Laws of the Harvest

Notes: Laws of the Harvest

Galatians 6:7–10

SPEAKER:

James MacDonald

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Sunday, February 21, 2016 — 8:00 a.m.

There are laws in Gods word that are as irrevocable as the laws of gravity.

Galatians 6:1-4 NKJV Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

We are to carry our burden and others burden.

Galatians 6:5-6 NKJV For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Galatians 6:7-10 NKJV Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

This is the Word of the Lord.

7 laws of the Harvest:

Do not be deceived - 

there is something about us that we think that we can escape this principle.

God is not mocked -

this is a serious message, the Lord will not be made a fool of

Fall is when the harvest is reaped.

Paul says life is like farming, you plant and cultivate and reap.

Trials and consequences happen to all of us. Trials require circumstances. 

Circumstance: an event beyond your control resulting from forces or influences you did not cause and cannot change.

You submit to a trial, you wait by faith for God to use it.

Job 23:10 NKJV But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Galatians 6:7 is not about trials, its about consequences. In consequences, you don’t endure. 

You repent of consequences and receive faith.

The clouds of heaven would burst of grace and mercy if you were to repent of the consequences.

Consequence: resulting wholly or in part from me - actions I’ve take - things I’ve said or done - places I’ve gone - priorities I’ve pursued - choices I’ve made.

1a. We harvest only what has been planted. 

2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Edward Gibbon wrote a book in 1787 called The decline and fall of the Roman Empire. He wrote that it was divorce and break down of the home. Higher taxes, mad desire for pleasure, sports getting more exciting and brutal every year. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was inside. The decay of faith and becoming impatient to worn the people. 

Gibbon wrote the book over 200 years ago about Rome!

How is it that the people of God have come to a place where they hardly even want to be warned.

Responsibility lies with the individual.

How did Sampson go from a young strong weapon of God to being sideways in the ditch? We harvest only what has been planted.

2a. We harvest the same in kind as we plant.

“What goes around comes around” 

Galatians 6:8 NKJV For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Flesh is self.

The one who sows to self, reaps corruption.

Corruption means death and decay. A hell of a life and hell after life.

This is not the life of a Christ follower.

King ME has got to go.

Instead, I am crucified in Christ. 

So often we say its outside of me, but the word of God says, we are harvesting only what has been planted.

3a. We harvest in a different season than we plant.

This is where the deception comes in, we fool ourselves to think we are doing well. 

We make decisions when we are young and spend so much time getting over those decisions. 

The younger you are the more urgent it is to recognize the message of sowing and reaping. 

There are no exceptions to this rule, God is not going to be mocked. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all plant in the Spring and harvest in the Spring.

It’s the time gaps that prompts the deception.

Poem:

• Invictus

William Ernest Henley, 1849 - 1903

 Out of the night that covers me,   

  Black as the Pit from pole to pole,   

I thank whatever gods may be   

  For my unconquerable soul.   

   

In the fell clutch of circumstance 

  I have not winced nor cried aloud.   

Under the bludgeonings of chance   

  My head is bloody, but unbowed.   

   

Beyond this place of wrath and tears   

  Looms but the Horror of the shade, 

And yet the menace of the years   

  Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.   

   

It matters not how strait the gate,   

  How charged with punishments the scroll,   

I am the master of my fate:

  I am the captain of my soul. -

Dorothea Day Poem:

MY CAPTAIN

Dorothea Day

(Christian)

Out of the night that dazzles me, 

Bright as the sun  om pole to pole; 

I thank the God I know to be 

For Christ the conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance, 

I would not wince nor cry aloud. 

Under that rule which men call chance 

My head with joy is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears 

That life with Him! And His the aid, 

Despite the menace of the years, 

Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid..

I have no fear, though strait the gate,

He cleared from punishment the scroll,

Christ is the Master of my fate, 

Christ is the Captain of my soul. -

After a message like this we should look at ourselves. 

If you submit and obey, you will be able to enjoy the fat of the land. 

Let’s sow good things, repentance and humility. 

I Will!

Notes: I Will

Matthew 8:1–4

SPEAKER:

Tony Clark

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Welcome To Harvest Sunday Morning! 

Sunday, February 7, 2016 — 8:00 a.m.

“I will” are some of the most precious words in our vocabulary today. When we get married, or when we ask for help, we love to hear those words.

Matthew 7:27-28 NKJV and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

Jesus spoke with authority to the people and it astonished them. People followed Jesus for all sorts of reasons. 

Why are you following Jesus?

If you are following Jesus for any other reason than He is worthy, then you are no different then the people in this crowd.

Matthew 8:1-4 NIV When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

The man had leprosy, it was a very horrible disease and very much the AIDS of the time. Their skin would fall off, they could be smelled from 100 feet away. 

“I would not so much as buy an egg from a market on street that had a leper on it.” was a statement a Rabbi of that day made.

God compares sin to leprosy in Isaiah and Leviticus. Just like leprosy, eventually sin will destroy you.

Matthew 20:20 NKJV Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

Many come to church because they know they will need to ask God for something this week. God sees right through that. 

This leper did not approach Jesus that way. This leper did not doubt Jesus power, he was asking Jesus about his willingness.

How many of us don’t doubt God’s power, but doubt His willingness?

Many of us need to burst through the crowd and come to Jesus. 

Matthew 8:3 NKJV Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

By cleaning this man, Jesus did the unthinkable and the unlawful. This leper had not been touched in years. According to Leviticus Jesus would have become unclean, but instead Jesus made the man clean.

Would we have touched the man or would we have thrown stones? If leprosy is like sin, how many times have we thrown stones at sinners instead of reached out to them?

Maybe you feel like a leper in your sin today, Jesus wants to touch you and clean you. Jesus is willing. Not only does Jesus have the power to heal you, but he has the desire to also.

Are you desperate enough to push through the crowd to approach Jesus? 

Matthew 8:4 NKJV And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

This was the first man they would have ever seen cleaned of leprosy. Jesus is still into cleaning people of leprosy.

He can clean you of your sins today!

Current Events and How They Relate to End-Times

Notes: Special guest Joel Rosenberg discusses current events and how they relate to end-times. 
Joel Rosenberg
Daniel 7
SPEAKERS:
Jeff Lasseigne
Joel Rosenberg
MUSICAL GUEST:
Steve Wiggins
WORSHIP TEAM:
Harvest Worship Band

Sunday, January 17, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

Joel is telling us about his new book The First Hostage.

Radical Islam is a very serious threat. They want to attack us, Apocalyptic Islam is even worse, they don't want to just attack us, they want to kill all of us to usher in the end times as they see it. 

Joel has moved to Israel, he is now a dual citizen.

Joel is going to meet with Pastor Greg's tour  to Israel this year and help guide the participants. He thinks that as a Christian that this is a perfect time to visit Israel.

We are talking about the difference between Bible Eschatology and Islamic Eschatology. There are big differences.

27% of the Bible is prophecy, 1 in 4 verses. Many have come to pass but many are also yet to come and pass.

Joel says that a lot of the people who preach Bible prophecy are crazy, and many people think that is everyone that teaches it. But that is not true of all of the teachers.

Israel as a country right now is fulfilled prophecy.

What's the difference between Apocalyptic Islam Eschatology and Biblical Eschatology? 

John 10:10 NKJV
[10] The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

This verse describes to us exactly the opposites that Jesus and Satan represent.

Radical Islam wants to attack while Apocalyptic Islam wants to eliminate us. Radicals want us out of the Middle East, Apocalyptic want us dead.

All Muslims believe that the world will end, but only 10% believe it can be ushered in with violence.

With 1.3 billion Muslim in the world, that means over 100 million believe in the violence it takes to usher in the end of world times.

Daniel 7:13-14,22-27 NKJV
[13] "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. [14] Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. [23] "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. [24] The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings. [25] He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. [26] 'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. [27] Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'

Jewish people that believe the Bible believe that God is coming to establish His kingdom.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 NKJV
[5] "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. [6] In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
[6] For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As followers of Jesus, we see that Jesus came to fulfill these prophecies.

Matthew 3:2 NKJV
[2] and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

Matthew 4:12,17,23-24 NKJV
[12] Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. [17] From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [23] And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. [24] Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

In Syria there is a war raging today, the Islamic people have been expecting this through their Islamic prophecies.

The Christian Church is to loive their neighbors and enemies.

John 6:15 NKJV
[15] Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Jesus had no intention of becoming a geopolitical King on his first coming.

John 3:3 NKJV
[3] Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

You can't enter the Kingdom unless you receive and are adopted into the kingdom by Jesus Christ.

The similarities are we both believe that our books have prophecies to the end of days, we both believe the messiah will be king.

Islam teaches that their prophecies are correct. Islam teaches a violent physical battle, the Bible teaches a spiritual battle. Islam teaches to kill the enemy, the Bible teaches to love your enemy.

We know that the Islamic prophecies are false and the Biblical prophecies are correct.

Are you living the way the Bible teaches? Are you engaging others to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them?

Pastor Saeed has been released yesterday. He has shared the gospel with the prisoners he was in prison with in Iran and many have come to faith.

It's All How You Look at Things

Notes: It's All How You Look at Things

Numbers 13

Joshua 14

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Welcome to Harvest Sunday Morning!

Sunday, January 3, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

You are in a spiritual battle as a believer, do you want to advance or retreat?

It's 2016!! Where's my spaceship?

Time passes at the same rate always, yet as we get it older it seems to go faster. We actually have less new experiences as we get older, and it is said that is why it seems to go faster.

We don't know what the new year holds but we know who holds the year.

This year there will be opportunities as well as obstacles.

God has a plan, He always has a plan.

Daniel 4:35 NKJV

[35] All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

With our eyes on the Lord we can rest assured that He will do great things.

We can make this our best year ever!

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

[1] Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

What may be a weight to one, may not necessarily be a weight to another.

There are relationships or an activity that may not be bad in general but they are holding you back spiritually.

Are the things you doing a wing or a weight?

Where should you be looking? If you are driving, you can should be looking ahead. As a Christian you should be looking towards Jesus. Where I look affects how I live.

How we view God determines how we view life. There is no area of your life that this view does not affect you.

Numbers 13:25-28 NKJV

[25] And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. [26] Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. [27] Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. [28] Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.

Numbers 13:30-33 NKJV

[30] Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." [31] But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." [32] And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. [33] There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

Numbers 14:1-2 NKJV

[1] So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. [2] And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!

All these 12 men saw the same thing, yet they saw it differently.

The majority saw all kinds of problems. They have a small god. The minority have a big God and saw all the opportunity available to them.

Do you look at things with faith or with concern?

God will always honor His word when it goes out.

Why they didn't enter the land of Milk and Honey:

1. They focused their attention on the obstacles instead of their objective.

Numbers 13:28 NKJV

[28] Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.

2. When you allow fear to grip you, everything is affected.

Numbers 14:2-4 NKJV

[2] And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! [3] Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" [4] So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt."

Had they forgotten how bad things were in Egypt?

God can do more with 300 believers the he can with 10,000 half hearted followers.

4. God does not want us to run from our giants, He wants us to attack them!

Numbers 14:9 NKJV

[9] Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."

Addiction, gluttony, fear, or a threat, we are to attack them with our faith in God to be with us.

Force your giant into the light of day! Call on God and pray for his power. You don't negotiate with giants, you cut off its head.

1 Samuel 17:51 NKJV

[51] Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

How do we attack our giants? You attack the power that controls the person, satan. God will hear your prayers.

Your don't have to live in a wilderness, you can enter the land of milk and honey:

Joshua 14:7-12 NKJV

[7] I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. [8] Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. [9] So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' [10] And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. [11] As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. [12] Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said."

When God gives you the strength, you can do whatever the Lord calls you to do. Louie Zamparini is a perfect example of this.

Even though Caleb was older, he had not lost his strength.

Caleb's secret to spiritual longevity was his complete faith in the Lord.

No matter what you are facing, God is stronger than your obstacles, with your faith in Him you can overcome them.

Fear Not!

Notes: Fear Not!

Luke 2

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Welcome to Harvest!

Thursday, December 24, 2015 — 3:00 p.m.

There was fear in the air 2000 years ago and there is fear today. But just like then, we are to Fear Not!

The first Christmas there was no stockings hanging in homes over fire places. There was fear of the government and the rulers, the people were unhappy.

The messiah was coming then, and the answer to our fears now is the messiah coming again.

"Fear not" was used three times in the Bible.

When the Angels appeared to people, the angels were always men.

Angels say "fear not" when they appear.

1. God still answers prayers.

Luke 1:11-16 NKJV

[11] Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [14] And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. [15] For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

John's job was to set the way for Jesus.

The Lord can intervene.

Psalm 50:15 NKJV

[15] Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

Psalm 34:4 NKJV

[4] I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

2. God still keeps His promises

Luke 1:26-31 NKJV

[26] Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" [29] But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. [30] Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

700 years earlier the prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be born to a virgin.

Christmas will let you down, but Christ will never let you down.

We don't need Christmas presents, we need to be in Christ's presence.

Luke 2:8-12 NKJV

[8] Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. [10] Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. [11] For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

God is in control, God has a plan and God has a purpose for you.

Revelation 1:17-18 NKJV

[17] And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. [18] I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

For the Christian, death is not the end.

The angels were saying, don't worry, be happy.

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

[10] Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Hebrews 13:6 NKJV

[6] So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Accept the gift of Jesus Christ and eternal life.

God will not force this gift upon you, it is up to you to receive it.

The Greatest Story Ever Told!

Notes: The Greatest Story Ever Told!

Luke 2

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

MUSICAL GUEST:

Phil Wickham

Sunday, December 20, 2015 — 8:00 a.m.

57% of those that don’t go to church on Christmas surveyed said they would go on Christmas if someone invited them.

So many people focus on Christmas so much that they forget about who we are actually celebrating. While celebrating Christmas we can forget about Christ.

One time when Jesus was a child his parents lost him by leaving him in Jerusalem.

Even when we forget about Jesus, he never forgets about us.

1      When did Jesus come?

a      He came at the perfect time.

i        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, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

b      The Jews had not heard from God in 400 years. 

2      The Christmas story is a real story that happened in real time. The Christmas story starts in Heaven and is played out on Earth.

Nazareth was know as a wicked place in the time of Jesus. It would have been like being born in Las Vegas or West Hollywood or somewhere you would never expect.

Luke 1:28-30 NKJV And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

The God that flung planets into space, made himself small and came to earth as a baby.

Just as surely that God chose Mary to be the mother, Joseph was chosen by God to be the father. The angel appeared to Joseph and said, you will call his name Jesus. He would save the people from their sins.

Matthew 1:23 NKJV “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Luke 2:1-7 NKJV And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Augustus and Quirinius were mentioned to really dial the time down so we know the specific time Jesus was born. Caesar Augustus was calling himself a god, ruling over the people. This passage was letting the people know that the only true God was coming.

Jesus went form being sovereign to being a servant, from the glory of Heaven to a stable for animals.

Jesus didn’t spend his life climbing the ladder, he spent his life going down the ladder to us.

Would you be willing to give up your humanity to become an insect to communicate with the insects? God left the glory of Heaven to become one of us.

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.

Caesar Augustus had to decree that all the world be taxed, just so that Mary and Joseph could get to Bethlehem. 

History swings on the hinge of the door of a stable in Bethlehem

2. Where did Jesus come?

            At an inn in Bethlehem

God comes to us in unexpected ways: To Moses in a burning bush, to the wise men through a star...the inn keeper wouldn't let them through the door.

Isn’t it true so many of us are just too busy to have Jesus in our lives. 

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

These are Jesus’ words to stressed out people. Are you stressed out?

Go to Christ and learn how to take a real rest.

One of the hardest times of the year for people who have lost loved ones is Christmas. When you are mourning, don’t fight it, just cry.

Pray for those that have lost loved ones, particularly the ones who have lost loved ones recently during this holiday season.

The manger was not a nice place for Jesus to be born. He sacrificed to be with us. Jesus took a leap down to be with us. Deity in diapers.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Shepherds were the first ones told about Jesus, they were the nobodies back then, yet Jesus went to them. God loves ordinary people.

3. Why did Jesus come on that first Christmas?

To die an agonizing death to ransom us from an eternal death sentence.

The shadow of the cross laid over the birth scene.

The real Christmas tree was a cross covered in blood. That is why the color of Christmas is red.

Jesus was born to die so that we might live.