Reflections on The Birth of Christ (Christmas) - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Father, we thank you deeply for these children. We thank you that they in themselves are gifts to us, pray, Lord, that as early as possible, their hearts would be able to understand the gift in Christ, and that they would receive him as Lord, and they would live for him all of their days, Lord. We pray for a special protection over their minds and their hearts, Lord, that the message of the gospel would prevail over all the false messages that is being propagated in this time. We ask, Lord, that you shelter them and their parents and their siblings, and that you keep them for your glory, Lord. May they be the future of this church.

May they be the next generation that would herald the gospel. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen, guys. We love you.

Head on back now. The church is a family, is it not? That's what we've been learning through first Timothy, If you have your Bibles, meet me in the book of Luke, the gospel according to Luke, and come to chapter two with me in the book of Luke. This is not gonna be a predictable sermon in that it's not gonna have points. It's it's not really gonna have a main theme necessarily.

But if this was to be categorized as anything, it would just simply be deep reflections on the birth of trust. And it's just to take these verses that are presented before us in the first few here in chapter two and to allow these truths to stir our affections for the Lord Jesus Christ. But here's the thing, a gift can help. Some deep thought can can also contribute to that, but we need the energizing work of the Holy Spirit. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to take these truths and to melt them in our inner being so that they can produce genuine, sincere, long lasting fruit.

And the way we, receive that help is by desperately seeking him, not just a few minutes before the sermon, church we pray, and I hope that you pray for this church and for our meetings. And so before we even jump in, please, let's just come before the Lord in humility. Say, oh God, let this not just be another repetitive Christmas sermon that would just leave me the same way I was last year. Father, we ask again that you would graciously give us the assistance needed to fall in love with Christ. Lord, we know very well that your word teaches that as we behold the glory of the Lord, it is in that beholding that we are transformed to imitate that image that we see and study and hear.

And so, Lord, we pray that Christ would be displayed. We pray that he would be seen, that he would be cherished. Lord, remove the veil of the flesh that hinders us from seeing his manifold beauties and glories. We ask, Lord, that it would be more than a human voice. It would be the voice of the Spirit of God through the written word that would captivate us and arrest us and have dominion over us.

Lord, may your will and your word prevail over our lives. May you cancel and destroy all other attractions to other trivial things in this life that have eclipsed the beauty found in Jesus. Come Lord and shine your face upon us. Come Lord and and rise in our souls, Lord, with revelation of your goodness, and take over, Lord, the throne of our affections. We pray, oh God, that this word would be surely driven in by the spirit of God.

In Jesus' name, we pray these things. Amen. The gospel according to Luke chapter two in verse one. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor over Syria, and all went to be registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to 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, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there is no place for them in the inn.

Many students of the Bible cherish those verses that I just read, especially the first two, concerning Caesar Augustus, and, all these different facts, historical facts. And the reason why they are so loved is because they carry historical value. It speaks of the political leaders and world events that took place in Jesus's day that are also found in secular records. And that is encouraging to us because we know that Jesus birth is not some fantasy tale. It is found in perfect rhythm with world history and some use this as a defense to the authenticity of the word of God.

And it is true. It is encouraging. But I have to say, if that is the only reason why you would treasure such verses, you fail to see the deeper things of God. You fail to see what these things even mean concerning our spirit, our souls, our walk with Christ, the character of God, the nature of God, the power of God, the wisdom of God. And so this could be some apologetic.

Oh, look. See these these men, they're mentioned in these books and then this and that. And that's great. Mind to teach us than just proving that this is a true story, because it lines up with past events. And I want us to consider those things.

Notice first that we are told that in those days, in those days, what days? In the days that Caesar Augustus was emperor over the Roman empire. Now, we look at that and we think, what's so significant? Well, what's significant is that Caesar Augustus was the emperor who really laid the foundation to bring about a long period of peace and prosperity to the known world. He was a man that came on the scene when there was much civil wars and revolt in that day.

And he really, in his wisdom, though he was like many other leaders, very violent, he was also praised for his ability to bring what is known as Pax Romona, which is Roman peace. A period of two hundred years of tranquility and harmony, and really subduing and bringing all people to submission. And he influenced lands in all different directions. This man was influential, and he was not just a leader, he was a man that demanded recognition for his authority, as noted by the title of his position. Caesar Augustus is not the man's name.

It is his title. And so he says, Caesar, which means emperor, and Augustus, which means I am to be revered, I am to be honored, I am to be exalted. So whenever you would call upon his name, that's what you were saying. This emperor is to be lifted high. He is to be praised.

He is to be recognized. He is to be revered. And people had no issue referring to him as such. Caesar undoubtedly ushered in a wonderful time of prosperity and order, and he was a household name to many. But you know this, and you don't have to be a history student to know it.

Whatever he offered, no matter how long it was, it was not permanent. It was not permanent, and neither was the Roman Empire. Unknown to this emperor, Caesar Augustus, think about the thought. Here he is, perhaps in this very moment, arrayed in royal dignity, lavishing in his pastel palace. And what do you see down the road?

No. Many miles away in some little town called Bethlehem. The King of Kings was being born. The Christ, the Messiah, the true Prince of Peace was being born in a manger. And he would offer what the Roman Empire and what this emperor would never be able to give on a permanent level.

It would only be a wishful thought. You and I are familiar with those verses in Isaiah nine six, are we not? For to us, a child is born. To us, a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A child. To us, a child is born. That's not poetic language. You would be amazed to know the mental gymnastics that people try to perform in order to make this not mean what it means in plain sight. Yes.

And just in case you have encountered anybody that would try to say, no, that's not what it really means, and try to twist the scripture because people attempt to twist the next chapter. Have you ever read Isaiah chapter 10? We stick with nine six. Go to chapter 10 verse 21, and what are we told? I would encourage you to turn there just to see with your own eyes.

Here he is with these wonderful descriptions, and people think that, no, that this can't be God in the flesh, and they give all these really sad attempts to prove otherwise. And then we come to Isaiah 10, and what are we told? A remnant in verse 21 will return the remnant of Jacob to who? What's his name? Mighty God.

To the mighty God. Now who is he talking about here? He's talking about the God of the Old Testament, Yahweh. Isn't that interesting? So you have this title, mighty God given to the God as we see in the Old Testament that is undeniably God.

And yet earlier, the same title is given to this child, who's to be born. Now that is just one of many proofs that Jesus Christ is in fact God. So either this Bible is filled with contradictions or it is trying to tell us something about the triunity of God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And the son, this child who would be born, he is God in the flesh.

Co equal, co divine, co worthy of honor and praise. But that's not the point. Look at Isaiah nine, after we're being told that he would be a child. In verse seven, of the increase of his government, and of peace, there will be no end. On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

You want to know how much this means to God? The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. We know one thing, that it will come to pass. And it's a child recruit those who would want to join his kingdom and submit to his kink. And then one day he will burst through the skies and plant his feet on this earth and establish a physical kingdom that will be unlike Rome, or what Caesar Augustus could offer.

It will be a permanent peace, a permanent rule, and a measure of prosperity and joy that Rome would be blushed by. I want you to think about this though. Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end. You can't separate God's government and peace. In other words, you can't have one over the other.

You can't crave rest and peace in the soul and not come to the point where you declare him as Lord over your life. Until Christ governs your existence, you will never know true and lasting peace. His peace only comes with his government, and that is true for you as an individual, or for this nation as a whole. You reject his rule. You reject his laws, you reject his lordship, then you you can't have it either other way.

You refuse and reject a serenity of the soul. And you can find and try to look for it in all these other places, and you will always be found wanting, and yearning, and longing. It's until you realize who he is, and that you bow your knee to him, that he will flood your life with this peace. And you can know it now. Yes.

We're not seeing his worldwide government established at this point, but we are still invited to hail him as king, and to surrender to him, and to be his citizens now, and to go on to recruit others who would join his kingdom as we await for his physical reign that will be ushered into the eternal state. And so we think, as we read Luke two, here's Caesar Augustus, pompous and proud, perhaps I'm sure, not knowing that there is one who is ready to fulfill this prophecy. It's incredible thought. And at this time, in Luke two, you have a people that have their eyes on Caesar Augustus. You have a known world that is putting their trust in Rome, And instead, they should be imitating these shepherds in this chapter that heard the announcement of the son of David.

And they should have turned their eyes to Bethlehem instead in a manger, realizing who this child would be. And you have many people today that are doing the same. Their eyes are on Rome. Their eyes are on laws. Their eyes are on policies.

Their eyes are on a party. When in fact, they should be on the son of God, trusting in him, hoping for this fulfillment, praying, let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. And so we see here that Caesar Augustus was the ruler and the emperor, and here is the King of Kings wrapped in baby flesh. Unknown to Caesar that this man would come one day, and he would be a baby to be a man to die on the cross, and then to return as king, and this Caesar Augustus will bow his knee to this Lord one day. But it's not just that.

He does something else. Right? We're told in this verse that he makes a decree that all should be registered. That all people in that known world would come so that they can fill out these papers and these documents for what reason? For tax purposes.

He wants to establish and and make his economy thrive. And again, you read that, and if you're honest with yourself, you you kind of think, I don't get why this is important. Why would the Holy Spirit put this here? And at best, we we think, well, again, it's because it has historical value, and we we we stop there. We stop there not realizing what is actually taking place in this shift in the world.

Not realizing what this maneuvering actually means, and what it teaches. We go from that decree and realize that there's this family that's being influenced by this decree. A young couple, Joseph and Mary, with child. And this declaration caused this new family to move from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because that is where Joseph is from. And we think that's great, but it gets even better.

This is what we're being told here. As much as Caesar thought that he had the world in his hand, he did not realize that he was in fact under the influence of God's hand. He thought he was moving pieces. He thought that he had sovereign control. You might be thinking, what do you mean?

I mean this. Consider a prophecy from the Old Testament that would give a very precise prediction about the birthplace of Christ. You know where it is. Right? In Micah chapter five, what are we told about this Messiah?

This one who would come into the world? Micah five verse two. But you, oh Bethlehem, Ephrada, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. What an awesome verse to prove the deity of Christ. Bethlehem would host this Anointed One, the Son of David, who would be ruler in Israel.

And we are told that though he would be born in this place, his origins are not fleshly, he is from everlasting. He is from eternity. As the King James puts it, he is from everlasting. The NASB from eternity. He would come from a different realm into this realm, and he would be born in a city with real flesh.

But hold on. We're not just being told that he's God. We're being told where he's going to be born. And Bethlehem, A very precise location, a very specific place. And then you come to Luke chapter two, and you read these details about Caesar Augustus and his decree, and maybe we are not even seeing that prophecy is being fulfilled right there.

So Micah says, it's gonna happen. And we wonder how is it gonna happen? And here's Caesar Augustus making a decree for his own agenda is his own politics and his own policies. Do you think Caesar Augustus realized that he was being an instrument to fulfill prophecy? That God would use this man, a pagan, an unbeliever, a selfish king, and through his means and his own agenda, he would bring in Jesus Christ to exactly where he needed to be born, in Bethlehem.

I love that thought, because Joseph and Mary were where? In Nazareth. That's what they were living. And here's this woman ready to burst out a baby. Unless they would find the temptation to to remain in Nazareth and give birth to Jesus there, you know what God does?

He shakes the whole world. He shakes the whole world to get this couple to where Micah said they needed to be. So that Christ will be born where Micah said. Why? Because his word will never be broken.

If he said it, he's gonna do it. And if he needs to find a little Caesar Augustus to make it happen, he'll make it happen. So what do you see here? You see a ruler, Caesar Augustus, right? Pretty powerful to make a decree and have people move from different locations to go to their hometown.

No. Let me tell you something. Micah says that God made that happen. God is in way more control than you and I think. We think he's in control of his church and our lives as believers.

You have no idea the depths of his sovereignty. You have no idea His providence. How we think on the service, oh, look at that. He's making a decree. Okay.

Let's move. Not realizing that hundreds of years ago, God said it, and here in this text, the Holy Spirit is nudging at us and whispering, he is sovereign. Look how he's able to move. And he was sovereign in Esther's day. He was sovereign when Cyrus was their ruler, bringing the nation back to Israel, and he's sovereign here with Caesar.

Love that thought. You know why? Because God has power over Jesus's birth, though there was a Caesar. And though there was a pilot who declared Jesus's death, God. Who's orchestrating all of this?

Who's determining all of this? The father. The father moving the pieces, and taking even seemingly insignificant events to fulfill prophecy. What a wonderful thought. I love to think what Caesar was thinking in that time.

Happen. And I can't help but think, but all the people that were living in that day, moving to their hometown in response to this edict, not realizing that ancient truth was unfold. Think about all the caravans and all the families going to their hometowns, and they're just trying to obey, and they're just trying to live their lives. And in that mundane, average thing, And in that mundane average thing, God was setting up the platform for the Messiah to be born. And I read that and I think, should we think any differently today?

Should we think any differently about the power and the sovereignty of God now? What do I mean? I'm talking about the shiftings in the world. The rise and fall of rulers and kingdoms. Different laws that are being given and established.

Realize that what's happening here, these movements were in fact making way for the first coming of the Son of God. So don't doubt for a moment that God is not going to do the same in preparation for the second coming. You shouldn't think for a moment that the events in the world that seem to be casual, normal, simple transitions whether big or small. No. Everything is falling into place to prepare for the second coming of Christ.

I'm not saying you should predict every single movement as prophecy being fulfilled. That's dangerous. And I'm not saying that there's a date that we can set. The moment you hear a date set for the second coming of Christ, you have every right to pull me from the collar and give me the boot and kick me down the stairs. But what I am saying is this, is that if you look at a verse like this and see that Caesar Augustus made some decree, and and this governor from Syria was alive, all these things And you think, okay, well, just realized, perhaps, today that this is in fact Or just creating it for Christ to come into the world.

How much do you think you need to be ready? Not knowing that all these things that we're seeing in this world today could perhaps take us deeper into what is prophesied about the return of Christ. What am I trying to say? Please give me an application. Be ready always.

That's your application. Be prepared. And it might happen in our lifetime, it may not. But here's one thing I can tell you for sure, and it's not because I'm a prophet. It's all leading to that end.

All these roads, all these nations, every generation that passes is one step closer into what the word of God says will come to pass in the return of Christ. And he's sovereign. And these rulers, right, these presidents and these prime ministers and these billionaires and zillionaires, I think that they're gonna make these decrees and change the way we do our economy and change the way we do this. And they think they're just fulfilling their agenda, not knowing. That they're just actors in this grand play for the star of Jesus Christ to show up and to claim everything for himself.

Do you feel the sovereignty of God? Do you sense his majesty and his providence? Don't doubt it for a moment. It's here. Ah, yes.

You and I read through these verses and we realize that, and we realize that God is the one who's truly in control. We can rest in that. Where Jesus was born. And then thinking back at the first place that Bethlehem is mentioned in the Bible. Do you have an idea where the first place Bethlehem is mentioned in the Bible?

Well, Well, it's in the first book of the Bible. Turn there in Genesis 35. This is the first place that the word Bethlehem is mentioned. And would you know, that it is connected to a birth? Genesis 35, we are told of Rachel.

Rachel giving birth to a son named Benjamin. And it's a sad story. It's an exciting story because new life is coming, but it's a sad story because she dies in the process. And what are we told? In verse 17, and when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, do not fear for you have another son.

And as her soul was departing for she was dying, she called his name Benoni, but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath. That is where? Bethlehem. She didn't die in Bethlehem, just outside perhaps of Bethlehem.

Nonetheless, it is mentioned here, and I wonder why it's mentioned here. Why is it important that it was on the way to Bethlehem? I'm sure there's many speculations. This is not dogmatic. But here's the story.

She wanted more sons to give to Jacob. And here's the answer to her prayer, and here comes this little boy, and it was a painful transaction. It was a painful transition to the point where it was deathly. And so she's dying, and in that moment of her feeling her soul departing from her body, she decides to label him Benoni, which means son of my sorrow. And Jacob hears that, and Jacob overrules that decision, and refuses to have his son with that kind of identity, and instead says, no, he will be called Benjamin, which means son of my right hand.

A wonderful practical picture of what? That a man here who loved this woman, he was loving her more than his other wife. That's a different story for a different time. But this man refused to hold on to grief and refused for this label to be placed on his son so that he would rehearse the painful experience of losing his wife. And says, no, I'm not going to do that.

I'm not going to hold on to something that will just restart this pain in my soul. I'm going to call him son of my right hand. There are people who grieve in life that choose to hold on to things that keep them grieving. And you have to move on at some point, and you have to rehearse different truths over yourself instead of trying to stay in that place of something that occurred that damaged you, and hurt you. But I love the thought.

Just outside of Bethlehem, giving birth to a son, and he has two names you can argue, son of my sorrow, son of my right hand. And I would say that Jesus Christ fulfilled those two names. Because not outside of Bethlehem, but in Bethlehem, another son would be born. And when this son was born, we are told of his existence that he would be what? A man of sorrows, according to Isaiah.

And not just a man of sorrows, but specifically in relation to his mother. In Luke two, we are told that the suffering that he will bring through his life will be so real to her. It will be like a sword that pierced through her soul. And that was fulfilled at the culmination of his suffering on the cross. When Mary witnessed his her son naked, hanging there, bleeding, almost unrecognizable as a man.

Yet realizing that he was in fact virgin born. This is not just my son, he's the savior of the world and he's my Lord as well. But nonetheless, she raised him. She fed him. She took care of him.

And so this would be a painful experience, son of my sorrow. And yet, after that, he would return to his glory and his father would exalt him again. And where would he be exalted? Well, let me read Hebrews ten twelve to you. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, son of my right hand.

This Bible is way more about Jesus than you think, and he's there waiting to be discovered. And Christ was a man of sorrows to deliver you from sorrow, and he was exalted so that one day he would raise you up. And so eager is God, not just in Christ wanting to die for us as he did, but also to exalt us. You know Christ, in the book of Revelation, promised to some faithful people that would walk faithfully with God, that they would be able to sit with him on his throne, shattering thought. But he longs for us to experience all that he has and all that he is.

We come back to Luke and we realize Bethlehem is significant. God is sovereign. Christ is powerful. And then we read what? Well, these simple verses here in Luke two verse six.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Like, think about that for a moment. Think about the sovereignty of God. It wasn't just she had to move them from Nazareth to Bethlehem. But even the timing even the timing.

When she was ready to give birth, he says, okay. Caesar Augustus, let me stir your heart here. Make a decree. We gotta get them there. She's close.

I mean, he's so precise and so specific. It's amazing. And so they moved there, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, strongly implying that there were others after him, by the way. And wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid them in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. So Joseph being a good husband, wanting a safe and warm environment for this event to take place, as Mary traveled for many miles, ready now to to do this.

And she's get coming into labor. He's he's knocking on doors. He's trying to find a place for this to happen, and he comes to an inn. And when he knocks, the door opens. Here's the innkeeper.

And Joseph almost got the idea by seeing the place packed from wall to wall even to the ceiling. Why? Because the census, because people were crashing into town to fulfill the decree. Every place was filled to capacity. And so what is he left to do?

He's left to come to a place, a stinking freezing cold dark barn where the son of God can enter into the world. And what happened at this inn would be symbolic of what would describe the life of Jesus Christ. You see, at his birth, there was no room for him. There was no guest room. During his ministry, there was no pillow for his head to lay on.

During his ministry, there would be some cities that would reject him and his message. And even in his death, there was no tomb in his name, so he had to borrow one for three days. Rejection. He who created the world came into the world, and the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own rejected him.

And so, as one man said it beautifully, that there was no place for Christ except for one place, and that was a wooden beam across. And so many are quick to condemn this innkeeper. Right? We look at him and think, how foolish of a man. How ignorant, how cold hearted for him to reject the Son of God to enter into that place.

You would think that if they realize in that inn that this is the Son of David, the Anointed One, the one who would come and redeem them from their enemies and from their sins, that they would make room in the inn. But they didn't know. And so they didn't let them in. And we almost, with righteous indignation, say, how silly and how foolish. But can I say something?

There is something way more grave than what this innkeeper did. Should we not reserve our perplexity for those who instead have heard the gospel, like you're gonna hear it today, have heard the blessings that are reserved for those who are in Christ, have heard of the eternal life that is given to you freely, and still refuse to receive him. Save your bewilderment for that and not for this scene. This would not only be symbolic of the life that Christ would live, it would also be a hint of the hearts of those who would hear of this Christ and what he did for you by coming into this world, and you not making no room. See, Jesus doesn't wanna have a little room in your heart.

He's not a little cherry that you add to your Sunday called life. Contrary to this, he wants to actually come into your heart and take any ownership that you claim over it, and then declare himself to be Lord over that heart. That's his desire. So don't get a twisted this morning. Jesus doesn't want to be roommates with your other idols.

Jesus wants to come in and ask you, do you want to give me the deed of your heart or not? And you make that choice. But the same reason why this inn could not receive Jesus is the same reason why many people refuse to accept him in their lives, because there's no room for him. They've already filled their lives with so much, and it's already occupied with different pursuits and passions and people. You know, Jesus gave a parable later on his life about a banquet, a man who had a wonderful banquet.

And he was talking to Pharisees, these religious leaders. You'd be amazed to know how much Jesus condemned religious people that knew a lot. And I want to read this to you, and if you want to turn that you can because it's quite amazing. It's in Luke 14 verse 16 to 20. And Luke fourteen sixteen to 20, Jesus says, a man once gave a great banquet and invited many.

He invited many. And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, come for everything is now ready. So they were prior, they were invited to this banquet clearly beforehand, and then once everything was set, once everything was made ready, they were now invited for a second time to actually experience what they're invited originally to. That is a picture of Israel. That's a picture of the nation, the Jewish people, who are already invited to be God's people.

And then now, they are supposed to accept and act on that invitation by receiving Jesus Christ as their Messiah. But it's not just limited to Jewish people because these excuses go beyond just the nation of Israel. What are we told in verse 18? But they all began to make excuses. And here were the excuses to why they couldn't come to this banquet.

The first said to him, I I bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused. And another said, oh, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I got to examine them. Please have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore, I cannot come.

Translation, there are other things that are more important than this. Now, there's only two ways of interpreting these excuses. Number one, either they're just lying, and they're just coming up with anything because they really don't want to feast at this banquet. Or number two, they really think that these things are more important than what this man had prepared for them, and the invitation that he heralded. You know what's amazing about these excuses?

Look at them carefully. The first two have to do with materialism. And the last one has to do with relationships. Beautiful summary of the excuses today. To why those do not accept the invitation to surrender to Christ.

I have a business, and I have dreams, and I have goals. And the way you're describing Jesus Christ as Lord makes it sound like if he comes into my life, that I actually have to listen to his choices and surrender my plans and my future. Yeah. That's what I am saying. Exactly.

I actually had one person and I praised him for his honesty though my heart broke for him, where he told me, I'm afraid to accept this Jesus that you're talking about because I feel like he's gonna rearrange everything. I said, well, at least you're honest. And yes, you will. So just as you're honest, I'm gonna be honest. He will take over your life.

And you have to surrender your time, you have to surrender your resources, you have to surrender your energy, you have to surrender every breath. Now, you're not gonna hear that a lot these days. But at the same time, you will know a joy that your plans will never reach. And you will know a peace under his government. And when you make him king, and you place yourself where you belong as a servant of this king, then you will know a delight and a bliss.

That even if you were kings over 10 nations, and you had a golden throne with your name inscribed on it, it would pale in comparison. Because you were not created to be worshiped. You were created to worship. You ever notice why these celebrities fall apart? One man made this observation, I thought it was brilliant.

It's because these celebrities are being worshiped, and you can't handle the weight of worship. They're being praised. When they walk into the airport, you should see these people falling apart. Unlike, he puts on his pants the same way you do. What's the big deal?

He's a human that has a gift. It's a teenager who has acne just like you, and you're falling over like he's God in the flesh. And Christians react that way more than they do about Christ with celebrities. They had excuses. You know what Charles Spurgeon said?

He said it brilliantly like he does many other things. He says, excuses are curses. Excuses are curses. And the moment you let go of every excuse is the moment that hope is possible for you. They are curses.

And I'll tell you this, that procrastination is the recruiting sergeant of hell. Let me just wait. And you think, how do you know that? Because I was that guy. Grew up in a Christian home, and I thought to myself, I'll be a church goer, and I'll follow Jesus.

And I gave Jesus an age, Hopefully, I'll have everything together. I'll have marriage. I'll have maybe kids. And I want them to grow up with good morals, right? I don't want them to be drug addicts.

And you'd be amazed to know how many people come to say, I don't want my kids to be drug addicts, and I want them to have good grades. We have nothing to offer you. I'm sorry. Because Jesus isn't here to give you a better report card and to make you healthier in your lifestyle. He's here to make himself lord over your son or daughter's life.

We make the agreement with them. And we set it on our terms. And we say, Lord, it's it's I know you're waiting for me. You desperately want me to be saved because you really need people. So just give me a little bit of time and and I'll come.

Excuses are curses. And these people were making excuses. So here's my question to you, what's your excuse? Brothers and sisters, if you've ever evangelized to somebody, I encourage you to use this because it's brilliant, it's wonderful. Not because I came up with it, it's because it's just something that Jesus would use, it's a question.

Asked somebody where they are with their faith and their trust in God and if they believe in God, and you explain the gospel and they understand the gospel, just ask this question. I encourage you to inquire in this way and you'd be amazed to know the reactions that will come forth from it. Ask this question. You've heard the gospel. Right?

Yes. You understand what Jesus did? Absolutely. So here's my final question. What's holding you back from receiving him?

And you'd be amazed to know the answers that people are trying to struggle and find to give that would sound reasonable and acceptable. And I found that more people stumble over their words and come and give a clear and concise insight to why they cannot receive this Christ in that moment. You know what I've heard more than anything? Excuses. Excuses.

And so what happened to Joseph and Mary? There was no room for them in the inn. But this baby was coming, whether the inn wanted them or not. So they go to a manger. Great debate about what that manger was, but many, if not most, believe that it was a feeding trough for animals to eat from.

In other words, it was like a barn where all the people kept their vehicles, which were beasts at the time. That is where they went. Now paint that picture in your mind. Perhaps this was even one that was close to the inn. And so here you have Joseph and Mary in that place, knocking.

And Mary is in pain in the background as Joseph is trying to dialogue with this innkeeper and make a way for this to to be acceptable for for them to come in. And he says, I'm sorry. I can't do it. This is difficult. It's just not going to happen.

I'm sorry. And he he forcefully closes the door but gently as possible. And so here he is thinking, she's about to burst. We have to find a place to go. And they look over and they they they perhaps even heard the noises of animals, and there's a bed of hay there, and there's where they eat from.

And so, he he he takes her by the hand, and they move towards that location, and and there she is now, in the cold of night. The only thing keeping them warm is their own shabby clothes and perhaps the the breath of donkeys and cows breathing over them. And in the background of that site, you hear a city filled with people and maybe from some places including that inn, you hear dancing and laughing and shouting, and people jumping up and down, and and there's a birth taking place. And if this manger means this is where animals ate, then it's very likely that the only ones that got to witness this wonderful sight were donkeys and sheep and oxen. And Caesar Augustus is in his palace.

Herod is probably getting drunk somewhere, and you have all these hotels and motels packed to the brim. And Jesus, the King of Israel, wonderful counselor, mighty God, Prince of Peace. This is no accident. Just as much as it was God's sovereign will for them to come to Bethlehem in this way, it was his sovereign direction that he would be born in this manner. And we think, here's Mary already a victim of gossip, and probably slander because of her pregnancy.

And here they are having to leave Nazareth, perhaps having to leave family and friends, and all alone are they in this manger. No siblings to come on the site, no parents to come on the site to bring gifts for this baby boy. No. No support. No celebration.

No cards. No rejoicing to Yahweh for this boy. Just Joseph, Mary, and some animals. And we think to ourselves, poor couple. Poor couple.

I mean, this must be so unfortunate. I can't imagine the grief. I can't imagine the loneliness. Here's a reminder to us Christians this Christmas season in one of the most, if not the most prosperous nation in the world. Obeying God doesn't mean that you're gonna have a luxurious life.

Doesn't mean everything's gonna work out the way you plan or the way you would like. Contrary to what some believe that Jesus was rich. He was not rich, and this is for certain, his parents were not rich. Want proof? Go to Luke two.

Look at verse 24, just to sober us, if that's ever a tempting thought. And look here in verse 24, as Jesus was about to be dedicated at the temple, because that was Jewish law. If you had a baby boy or baby girl, you had to go to the temple and you had to And it's here in verse 24, and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. Again, we read that, we think it's just a detail. No.

Go to Leviticus 12. You don't have to turn there and realize that there are list of animals given for this dedication. And there are many more that you were to give before you come to this last option, which is a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. And read that chapter carefully, and what it said, if you can't afford this, then come to this. And if you can't afford that, then come to this.

If you can't afford it, then come with a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons. They couldn't afford something better to give to God. We almost feel bad. We almost think to ourselves, can you imagine young ladies giving birth in such a way? But I wanna say this, that no matter what you think of the price they paid for this to happen, don't feel sorry for them.

Because it doesn't matter where obeying God takes you. The path of obedience is the path to ultimate joy. And although the sight was not impressive, and and although the circumstances didn't play out to their comfort, I have no doubt that Mary and Joseph were exploding with joy. You know why? Because you go back to Luke one, look at verse 46 before Yes, 46.

And realize what Mary said. And Mary said, my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior. Not a trivial fleshly happiness, she goes, the most inner part of who I am, the thing that defines me, the thing that is permanent is riveting with joy. Because of the honor that I have to be able to carry Christ in this way and to fulfill this awesome call. And she obeyed all the way through.

And the site, we've romanticized it. We make nativity scenes, and we make Christmas cards, and it looks warm, it looks cozy. Don't get confused. Put yourself in a barn just for half an hour and you get the idea. When I read this, I thought to myself, oh, there's Caesar Augustus.

Right? Powerful, ruling, right? All he has to do is say the word and the whole world can move. But in this moment, if there was a donkey on-site, he was more privileged than Caesar Augustus would ever be in his lifetime to behold such a sight. And my question for you today is, as you hear about the sovereignty of God, meaning he has all power over the earth, as you hear about Jesus and who he is, God in the flesh, as you realize what obedience will bring you to and what true obedience looks like in Christ, willing to obey God at any cost, but also knowing a joy and a bliss that comes with it.

Here's my question. This Christmas season, this Christmas mornings, what is your excuse? The reason why I say this is because, you know, you can have a choice to come in a Christmas morning message and make everybody feel warm and fuzzy. I've been to enough of them my whole life where I felt warm and fuzzy. And I don't think I remember a time where somebody took advantage of the opportunity for people coming to church when they barely come to church, if they go to church at all, and say, hey, since you stopped by the visit, I have a question for you.

Do you know him? And have you received him? I want you to realize something. You just got a glimpse of how powerful God is. He is lord over Caesar's and presidents and dictators and tyrants.

And you and I, as humans, have the opportunity to either fulfill the will of God willingly in partnership with him and know the wonderful exciting thrill of doing so, or you ready for this? God is gonna have his way anyway. He's gonna have his way anyway. No matter how much money these guys have, no matter how much power they flex, no matter what they boast, I've read the end of the book. And my bible tells me that this child became a man, and this man was raised from the dead, and this man, God man, will return one day.

And he's not gonna come the same way he came the first time. If you think that Jesus is gonna appear in this world silently and in a barn, you got it all wrong. He's gonna come in such thunderous majesty and such overwhelming power and such radiating holiness that the very sight of who he is will break the kneecaps of every rebel and cause their tongue to fling out of their mouths and declare the glories of God. Now I rather now choose to give my surrender to him. So that when he comes, I'm sure we all be spellbound by his majesty, but there will be something in my heart, and I'm sure yours, if you're a Christian, that was a that's my king.

And not having to realize that he's king whether you made him king or not. What's your silly little excuse? You got a business plan in life and you don't want Jesus to come in because you have things to do on a Sunday morning rather than go to church? There's way more exciting things than following Christ because this Christianity thing is boring. Maybe your version of it.

There is nothing more exciting and riveting than following Jesus Christ. And Christ is inviting you. And Christ is inviting you into that journey. So what is it gonna take? It's gonna require you to humble yourself in the sight of God.

This is very simple. It's not very complicated. And for those who make it complicated because they wanna make sure that people would not accept him for the wrong reasons, you can tell them the reasons of accepting, but you cannot make the answer and the solution so complicated. You realize what he's done for you. You realize that you've sinned against a holy God.

You realize that on your best day, whatever you think would please him with your attempt at obedience was an abomination in his sight. Because any attempt to please God by your own efforts is like filthy rags to him. It stinks more than that barn that he was in when he was a child. And you realize none of my works, none of my efforts, none of my attendance, none of my sacraments could ever put a smile on his face and deem me innocent. But it is what he has done for me.

That Christ came into the world not to give some maxims and some proverbs and some ways of living more successfully and No. He came with a body, so that body could be punished and pummeled in representing you in representing you. And every blow and every pierced hand and every whip and every thorn in his brow was an expression of God's holy wrath being poured out upon one who had never sinned, but as though he had sinned every sin possible. And when you realize that he came to this earth as a baby to grow as a man to die on a cross for you, so that he can make a payment for your sins. And then from that place, he makes a payment with his blood, and he offers you that payment so that you can give it back to God and saying, this is my righteousness.

It's Christ's righteousness. And that's the only payment that God will receive. And when he receives that, you are forgiven. The moment you make that confession, the moment you make that act of repentance, the moment that you give your heart to him, In that very second of genuine sincere faith, you're forgiven in the sight of God forever. And then from that place, you don't live for what you wanna live for.

But by understanding the depths of his love and his grace for you, you choose to make him Lord of your life. And you say, oh God, I do not want to only declare you as my savior, but as my master. And so Lord, my choices are no more mine. My plans do not belong to me. You can determine everything.

I wanna tell you, if you're really a born again believer, it is your greatest desire for God to have full control of your life. If you really love God, if you've really been transformed by his gospel, then one of the proofs of that is that if God could have control of everything that you could do, you would willingly and gladly receive that. And then you walk with him in this life, and you experience all that he wants you to experience. Fellowship with him, Because he becomes so real to you after he has forgiven you and he has broken down that barrier called sin and self will and self righteousness. He breaks that open and then now his face is turned toward you in favor, and in grace, and mercy, and you can fellowship with that face.

And this word now becomes alive. I remember when I got saved how these words now vibrated with life. And before, it was just ink on white pages. It did nothing for me. The only stirring that it did as a kid, I would read the book of Revelation while the preacher talked and I would get terrified by what it was saying.

But now every page, every verse, I believe God is speaking. And then from that, it's your nourishment. It's your life, and you walk out energized by truth and grace, and you live for him for whatever he says over your life. You pray for his perfect will to be manifest in your days, and you joyfully make him known until he calls you home. America is in need of true Christianity, and for people to declare what it truly means to be a Christian.

There's a lot of shaking happening, and I have a strong feeling that there's gonna be more shaking. Not just in this world, but even in the church in the West. In this Christmas season, if God were to give us another one, by God's grace, we as a people and we as a church will declare the full gospel. What I mean by the full gospel is that we leave nothing out. We leave nothing out.

His conditions and his promises. And so today, I wonder what your excuses my desire is that no person would have an excuse, but every person would gladly surrender him and say, he's Lord of my life. I realized what he's done. I received his gift, and now I want to live for him. That's yours.

You've heard it, and you can respond to it, even in this moment. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for the message of the birth of Christ. We thank you, Lord, for displaying to us the humility of our God, his love, the relentless pursuit for sinners to receive him. And Lord, we pray that our hearts would all testify that he is in fact Lord.

And we ask, oh God, if there's there's even one in here that cannot say confidently that this Christ is my king, that you would change that. And you would see how like you moved the hand of Caesar Augustus and the whole world to bring the people that you needed to bring to the right place at the right time. Lord, may it be also felt in the hearts of those who have been brought here to hear this gospel, that your hand was behind it and that you want them to receive Christ. Lord, we ask that as we meditate upon these truths that we have heard, that our affections would be renewed for you. And that, Lord, you would excite us again for we are so quick to lose motivation and desire for pursuing you and obeying you.

Lord, may this service help us in enduring and the passion that You called us to have. Lord, we give You all praise and recognition that You are the only God, the true God, and the only Savior, and the true Savior. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I wanna read a portion of scripture.

It's a very small verse here in in the book of Luke, You know, Christmas is a wonderful time. We reflect on God's grace and everything else, but you cannot separate the Christmas message with repentance. Right? What is it about? Just admire that he came down and that's it?

Or is it calling us to action? And it is calling us to action. And when this Christ came, there was another one who came before him. It was John the Baptist. And when Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she comes to a relative Elizabeth.

And when she visits her, was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry after hearing Mary's voice, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb and why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord, the mother of my Lord, she realized that whoever was in that belly was my Lord, not just my relative's child. No. This is God. My Lord should come to me. Now look at this.

For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears I love this. I love this part. The baby in my womb leaped for joy. Leaped for joy. Do we not believe in the sacredness of life?

That life doesn't begin when you come out of the womb, but you can still worship in the womb apparently. And this boy lept for joy. Who is this boy? John the Baptist. Now, you read about John the Baptist later on and and you get this image of him, crazy guy.

Strange outfits, strange diet, and he he didn't come off as the average preacher because he was very confrontational. He would make you feel uncomfortable if you felt uncomfortable today. If we invited John the Baptist for next Christmas, you would flee from here unless you would receive what he had to say. He shook the room. He shook the wilderness.

He brought an entire nation to their knees, and he never performed a miracle. Shows you the power of the word of God. And as he proclaimed it, he was hard, and he was thunderous, and he was unapologetic, and he was fierce, and he was fiery. And you look at a guy like that, and you think, I admire your ministry, but I never would wanna even come close to what your existence looks like. You look like a miserable person.

You look sad all the time, upset all the time. You're screaming at me when you Look at your diet. Look at the way you dress. Look at you and you died in your thirties as well. I'm not interested.

And as much as you might think that those who preach repentance are gloomy, heavy individuals that don't know happiness, this man who preached repentance, it says he leaped for joy. He leaped for joy. Those who understand true repent repentance, those who preach repentance, those who live repentance, as much as you might think they're living strict and and very closed off lives and and very narrow, oh, I can tell you this, just like John the Baptist, they can leap for joy. And they have the most joy because they understand the giver of joy. And that could be yours too.

We preach repentance because we believe repentance brings joy. Brings true joy, immortal gladness. Lord, we thank you for this Christmas service together. We pray, Lord, that we would also leave this place leaping with joy in our hearts, knowing that at the end of the road, you win and we are co heirs with Christ and we have victory with him. We pray, Lord, that our short brief existence would bring glory to your name and that, Lord, whether it's receiving you or obeying you, there will never be excuses in the way.

Lord, you would receive full surrender day after day. We thank you for this family. Protect us, guide us, and prepare us for this new year for whatever has in store. We believe you are sovereign still, and we rejoice in that truth together. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen and amen. Merry Christmas. Thank you. Merry Christmas and hopefully we'll see you for the new year. And if not, then we'll see you in 2021.

God bless you. Enjoy your fellowship. Enjoy this week with your loved ones. Take care.