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Christmas the Season of Illumination. Luke 2:1-20 / John 1:9, 14
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Christmas the Season of Illumination Luke 2:1-20 / John 1:9, 14 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world…14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Christmas Celebrations A quick survey: What are you celebrating this year? I’m celebrating that I have made it through another year. I’m celebrating that 2009 is nearly over! I’m celebrating having my family home and around me. I’m celebrating a Christmas bonus. I’m celebrating my daughter’s home from Iraq I’m celebrating just finishing shopping for Christmas. I’m celebrating getting out of debt…
Most powerful event the World has ever witnessed… • Christmas is about Encounter … • Christmas is about Revelation to our weary hearts .. • Christmas is about Illumination, the Illumination of our spirits with His Hope, Love and Joy.
John takes us to Heaven’s view… … John 1:4-5, 9-11 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. ( Him) 9 The True Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He come to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.
Christmas is about Illumination… ~ Shining a light on something so that it is now seen clearly, bringing clarity and truth to the forefront of the way things really are…
The scenes of Christmas are filled with Exploding Light… • An Angel and then Angels Armies, appear at His birth • A Brilliant Star appears in the Heaven’s to Watching Astrologers • John declares to us He is Light… the Light of Men!
Anybody here need Light? • Circumstances around me, overwhelm me and I am trapped and caught by life … • When my strength and wisdom fail me and I don’t have an answer… • When in spite of my best efforts I find myself unable to move forward … • When the darkness of sin captures me and I am addicted to that which is killing me … • When I have used up all my chances and wouldn’t even give myself a break…
Anybody here need a light? • When I have risen to all the challenges and conquered every goal…but still find myself still broken, lost and unfulfilled … 7. When I have traded time, energy and life for “the finer things” and I am still empty… • When the Light of disclosure and reality unmasks my previously hidden faults and fears… • Someday when His Glory shines on this dark planet in full reality … I will need a Light
Defining Question: Have I grasped His Light in my life??? • The Whole world will acknowledge and celebrate His Birth … but will we receive His light? • Does Christ’s coming … the miraculous story that we celebrate make a deep difference in me right now?
Text: Luke 2:1-20 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Luke 2:5-7 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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 room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:8-11 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12-14 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:15-16 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:17-20 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Christmas is about Light pouring forth: I. Heaven is still willing to Pour out Promise into earth’s most unlikely places and people.
Joseph and Mary in a difficult position … • God comes into Real history • God comes to Real places • God comes to Real people …
It’s easy to have a sense of Holy Moment here ... But • We read that their was NO Room for them in the Local Motel 6… vs. 7 • Jesus was born in a place where animals were cared for… • Mary wrapped him in cloth for warmth and protection…and found the safest place available an animal feed trough…
What is illuminating about this? • He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. • He comes declaring … “I know!” • He comes declaring … I love pouring out “My Light “in the darkest places that’s my specialty.
This Christmas hear ; “You are included in My Light” • You were wired for relationship with me… I created you… • Your life even in the bumpy, scary times and they will come is held in the palm of my hand… • I’ve come just to move near and let You know…
Heaven’s Light pours into places of Fear and Insufficiency vv. 8-9 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
He came to Shepherds …??? • The first to receive the gospel were the Shepherds (real shepherds)… in the fields … • The Angel shows up… a Bright Light Fills the landscape…changing everything! • Luke simply says that they were “Terrified” (Wanted to Run!)
Ever been afraid? … • We’re afraid when we face things bigger than we are… • We’re afraid when we have been pushing the limits and think we are caught… • We’re afraid when we think about dying and aren’t sure about what’s next! • We’re afraid when shaking comes …
God’s light pours into our places of fear and insufficiency… • vv. 10-12 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
God’s Light pouring in… • Do not be afraid … Be at peace • Receive Joy …. “I bring you news of great Joy.” • Receive the Savor
Heaven’s Light pours into my places of searching for satisfaction and fulfillment. 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Shepherds encounter turns to Shepherds pursuit… • There is a sign you can check out! • So they “hurried off”… 3. Their search and pursuit were rewarded… “they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. “ Vs. 16
A SIGN TO SHEPHERDS AND TO US! • God knows where you are from the greatest to the smallest circumstance… • God loves you so much that He was willing to Step from Splendor beyond our imagination to the lowliest and most common of circumstances…. • God came even when He knew:
Christmas is about God’s Illumination of our hearts and lives. 1. This Sign proclaims His inclusion of You personally in His great love 2. This Sign and the Sign of the Resurrection of Christ declares His victory over all our sin and our enemies that bring fear, frustration and futility… • This Sign proclaims that not only did He come to Save us but that He is coming again for Ultimate deliverance in us and through us.
The response of the shepherds … • They believed … • They told everyone they encountered about what God had done for them… • They worshipped and celebrated God and their New identity… “The Shepherds”!
