Sermon Notes 12-14-08

December 14th 2008 “Preparing for the Big Day "

"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 Quirnius 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 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

A four year old was at the doctor for a checkup. As the doctor looked down her ears with an autoscore, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?" "Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."

1. 11 Days Until Christmas!
In the town I grew up in--Yakima, Washington----they would keep the record of the days until Christmas on a big billboard! Each day they would change it----between Thanksgiving and Christmas---28---27---26---25---24!

All of us kids----4 boys and 2 girls---my brothers and sisters---we would wait with such anticipation!
The night before Christmas Eve was usually a long night---we would wake up so many time!
We were so excited!
The sights!
The sounds of Christmas!

2. The strangest thing has happened---since I have grown older!
The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas have seemingly quickened!
The days fly by!

3. One thing I know is this---"READY OR NOT CHRISTMAS IS COMING!"PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS---HOW CAN YOU PLAN FOR CHRISTMAS AND NOT MISS CHRISTMAS?---HOW DO YOU REALLY ENJOY CHRISTMAS?

Points to Ponder:
1st GOD Planned PERFECTLY FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS!

A. Galatians 4:4 "When the fullness of time is come, God sent forth His Son."1. God has been preparing for thousands of years for this blessed event!
Over 300 prophecies preceded His coming!
God’s Plan:

The place---Bethlehem---700 B.C. Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Born of a Virgin---Mary--- 735 B.C. Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a VIRGIN shall conceive, and bear a SON, and shall call his name Immanuel." (God with us)

The flight to Egypt---701 B.C. Isaiah 19:1 "Behold, the Lord is sitting on a light cloud and coming to Egypt; the idols of Egypt will be shaken by his presence, and their hearts will give way within themselves"

John the Baptist is predicted--430 B.C. in Malichia 3:1 "Behold I send a messenger and he shall prepare the way before me:"The Triumphal entry---Zechriah 9:9 487 B.C.The Betrayal---Psalms 41:9Being spit upon---Isaiah 50:6Being crucified with sinners---Isaiah 53:12Piercing of His hands and feet--Psalms 22:16

GOD PREPARED PERFECTLY FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS! God prepared a perfect POLITICAL SITUATION!
When Jesus came it was the fullness of the time POLITICALLY!Rome controlled the world.

For the first time in history there was a common language that was spoken and understood throughout the land---Greek! Interestingly enough, this was the perfect language for the New Testament to be written in. It was so precise in its meaning and became the perfect language to translate from into outer languages in the years to come! All in God's perfect plan!

Points to Ponder:
1st GOD Planned PERFECTLY FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS!
2nd God Prepared the Participants! Mary and Joseph!

God Prepared Mary---a virgin---14 years old to become the provider of the Baby Jesus!
Luke 1:26-35 "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. v. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. v.30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. v.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in they womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. v.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: v.33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Mary answer---Luke 1:34 "How can this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"v. 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Mary’s Song: Luke 1:47-55 “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoice in God my Savior. v.48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from hence forth all generations shall call me blessed. v.49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. v.50 And his mercy is upon them that fear him from generation to generation.”---She sounds pretty sad—Right!

God prepares Joseph, a good man!
Matthew 1:18-25 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. v.19 Then Joseph her husband, BEING A JUST MAN, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. v.20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary they wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. v.21 And she shall bring froth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. v.22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,(Isaiah 7:14—704 BC) v.23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. v.24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep DID AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD BIDDEN HIM, and took unto him his wife: v.25 And KNEW HER NOT TILL SHE HAD BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRSTBORN SON: and he called his name JESUS.”

GOD PLANNED EVERY DETAIL PERFECTLY FOR HIS SON TO COME THE FIRST TIME!

Points to Ponder:
1st GOD Planned PERFECTLY FOR THE FIRST CHRISTMAS!
2nd God Prepared the Participants! Mary and Joseph!
3rd We Need To Prepare!HOW CAN YOU BE PREPARED FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER?

I am reminded of a famous line---"FAIL TO PLAN AND YOU PLAN TO FAIL!"Christmas will come and go and you will be wondering what happened!You need to make a plan this Christmas!

Here’s The Plan Man:

First: BE SELECTIVE WITH YOUR TIME!
Don't get so busy and spend your time trying to make everybody else happy!
Put God first, family next, and relationships with your other friends third!
Say "no" when you need to say "no!" Without apologies!

Second: LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS!
Christmas is fun and giving gifts are great, but if your credit cards come in and bombard you with reality in January---you will have lost the real meaning of Christmas!
Decide how much you can spend before Christmas and make a list of those you "WANT" to spend for!
Have the courage to say "no" "I can't afford that!" and stick to it!
Christmas means so much more than spending money you don't have!

Third: GIVE GIFTS FROM YOUR HEART!
Children have an uncanny ability to go right to the heart of the matter.

illustration: A few years ago, at Christmas time, in North Carolina, Elizabeth Allen, of Highport, North Carolina, asked her class of fifth graders to answer this question. "If you could give any gift you wanted to, what would you give and to whom?" Here's what three of the kids said:
John said, "The gift I would like to give would be love. It lasts forever and never grows dull. It can be given to anyone you like."

Larry said, "I would like to give happiness to the people who have not smiled. And warmth to those who are cold and peace to those how are at war!"

Wanda said, "If I could give one gift, I would give it to my parents. If I could just get them to get along together and live together forever, year after year, month after month. I wouldn't mind if I didn't get any gifts myself, if I could only give them that gift."

Fourth: FOCUS ON WHAT YOU HAVE! AND NOT ON WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE!
Mary could have looked at her situation and become suicidal!
Joseph could have had her put away!
FOCUS IN ON WHAT YOU HAVE AND NOT ON WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE!

Fifth: FOCUS IN ON THE CHRIST! John 1:14 "The word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld him as the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and truth."
THE BEST PRESENT IS TIED WITH YOUR HEART-STRINGS!

“The Only True Way To Celebrate Christmas Is To Worship And Adore King Jesus!”