Life Here and There

This article is based on a message from Matthew 2:1-12 from a series on the light of Christmas.

I’m beginning to preach a series of Christmas-oriented messages at Bethel on the theme of Light. It will consist of three messages…

1. The Light of the Knowledge of God. God wants for us to know Him, so He has revealed enough light that we might pursue a knowledge of Him.
2. The Light of the Glory of God. The shepherds beheld a myriad of angels and the glory of God and I think it dramatically changed their lives forever.
3. The Light of the Salvation of God. As Isaiah said, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

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These are tough times in many respects, but for the believer, they are also really good times in terms of some of the great opportunities God has brought our way. With our entering the holiday season, approaching the celebration of the birth of Christ, I wanted to present the really good news of Christmas in the midst of a world of scrooges. While most people are saying “Bah! Humbug!,” Christians ought to be saying, “Thank you God for being so good!”

So here is the series…

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Christmas Sermon Series: God’s Christmas Messages to You, Part 4
Based on Luke 2:8-20

This is the fourth and final message in a series of Christmas messages based on the angelic appearances of the first Christmas. We’ve learned with Zechariah and Elizabeth to “prepare for the miraculous.” We’ve learned with Mary to “prepare to be God’s instrument.” We’ve learned with Joseph to “prepare to meet the Savior.” Today, we learn with the shepherds to “prepare for history’s greatest news.”

More than the others, God’s message through the angels to the shepherds represents His universal message to all of humanity. It was the only angelic announcement that involved more than one angel (it involved myriads) and it was the only one to more than one person (Elizabeth was not with Zechariah). It was a group of angels giving God’s message to a group of people who were looked at as “common” in Jesus’ day.

Christmas is, at least in part, the story of God sending His message to all of humanity, to you and me.

GOD’S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD…

1. God’s message is for real people living real life.

Notice that the shepherds were living in the fields with their sheep. That was their life and their livelihood. They were real people with real lives doing real things. I want you to understand that the Christian message is not for perfect people, but for real people. Notice that the angels said that the good news would be for all people.

2. God’s message for the world is good news.

There are two elements to be found in the reaction of the shepherds to the message of the angels and these two reactions should be ours today as well.

A. Fear.

Fear because God is holy, because He is great and awesome, and because He will judge sin. Fear because an encounter with the holy God is a reminder that we are ultimately sinful and unable to stand in His presence.

“For our God is a consuming fire.” –Hebrews 12:29

“For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” –Revelation 6:17

It is very true that the gospel (which means good news) is not such good news until we realize the bad news, that we’ve sinned against and offended a holy God who will punish us for eternity in hell if we do not repent and come to Christ by faith.

B. Joy.

Joy, sweet relief, peace in the soul. That’s what they felt when they realized that the message here on earth was not one of judgment (that will come for the unrepentant in heaven) but rather one of a Savior.

3. God’s message for the world demands a decision.

The shepherds decided to act on the message and go meet the Savior. Every time we hear the message of the gospel, God’s good news, we are called to a crisis of faith, a moment of decision. We must decide what to do with Jesus in this life or perish for eternity.

You see, we are all responsible to respond to the light God gives us. We should know from nature that there is a God and seek Him further. We should hear our conscience telling us that we’ve sinned and we should seek to repent. We should hear the gospel and respond to the light of God’s message, God’s revelation.

The Bible and the gospel preached by preachers across the land is God’s message of warning and consolation to us today and we must respond.

4. God’s message changes lives forever.

Notice the change in the shepherds’ lives. Their newfound faith prompted them to do at least two things:

A. Tell others about Jesus.

B. Offer praise to God.

Their hearts were changed! They had a new message to give and a new song to sing because things were different for them now. They had met the Savior!

What about you? Have you received His message? Have you met the Savior? Are you different now than before? What have you done with Jesus?

God’s Message to Mary: Prepare to Be God’s Instrument
Sermon Series: God’s Christmas Messages to You
Based on Luke 1:26-38, 46-56

A couple of years ago I attended a men’s retreat in Richwoods, Missouri and decided to go horseback riding. I got on a horse that had a mind of its own (and it was my first time). I did okay and got control of the animal but it kept jerking its head downward. Once, going up a steep, rocky path, the horse jerked the reigns right out of my hand and I was no longer in control. The horse knew it immediately and began to climb through a thicket with me. Thankfully a guy in our group gave me the reigns back and they all had a good laugh.

We’re all a little bit like that horse, we want to be in control of life. We want to hold the reigns. We do this with God too. We want to call the shots and decide how God will use us. As a matter of fact, we often use God instead of letting Him use us. The result is shallow Christian living. It’s not much of an adventure when we set limits on what God can do with us.

Luke records for us the example of Mary who decided to let God use her instead of just using Him. She was fully open to Him and became an instrument in His hands. Before we understand how, let me clear up some confusion about Mary.

An Overemphasized Mary

Some segments of faith attempt to overemphasize Mary’s role in the world. She gets more attention than Jesus and is even called by many as “mother of God” or worse, “co-redeemer.” She is none of the like. She was just a woman saved by grace. She wasn’t virgin born and she died a death just like any other human being.

An Underemphasized Mary

Many, perhaps in reaction to the overemphasized Mary, tend to underemphasize her role and leave her out of the gospel story all together. There is a balance. Mary was a godly young woman, a teenager without a clue but ready for God’s assigned adventure.

WHEN GOD USES AN INSTRUMENT…

1. God uses people only by His grace. (vs. 28-30)

Numerous times in this passage, the angel says that Mary is the object of God’s “favor.” That word refers to His gracious choosing of an instrument. Mary was a sinner, saved by grace.

“But we have this treasure (the gospel) in earthen vessels (clay pots), that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” -2 Corinthians 4:7

When we testify of God’s grace, we’re giving Him the glory and letting people see Him as pre-eminent and not us.

2. God uses people who are available.

I love what Howard Hendricks says about being used of God. He says we must be “FAT.”

How to be FAT for God…

Faithful
Available
Teachable

Looking at Mary’s example, she was certainly all of these qualities. She was “faithful” in being ready to take up the assignment. The Bible points out three times in this passage that she was a virgin. On the theological side, this was to testify to the impeccability of Jesus’ divine nature. On the practical side, it lets us know that Mary was ready for her particular assignment.

She was also available. When God spoke, she didn’t say “no” and she didn’t demand more evidence. She was simply ready for the assignment.

And Mary was teachable. Do you notice how quietly and obediently she listens to the Lord’s messenger? She asks how it will all happen but she does not interject her own opinion of things. She simply lets God have His way.

Are you ready to be FAT for God?

3. God uses people in His own power. (vs. 35-37)

Mary asks how the miraculous birth of Jesus is supposed to occur. A natural question considering her virginity. God’s answer is clear:

• The Holy Ghost will accomplish it supernaturally.
• The power of God will overcome the laws of nature.
• All the world will testify of God’s power.

Then the messenger gives Mary the testimony of what has happened in Elisabeth’s life. She too has experienced a miracle by the power of God.

Remember that verse from earlier?

“But we have this treasure (the gospel) in earthen vessels (clay pots), that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” -2 Corinthians 4:7

If you’re wondering how it is that God is supposed to use you, just remember what Jesus said to His disciples…

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” –John 15:5

4. God uses people for His own purpose.

God always has His own reasons for using people. He is never obligated to tell us His purposes and His purposes are sometimes past finding out. He just thinks differently. But we do get an insight into two of God’s greatest purposes as they are revealed to Mary…

• God used Mary to birth Jesus to save others. (vs. 31-33)

Why Mary? Who knows but God. What we do know is that God selected her for the purpose of being the incubator for the Messiah so that all the world could trust Him and be saved. God does things in our lives as well so that others might be saved.

• God used Mary so He would receive the glory. (vs. 46-56)

Mary issues what is called The Magnificat. It is her song of praise to God. The first stanza gives God all the glory for saving her and using her. The remainder of the song gives glory to God for coming to the rescue of His people.

Are you ready to be used by God today? You first need an experience of His grace! You need to receive His forgiveness and be saved.