“CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT SEEING THE CHRIST INSIDE LIFE’S DISSAPOINTMENTS”

 Pastor Mike Barnett, December 21, 2008

 Luke 2:1-7 (pg. 725) says:

 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.  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 the line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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 2:1-7

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE CHRISTMAS STORY: 

1.  MARY WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A “(NORMAL)” BIRTH, BUT FOUND GOD IN THE MOST (UNUSUAL) CIRCUMSTANCES.

·        MARY WAS LOOKING TO HAVE HER CHILD IN HER HOME TOWN OF (NAZARETH), BUT INSTEAD FOUND GOD’S WILL TO BE IN THE (UNKNOWN) AND FOREIGN TERRITORY OF (BETHLEHEM).

 NOTE: The census had totally disrupted all her plans.  It was not a secure and safe place like her hometown.

·        MARY WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING HER BABY IN NAZARETH WITH HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS BY HER SIDE, BUT FOUND GOD'S (WILL) IN THE MIDST OF (STRANGERS) WITHOUT HER SUPPORT SYSTEM BACK HOME.

NOTE: It was Mary’s first time away from home giving birth to her first child in a strange land inhabited by strangers, but she (submitted) to it without (grumbling) because she knew God had a specific plan.

·        WHEN THE TIME TO GIVE BIRTH TO JESUS CAME SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, MARY WAS LOOKING FOR AN (INN), BUT INSTEAD FOUND GOD’S (WILL) IN  (UNCOMFORTABLE) AND SOCIALLY (UNACCEPTABLE) ACCOMMODATIONS.  Luke 2:1-7

·        The housing situation was inadequate. All the hotels and motels were booked – she had nowhere to go to give birth to her son except in a stable.

·         

·          His bassinet was a feeding trough for animals.  He was wrapped in strips of cloth used for the animals.

·        During that time, in that culture stables where caves where animals were housed – it is believed that Jesus was born in such a cave used as a stable.

·       The stable Jesus was born in would be equivalent to today’s barn in America.

QUESTION: HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED FOR A FANCY INN, BUT FOUND ONLY AN OLD, SMELLY ANIMAL STABLE?

 NOTE: OFTEN TIMES, GOD IS NOT (FOUND) IN THE (PERFECT) PLACE LIKE AN INN – SOMETIMES GOD IS IN THE (MIDST) OF THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE AND (UNDESIRED) PLACES LIKE AN OLD SMELLY ANIMAL STABLE.

NOTE: WHERE JESUS LIVES TODAY: (INSIDE) OF HIS (BELIEVERS); IS OFTEN TIMES JUST AS (DESPISED) AS THE SMELLY STABLE HE WAS BORN IN!

·        THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED IS: DO NOT BE FOOLED BY (OUTWARD) (APPEARANCES) – (WAIT) PATIENTLY AND LOOK FOR THE CHRIST WHO LIVES INSIDE OF THE (PERSON) YOU ARE TEMPTED TO (JUDGE) OR (CONDEMN).

Romans 2:1-4 (pg. 796) says:

 1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

 2. THE WISE MEN WERE LOOKING FOR A (STAR), BUT FOUND AN ORDINARY (BABY) IN AN (ORDINARY), RUN OF THE MILL, HOME.

Matthew 2:1-12 (pg. 681) says:

 1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."

 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[c] was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
 6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
      are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
   for out of you will come a ruler
      who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[d]"

 7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2: 1-12

 THREE LESSONS THE WISE MEN TEACH US:

 1) WHEN WSE MEN FIND AN ORDINARY BABY IN AN EVERYDAY, RUN OF THE MILL HOME, THEY (LOOK) FOR GOD).

 2) WHEN WISE MEN FIND AN ORDINARY BABY IN AN EVERYDAY, RUN OF THE MILL HOME, THEY (OFFER) THEIR VERY (BEST) TO GOD.

 3) WHEN WISE MEN FIND AN ORDINARY BABY IN AN EVERYDAY, RUN OF THE MILL HOME, THEY (CHANGE) THEIR (DIRECTION).

·        The wise men probably weren’t quite sure what they were going to find at the end of the star, but they followed it anyway, realizing God was at work.

·        There was nothing impressive about a baby being housed in the obscure town of Bethlehem.

·        Contrary to tradition, most Bible scholars today believe that the Magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth in Bethlehem as did the shepherds.

·        They came months later and visited him as a child in his house.

·        It is believed that Joseph elected to buy or build a house for his family in Bethlehem instead of going back home to Nazareth.

·        Bethlehem was no more of an impressive town than was Nazareth – both were small obscure towns that had nothing to offer a person of nobility.

·        ….You would certainly not expect the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords to live in either such location.

 NOTE: JESUS WENT OUT OF THE WORLD THE SAME WAY HE CAME IN - (UNIMPRESSIVELY)

·        AS AN ADULT, WHEN JESUS RODE INTO JERUSALEM ONE WEEK BEFORE HIS CRUCIFICTION….

3. THE WORLD WAS LOOKING FOR A (KING) ON A WHITE (HORSE) FROM (JERUSALEM), BUT FOUND A (CARPENTER) ON A (DONKEY) FROM (NAZARETH).

·        Kings and royalty rode white horses and came from prestigious and well known towns like Jerusalem.

·        Kings were not supposed to be carpenters from an unknown and obscure town such as Bethlehem where Jesus was born or from Nazareth where Jesus grew up and they certainly did not ride donkeys.

·        Only poor peasants rode on donkeys.

 John 1:46-47 says:

 “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  “Nazareth!  Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Nathaniel asked.  “Come and see, said Phillip”.  John 1:46-47

·        On paper, Jesus’ pedigree was not overtly impressive.

 4. JESUS’ DISCIPLES WERE LOOKING FOR  (JUSTICE), BUT FOUND A (CROSS) FOR THEIR LORD AND FOR THEMSELVES.

 Mark 8:34-35 says:

 “Then he (Jesus) called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it’”.  Mark 8:34-35

·        WEAK, IMMATURE CHRISTIANS SEE GOD ONLY IN THE (GOOD). 

·        STRONG, MATURE BELIEVERS SEE GOD IN BOTH THE (GOOD) AND IN THE  (BAD).

 Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (pg. 475) says:

Consider what God has done:
       Who can straighten
       what he has made crooked?

 14 When times are good, be happy;
       but when times are bad, consider:
       God has made the one
       as well as the other.
       Therefore, a man cannot discover
       anything about his future.

·        AS A CHRISTIAN, I MAY HAVE LOOKED FOR JESUS IN OTHER (PEOPLE) OR (EVENTS), BUT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE MANGER JESUS LIVES IN TODAY THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS (ME) AND EVERY BROTHER AND SISTER IN CHRIST)!

 Jesus himself said in Luke 17:20-21:

 “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is or there it is, because the kingdom of God is within you’”.  Luke 17:20-21

·        THE MANGER JESUS LIVES IN TODAY IS MY (HEART), (SOUL) AND (MIND) – JESUS IS MY (LIFE)! TODAY, JESUS IS IN ME AND I AM IN (HIM)!

 Colossians 3:1-4 says:

 “Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory”. Colossians 3:1-4

 Jesus said in Revelation 3:20

 “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

·        JESUS IS INVITING US TO LIVE IN GOD’S MANGER TODAY AND WANTS TO LIVE IN YOUR LIFE!

QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON:

·        HAVE I BEEN LOOKING FOR A FANCY INN, BUT INSTEAD FOUND A BARN?

·        HAVE I BEEN LOOKING FOR A STAR, BUT INSTEAD FOUND AN ORDINARY BABY, IN AN EVERYDAY RUN OF THE MILL HOME, IN BETHLEHEM AND LATER IN NAZARETH?

·        HAVE I BEEN LOOKING FOR A KING ON A WHITE HORSE FROM JERUSALEM, BUT INSTEAD FOUND A CARPENTER FROM NAZARETH ON A DONKEY?

·        HAVE I BEEN LOOKING FOR JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD, BUT INSTEAD FOUND THE CROSS?

·        HAVE I BEEN LOOKING FOR JESUS IN OTHER PEOPLE AND EVENTS AND REALIZED THAT HE LIVES IN THE MANGER OF MY OWN LIFE?

·        ….IF SO, THEN YOU HAVE MET JESUS FACE TO FACE BECAUSE HE IS WHERE DISSAPOINTMENT IS

·        …HE IS WHERE OBSTACLES ARE

·        …HE IS WHERE THE PAIN IS. 

·        HE IS WHERE YOU ARE!…

·        BECAUSE TODAY…

·         JESUS LIVES IN THE (MANGER) OF YOUR (SOUL), AND YOU NOW (LIVE) IN (CHRIST) – HE IS YOUR MANGER “WHERE YOU LIVE, MOVE AND HAVE YOUR BEING”!

 THE CHRISTMAS STORY MEANS THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO:

·        GO TO A FANCY INN TO SEE JESUS, I CAN MEET HIM WHERE I AM, EVEN IF IT IS IN A BARN.

·        I DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE MY LUCKY STARS COME TRUE TO SEE JESUS; I CAN SEE HIM IN NORMAL, EVERYDAY LIFE.

·        I DON’T HAVE TO LOOK FOR JESUS ON A WHITE HORSE, I CAN SEE HIM RIDING IN ON THE DONKEYS OF LIFE.

·        I DO NOT NEED TO LOOK FOR JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD BECAUSE JESUS DIED FOR MY SINS ON A CROSS.

·        I DO NOT HAVE TO LOOK FOR JESUS IN OTHER PEOPLE OR EVENTS TO JUSTIFY HIS EXISTENCE, BECAUSE HE LIVES IN ME AND I LIVE IN HIM!

·        JESUS IS MY LIFE!

·        CHRISTMAS MEANS I CAN SEE JESUS (EVERYWHERE) I LOOK - IN THE (GOOD) AND ALSO IN THE SEEMINGLY (BAD).

 Romans 8:35-49 (pg. 800) says:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword.  As it is written ‘we face death all day long; we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.’  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.  Romans 8:35-49

 CHRISTMAS MEANS: IF I LOOK CLOSELY I CAN SEE GOD IN (EVERYTHING). 

·        DO NOT FIXATE ON WHAT THE OUTSIDE “BARN” LOOKS LIKE, BUT INSTEAD (FOCUS) ON THE ONE THAT LIVES INSIDE THE “BARN” – (JESUS CHRIST).

·        WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE “(BARN)” ITSELF – YOU WILL BE (SAD) AND DEPRESSED

·        WHEN YOU FOCUS ON (JESUS) WHO LIVES INSIDE THE “BARN” YOU WILL BE (JOYFUL) AND CONTENT!

Philippians 4:4-13 (pg 832)  says:

4”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 (pg. 837) says:

16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good.

BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANS:

·        I CAN FIND A FANCY INN, IN A BARN.

·        I CAN FIND A STAR IN BETHLEHEM. 

·        I CAN FIND JESUS RIDING ON A DONKEY.

·        I CAN SEE A CARPENTER AND RECOGNIZE HIM AS MY LORD. 

·        I CAN CARRY MY CROSS-AND SEE JESUS THERE.

·        I CAN SEE ALL MY UGLINESS AND FIND JESUS LIVING THERE, BECAUSE MY HEART, MY SOUL AND MY LIFE IS THE MANGER WHERE CHRIST LIVES TODAY!

 TRUTH: AS A “CHRIST FOLLOWER”, I AM THE (STABLE) THAT (HOUSES) THE LIVING (CHRIST) TODAY - AND THAT IS THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD!

Matthew 5:13-16 (pg. 683) says:

“You are the light of the World. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven”.  Matthew 5:13-16

 NOTE: IF YOU ARE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO (BECOME) LIGHT. THE BIBLE SAYS YOU ARE ALREADY (LIGHT) – (READING) THE BIBLE, (PRAYING) AND (THANKSGIVING) ONLY (UNCOVERS) THE LIGHT YOU (ALREADY) ARE IN CHRIST!