Sermon
for the Bourbon SDA Church; December 20, 2003
In the Days of Augustus
Luke 2:1-20
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This census first took place
while Quirinius was governing Syria.3 So all went to be registered, everyone to
his own city.4 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,5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed
wife, who was with child.6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were
completed for her to be delivered.7 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.
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.”13 And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
1 And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven,
that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”16 And
they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a
manger.17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which
was told them concerning this Child.18 And all those who heard it marveled at
those things which were told them by the shepherds.19 But Mary kept all these
things and pondered them in her heart.20 Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as
it was told them. [1]
Isaiah 9:6-7
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.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord
of hosts will perform this.
I.
The
Uniqueness of the Individual
A.
What
makes You – you?
1.
Your
Memories
2.
Your
body – your machinery
3.
Your
mind – what ever that is
4.
The
breath of life in you. You’re alive
B.
How
did God, existing from eternity
1.
Lay
aside his memories
2.
Assume
a new body
3.
And
become a baby here on earth.
C.
This
is more than just a problem to be addressed from a Scientific point of view
1.
The
DNA, The Physics of doing such a thing
2.
The
Transfer of one individual into another body
D. But the philosophical
question of defining the essence of unique individualness
II.
Why did he come like this?
1.
Why
not as a full-grown man?
2.
Why
not in the form of an Angel?
B.
He
came to be like us.
C.
To experience what we experience.
1.
Scripture
says he “tabernacled with us.”
2.
He
pitched His tent with us.
3.
Sanctuary
imagery
D.
To live life with the same advantages possible to all men.
III. The message of the angels:
A.
Luke 2:8-14 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.”13 And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in
the highest, And on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!”
IV.
What does this message mean to you?
A.
Do you need a Savior
1. Or do you think you just
need a little help.
B.
What about this “Glory to God.”
1.
I heard last night that we seldom believe (or give
credibility to) those things done by others that we don’t feel we could do
ourselves.
2.
We don’t like to give Glory to
anybody.
C.
What about “Peace on Earth”
D.
What about “Good will to men”
1.
God who makes the rain to fall on the evil as well as the good.
E.
Do we look forward to His government so we will have a
period of Peace where the pressures of this life will be lifted and we’ll
finally be able to just do what we want to do.
F.
Does the phrase “Upon the throne of David
and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From
that time forward, even forever.” Sound a little a government that
we’d like to have, but not too close.
V.
Have we sat and thought about the implications of
A.
“This son we’ve been given”
VI.
Isaiah 9:6-7
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.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord
of hosts will perform this.
VII.
[3]1 Thessalonians
4:16-18 16 For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one
another with these words.