So what is the power and significance of Christmas anyway? That's what we're looking at in this message. Check out the outline and the video below. Pick up the video at 02:55:17 to see where the video and then my message begin.
The Worst Christmas Ever—God With Us
Matthew 1:18-23 “18This is how
the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be
married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant
through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because
Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public
disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he
had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son
of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save
his people from their sins.’ 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had
said through the prophet: 23 The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God
with us’).”
Isaiah 7:1-17 “When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King
Rezinof Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against
Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.
2 Now the house of David was told, ‘Aram has allied itself with
Ephraim’; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by
the wind. 3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, ‘Go out, you and your son
Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool,
on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of
Remaliah. 5 Aram,
Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it
among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.’ 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘It will not take place, it will not happen,
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.’ 12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’ 13 Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.’”
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.’ 12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’ 13 Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.’”
BIG IDEA:
God with us in the best and the worst is the significance
of Christmas.
SMALL, WEAK
God’s promises
come nearly always in the context of what is hard, painful, small
or weak.
MISUNDERSTOOD
God was
doing something great through Mary and Joseph, even though they were misunderstood.
Matthew 1:18 “18This is
how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to
be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be
pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
PROBLEMATIC
God often
works miracles in the midst of unsolvable problems.
Luke 2:6-7
“6 While they were there, the time came for
the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no
guest room available for them.”
PROMISE
When God is
with us, we can have peace, regardless of our circumstances.
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah 5:4-5 “He will
stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And
he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses.”
RESPONSE: How will you trust Immanuel in the circumstances
of your life?