entered Time For Us

Luke 2:1-3 (KJV) And IT CAME TO PASS in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Governments love to tax people. Without taxes there could be no armies to protect us, and no politicians to lie to us. Taxes pay for highways. Taxes build schools for our children. Taxes have good uses, though I believe human greed misuses much of our tax dollars. When Caesar Augustus, the Emperor of Rome decreed that all those under Roman rule be taxed, he decreed that every family return nto their home town to be counted. Everyone into his own city. No one thought much of this except the inconvenience of it, but God was in control. What appeared to be a petty squabble between Caesar and Herod which led to a census was actually God controlling human events. The Bible says:

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

This census caused the tiny family of Joseph and Mary to travel nearly a hundred miles.

Luke 2:4-6 (KJV) … Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

If the decree of Caesar Augustus had not been issued, Mary would have had her Baby in Nazareth where she and Joseph lived. But the decree of the Emperor required that every person return to their home town to be counted for tax purposes. They traveled about 97 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and Mary was GREAT with Child. Was this just a coincidence? Just happenstance? No, for God is control.

Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

God is in control – ALWAYS! Many years before God promised that Messiah would enter humanity in a very specific way. What God’s Word says will always come to pass. God’s Word does not change with the seasons, nor with the fickle soul of man. His Word is true – let every man be a liar! God’s Word said that …

First, the Messiah would come into this world through Bethlehem:

There were two Bethlehems when Micah wrote this prophecy. Bethlehem Ephrathah was the Bethlehem of Judah. The One promised was “from everlasting”, the Eternal Christ. When Herod the King wondered where Christ would be born the chief priests and Scribes quoted this prophecy of Micah:

Matthew 2:6 (NKJV) But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.

Second, Messiah was to be a direct descendant of David. God said that the Messiah would come from the Ruling Tribe of Israel, Judah (see 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 2 Chronicles 6:16). God promised King David that he would have a Son who would rule forever. Messiah had to come from the line of David. When Jesus came He was known as “The Son of David” because His lineage was established by both Mary and Joseph. Joseph would take his wife Mary – GREAT with CHILD – to Bethlehem because of the decree of the Emperor.

Matthew 12:23 … and all the people were amazed {at Jesus}, and said, Is this not the Son of David?

God is in control. Though the Emperor issued the decree, and though Mary and Joseph moved to Bethlehem because of the decree, it was God Who was in control. The Emperor would not tax the people until ten years later based on this census … but God wanted the Christ to be born in Bethlehem.

The name “Bethlehem” means “House of Bread”.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem because He is God’s Messiah. The Lord said:

John 6:51 (NASB) I am the LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.

God chose where Christ would be born “before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9 NASB). Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, for Jesus is the one and only Messiah.

John 7:42 (NKJV) Has not the Scripture said that the CHRIST COMES FROM THE SEED OF DAVID AND FROM THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, where David was?

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David. He is a direct descendant of King David. He is the Son of David. How would this King of Kings – our Savior – be born?

God Was In Charge And
Messiah Was Brought Forth Safely

Luke 2:1 (KJV) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Let’s break this wonderful text down.

“She brought forth”. Mary had no midwives or doctors. Mary had her child with Joseph, her faithful husband, at hand. Most women have someone to receive the Child, but our Savior was born in lowest place. His mother brought Him forth. He was delivered safely.

“And wrapped Him in swaddling clothes”. You would think that the Messiah, the Savior of the world, would be wrapped in a robe befitting a king. The Scripture says:

Colossians 2:9 For in [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus is God in human flesh. Abel sacrificed a lamb for his sins and God had respect to that. But an earthly lamb was only appropriate until God made a more permanent way. God made us to walk with Him, but we turned our backs on God. But God loved us, and loves us still. He does not want us to perish, but to ascend to Him.

In order for us to ASCEND to Him He had to DESCEND to us.
He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and not a king’s robe,
So any can reach Him.
And can come to Him.

“And laid Him in a manger”. His crib was an animal’s feeding trough. How strange and lowly did our Lord enter this earth. Yet He was to be:

John 1:29 (NKJV) … The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

He was not like Abel’s lamb, though Abel obeyed the Father. Jesus was a Child Who would grow into a Man Who …

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) … was in all points tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.

Jesus Christ is the Innocent born to take my guilty place, and your guilty place. He is the perfect Lamb of God offered for our sins. What better place to find a Lamb than in a Manger? What better place to find Him and Him alone Who can redeem you from sin?

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) …. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

That Baby was born to die for the sins of the world. This Jesus was lovingly brought forth, laid to rest in a manger, so that He could grow up and take our punishment on Himself. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Finally:

“Because there was no room for them at the inn”. The census had pushed people outside of their homes. When Mary and Joseph could find no place to stay because of the crowds, they found a place where animals were kept, a warm barn. No one meant to reject the Christ. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NKJV) … we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

No one knew when they sent that pregnant virgin to a barn to have a baby that she carried the Messiah. No one meant evil of Christ in either the decree of Caesar or the journey – that hard journey – from Nazareth to Bethlehem. They just didn’t know.

But you know.
YOU KNOW.

God’s Word Always Proves True

I have told you. I have showed you. God was in control, and God knew. God’s Word always proves true.

God’s Word says we are born dead in sin.
God’s Word says that we need a Savior.
God’s Word says that Christ is that Savior.
He was born in Bethlehem, in a manger.
He came to this earth to save whosoever will.
God’s Word says that Jesus grew up to die for our sins.
God’s Word says that His death covers our sins.
God’s Word says that He conquered death, and rose again.

Will you receive Him?
Will you confess Him?
Will you believe Him?

God will not receive your efforts at salvation any more than He received Cain’s. He had no respect for Cain’s offering, but unto Abel God had respect. Why? Without the shedding of Blood there is no remission of sin. Christ came to this earth for you. Christ was born for you. Christ lived for you. Christ died on Calvary for you. Will you receive Him, and in so doing receive what He has for you?

Romans 10:9-11 (NASB) … if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.

“It Came To Pass”
Will your life continue forever, or will it
“Come To Pass”?
What you do now for Jesus matters.
What Jesus did for you matters.
Receive Him, and God will receive you.
May God the Holy Spirit reach someone with this Word today.

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Sermons, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bethlehem, Birth of Christ, manger | 2 Comments

The Word of God

Posted on December 17, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

wonderful post. God’s Word IS awesome!

The Ministry of JC

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“The word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8)

Welcome to the start of a new series.

This post works off one simple premise: God’s word is powerful. And if you don’t believe me, let me just discredit your objections in advance. I’ll just throw some truth your way:

“The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born” (Psalm 33:6). We know a God who “calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17). It was “at the blast of his breath, that the bottom of the earth could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare” (2 Samuel 22:16).

God is “sustaining all things by the power of his word” (Hebrews 1:3). The hum of the generator powering the whole universe is every word that the comes from the mouth of God. And we have at our…

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Santa on Trial

Posted on December 17, 2017 by bibleteacherorg

I love this. With a Scripture this could be a great sermon!

The Ministry of JC

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The big fella.

Every Christmas the big red starts making his appearance. And so we dust off and roll out the red carpet for our hailed guest at Christmas Carols. News Shows. Adverts. Major festivals. Photo shoots. Sporting events. Pageants. Ceremonies. Parties.

Santa’s social stocks go off the freaking charts.

And amongst all the flashing lights and fan-fare, the true Christmas story appears increasingly irrelevant. God is thrown onto the back-burner. Jesus is once again driven back into his manger on the outskirts of town, as we fill and leave no room or vacancy for the God who came to save the very people who showed him the stiff arm.

It’s not unusual for Jesus to have opposition. Hear that loud and clear. Jesus is no stranger to rejection. Jesus even expected it (John 15:18). But if you’re going to hate on God, at least get your criticisms remotely right…

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