Emory Baptist Church

The Christmas Story

Statisticians tell us that our world’s current population exceeds seven billion people.  That is a seven with nine zeros. 

 

Those same statisticians tell us that in all of human history, approximately 105-110 billion people have ever lived.  That is one hundred and five with nine zeros.

 

Of that one hundred and five billion, some have been male and some have been female.  Some have been red and yellow and black and white.  Some have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs.

 

However, there is no more significant birth than that we celebrate this time of year, and that is the birth of Jesus Christ.  This morning, we consider the Christmas story.

 

 

1. The Incarnation of God, Luke 2:1-7

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.

 

In the first three verses of this chapter, we see the context for Joseph and Mary getting to Bethlehem.  A census was being taken, and we can conclude that Joseph owned property in Bethlehem.  Therefore, he had to go there to register his family.  Rather than leave Mary behind and be absent at the birth of his son, Mary went with him to Bethlehem.

 

The first detail about the incarnation of God that I want you to see is that it was prophesied in Scripture.  By leaving Nazareth but unbeknownst to Joseph, he was following the predetermined plan of God that we saw from last week’s presentation.  See Micah 5:2.

 

Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

 

The second detail that I want to remind you of is that the incarnation of God was conceived by the Spirit.  Verse five tells us that Mary was with child on this trip. 

It is very difficult for us to even imagine this thirteen or fourteen year-old mother to be walking and or riding on a donkey for any prolonged period of time at nine months pregnant.  However, that is what we have here, but don’t forget how this happened. 

 

Had she been with another man and unfaithful to Joseph?  No.  Had she and Joseph consummated their marriage?  No, they were still in the betrothal period and sexual pure.  See Luke 1:35.

 

Luke 1:35, And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

 

Jesus can be conceived by the Spirit of God. 

 

Finally, in the simplicity of two verses, Jesus is born.  God becomes flesh incarnate. Verse seven says Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  In other words, she would have more. 

 

However, this one verse is all there is specifically addressing the birth of Jesus.  Matthew’s gospel only has three verses.  Keep in mind, the birth of Jesus was not supernatural.  It was His conception that was supernatural. 

 

A third detail that I want you to be aware of regarding the incarnation of God is that Jesus was adopted by Joseph.  I want you to know going into 2016 that adoption is near to the heart of God.

 

Jesus was adopted, and Paul uses the imagery of adoption when he refers to what God our Father has done in our life through salvation.

 

 

2. The Proclamation of the Angels, 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!” 

 

Beginning in verse eight, we are introduced to a group of shepherds.  They were herding their sheep which is what shepherds do, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and scared them. 

 

By the way, you will never find an instance in the Bible when people encounter angels and are not scared out of their mind.  If someone today tells you that they saw an angel, ask them if they were scared out of their mind.  If they say no, it probably wasn’t real. 

 

In verse ten, the angel began to speak.  He tried to calm the shepherds down and let them know that he had good news.  He literally uses that phrase, “good news” or “good tidings” in verse ten.

 

Here is the first part of the good news.  God incarnate or Jesus has been born, and He is the Savior for all people.  He isn’t just the Savior for a few or for a certain denomination or a certain race or a certain social-economic class.  Regardless of who you are and where you’re from and what you’ve done, Jesus came to be your Savior.

 

However, the salvation that Jesus offers is applied to those who believe.  He is a Savior sent for you, but you have to make the personal decision to receive Him into your life or trust in Him as Lord and Savior or call on Him to be saved from your sins.  I can’t do it for you.  It isn’t applied to you just because of what your parents have done or who your grandfather was. 

 

Third, the salvation that comes through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus is the only way to be at peace with God. 

 

Suddenly, in verse thirteen, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the original angel.  Was this fifty more?  Was this one hundred more?  Was this one thousand more?  Probably, it was the latter.  Thousands and thousands of angels began to exalt the Lord in song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 

 

Every man since Adam has been at odds with God because of sin.  No man has been at peace with God on his own.  God has now provided a way.  The way is Jesus.  He is the one and only way to be at peace with God the Father. 

 

Morality won’t do it.  Ingenuity won’t do it.  Ancestry won’t do it.  The angels exalted God in heaven because only Jesus would do it.  He is the only way.  See John 14:6.

 

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Today, on the Sunday before Christmas, I extend an invitation to you to be saved.  Jesus came to save you, but you have to receive Him.  You have to accept His invitation.  The salvation that Jesus offers is only applied to your life when you personally believe in Him.  Will you do that today?

 

 

3. The Exaltation of the Shepherds, Luke 2:15-20

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.

 

In verse fifteen, the shepherds go on their way after the angels left.  Verse sixteen says they came to Joseph and Mary and the baby, and they told them all that the angels had said.  Therefore, the shepherds experienced Jesus personally.  

 

In verses seventeen and eighteen, they told others about this Savior.  In other words, they shared their experience.  Isn’t that all that evangelism or witnessing is…sharing your experience with Jesus? 

 

In verse twenty, the shepherds then left, and they went back glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.  Ultimately, they exalted God for He had done in providing for them a Savior. 

 

Conclusion

So my question for you this morning is simple.  How will you respond to the story of the most significant birth in all of human history?

 

For some of you that means accepting the invitation that God offers to you of eternal life through a personal relationship with Jesus.  He came to be the Savior of the world.  However, He can only be your Savior if you agree to it. 

 

For others, during this Christmas season, will you share your Jesus experience with others?  That is what the shepherds did.  That is what God calls us to do. 

 

Jesus’ birth is the most significant of one hundred and five billion.  What will it mean for you?

We All Need a Sonrise!

Luke 1 contains two very famous songs about two very famous children, John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ.  Remember, John’s parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth, and Jesus’ parents were Joseph and Mary. 

 

The first song in chapter 1 is called the Magnificat and was sung by Mary after the announcement of Jesus’ birth.  It is found in 1:46-55.

 

The second song is called the Benedictus and was song by Zacharias after the birth of John the Baptist.  It is this second song that will be our focus this morning in a message I have entitled, “We All Need a Sunrise!”

 

Zacharias’ song focused on two main individuals.  They are his son, John the Messenger and his Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

 

According to verse 67, we can see that this song is inspired by the Holy Spirit and should be treated as prophesy.  Interestingly enough, when we normally think of prophesy, we think of telling the future, and that is true. 

 

However, in verses 68-69, Zacharias used three past tense verbs.  They are visited, redeemed, and raised.  Why did he use past tense verbs in telling the future?

 

These are called prophetic pasts.  Zacharias was prophesying about the future by remembering the past.  Zacharias was so confident that God’s plan would come to pass that he spoke of it as already having happened. 

 

Also, notice again that Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit.  That was true of his entire family. 

 

His wife, Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit. See 1:41.

 

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

His son, John, would also be filled with the Holy Spirit.  See 1:15.

 

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.

 

Before Pentecost or the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit did not permanently dwell within God’s people.  In the OT and even here in Luke 1, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals and would then leave them.

 

However, in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came to indwell God’s people permanently from that point forward.  When any and every person confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit causes that person to be born again and begins to live in that person for eternity.  The Holy Spirit becomes the seal on that person’s heart.

 

Another action of the Holy Spirit is to fill us in daily living.  Even though every saved person is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the older we get, the more we become like an old bicycle tire or old basketball. 

 

We leak air, and need to be aired up again.  In a similar way, we leak the filling of the Holy Spirit and need to be filled each and every day and maybe multiple times throughout the day.

 

How does that happen?  It happens by reading or remembering and mediating and applying God’s word to our lives every day and throughout the day. 

 

As for Zacharias’ song, notice in verse 76:

 

1. The Occupation of John the Baptist, Luke 1:76

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

 

In pointing to his own son, Zacharias prophesied of the occupation of John the Baptist.  He will be called the prophet of the Highest or Most High, and he will go before the Lord to prepare His ways. 

 

Don’t let his occupation or job of John the Baptist casually escape you.  Israel had not had a speaking prophet in 400 years since Malachi, and John the Baptist would be the next. 

 

That is huge, and he would prepare the way of the Lord.  In other words, he would point people to Jesus.

 

Did you know that if you have been born-again, that is your job as well?  It was John’s occupation or job to point people to Jesus, and it is your job too. 

 

It is your job at work and at a school and at Wal-Mart and at El Manna.  Just like John the Baptist, our occupation is to point people to Jesus.

 

 

2. The Gratification from Jesus the Christ, Luke 1:68-75, 77

68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited and redeemed His people,

69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David,

70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

Who have been since the world began,

71 That we should be saved from our enemies

And from the hand of all who hate us,

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers

And to remember His holy covenant,

73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

74 To grant us that we,

Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

 

In verse 68, as John the Baptist will have his attention on one person, Zacharias turned his attention to that same person, Jesus the Christ or Jesus the Messiah.  Zacharias is now going to demonstrate how Jesus the Messiah is the gratification or satisfaction of a promise to David, a promise to Abraham, and a promise to God’s People.

 

First, look at verses 68-69.  Verse 68 begins with “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel.”  In Latin, “blessed” is translated Benedictus. 

 

Even though it hadn’t happened at the time of this prophecy, Jesus would be the fulfillment of this promise to David about the Messiah visiting and redeeming His people and raising up a horn of salvation.  The end of verse 69 tells us that this Messiah would come from the house of David. 

 

This original prophecy is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:8-17.  The Lord spoke through Nathan to David.  To summarize, the promised Messiah would persevere as this prophecy was initially fulfilled in Solomon and will be ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

 

Second, not only will the Messiah be the gratification of a promise to David, but He will also be the gratification of a promise to Abraham.  Verse 70 says that God spoke by the mouth of holy prophets of old and remembered His holy covenant that He swore to Abraham. 

 

That oath was to protect Israel from her enemies, but it was not only to protect.  It was to protect with a purpose.  God saved Israel so that they would serve God.  They would serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness. 

 

This promise to Abraham can be found in Genesis 22:15-18.  After the Lord saw that Abraham was willing to offer his only son, God would in turn eventually offer His only Son as the promised Messiah as the gratification of this promise to Abraham.

 

Third, the promised Messiah is the gratification of a promise to God’s People.  John the Baptist will point people to Jesus in order for them to be saved.  Look at verse 77.  John the Baptist will tell people to be saved by the remission or forgiveness of their sins. 

 

Let that sink in just a moment.  Here is the GOSPEL.  First, God is holy.  Second, you and I are sinners.  Third, our sin separates us from God.  Fourth, reconciliation or remission or forgiveness of sins only comes through repentance and faith in Jesus the Christ. 

 

In the mercy of God, Jesus offers forgiveness of sins.  He spoke about it Himself.  See Matthew 26:28. 

 

28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

Peter spoke about it.  See Acts 10:43. 

 

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

 

John the Revelator spoke about it.  See 1 John 1:9. 

 

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

You and I need our sins forgiven by Jesus.  That is what it means to be saved.  Jesus is the gratification or fulfillment of a promise made to God’s People.

 

 

 

3. The Invitation for You the Sinner, Luke 1:78b-80

78 Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

 

Verses 78-80 give a beautiful picture of forgiveness.  It is like sitting in darkness. 

 

Have you ever done that?  Have you ever sat or stood in complete darkness?  It is very odd not to be able to see your hand in front of your face. 

 

That is what sin does.  It makes you lose any sense of direction.  It keeps us from knowing which way to go.  It handicaps any and all progress. 

 

However, Jesus the Messiah is the Dayspring or Sunrise or Dawn from on high, and when the sun rises, the darkness flees.  When the sun rises, it lightens the path. 

 

When the sun rises, according to verse 79, you can have peace with God.  Paul confirmed that truth in Romans 5:1.

 

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Invitation

Some of you here this morning are sitting in darkness as we speak.  You’re sitting in darkness because you have never had Jesus forgive your sins. 

 

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a sinner.  It doesn’t matter how you’ve sinned. 

 

What matters is that you’re ready to respond to God’s invitation to let the Dayspring or Sunrise on high visit your life.  You’re ready for Jesus to save you and forgive you and guide you and direct you. 

 

Our invitation is for you this morning.  Will you come?

 

3 Lessons on Obedience from the Christmas Story

If you have a Bible this morning, please take it and find Luke 1:39.  This morning, we are continuing our study of Luke’s gospel, and we’ll remain in Luke 1. 

 

Last week, we saw the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth and the announcement of Jesus’ birth.  Both came from Gabriel. 

 

As we pick back up in the Christmas Story, consider Mary and Elizabeth and what is traditionally know as Mary’s Song. 

 

Mary

After Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth to Mary, we find her in verse 39 making a trip to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth.  They would soon be the parents of John the Baptist who was six months older than Jesus.

 

In verse 41, we see that Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. Even though we aren’t told of what she actually said, we see that her voice caused John the Baptist to leap in Elizabeth’s womb. 

 

BTW…John the Baptist leaped because that which was in Elizabeth’s womb was a person, not a fetus, not a mass of tissue.  He was a baby made in the image of God.

 

After this experience, notice Elizabeth’s words to Mary in verse 42.  Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  The actual wording says that Mary was the most blessed among all women, and the reason for this is because she was carrying the Son of God and the Savior of the world in her womb.

 

After a statement of her own gratitude, Elizabeth again commented on how blessed Mary was.  Look at verse 45.  We see here why Mary was blessed. 

 

What was the key to her blessing?  Blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. 

 

Mary is blessed because of her belief and availability and submission.  Even though Mary didn’t understand how a virgin could conceive and give birth, she was submissive to the Lord and available to His plan and believing of His Word.  As a result, she was blessed.

 

BTW…this is an excellent opportunity to see the difference between obedience and disobedience or faith and doubt.  Don’t you know that Zacharias was probably close?  This is the same Zacharias that was told by Gabriel that his wife would give birth to a son in her old age, but Zacharias didn’t believe him.  As a result, the Lord took away his speech. 

 

Mary’s response was much different.  She believed Gabriel and consequently believed God.  She believed, and Zacharias doubted.  She was faithful, and Zacharias was faithless.  She obeyed and was blessed.  Zacharias disobeyed and was disciplined. 

 

How do you respond when God tells you His plans for your life?  Obey and be blessed.  Disobey and get ready for discipline. 

 

Elizabeth

It is amazing to me how we see Elizabeth responding to all of Mary’s circumstances.  Keep in mind that Mary is between the ages of thirteen and fifteen.  Elizabeth is beyond childbearing age.  Mary will give birth to the Son of God.  Elizabeth will not.  Elizabeth could have been jealous and resentful, but she wasn’t.  She was humble and grateful.

 

In verse 41, we see her filled with the Holy Spirit.  This was only for a short time as the Holy Spirit was only temporarily present in individual lives at this point. 

 

In verse 43, we see her humility and gratitude voiced as she was humbled that the Lord’s mother, Mary, would visit her.  She obviously didn’t think she deserved such. 

 

Finally, throughout this dialogue, Elizabeth is full of compliments and encouragement for Mary and what God had chosen for her.

 

Let me ask you, would your closest family and friends describe you as humble and grateful?  Or, would they describe you as prideful and greedy?  Are you angry when your family and friends succeed or are blessed and you aren’t?  Are you always trying your best to keep up with the Jones’s and their house and their car and their toys? 

 

Mary’s Song

It is so important in this text for you to see how Mary respond to the Lord’s blessing in her life.  Verses 46 through 55 are called the Magnificat or Mary’s Song.  Magnificat is Latin for praise or make great. 

 

In response to the Lord blessing her, Mary sang a song praising Him.  Specifically, she praised Him for who He is and for what He had done.  Her Father in heaven was worthy of her praise.

 

Notice in verse 46 that she exalted the Lord or praised the Lord.  She rejoiced in God her Savior. 

 

BTW…how do we know that our Catholic friends are mistaken in their worship of Mary?  In verse 47, Mary had a Savior.  If you need a Savior, you aren’t worthy of worship.  Mary was a sinner just like you and me.

 

In verse 49, Mary praised the Lord for His holiness.  In verse 50, Mary praised the Lord for His mercy.  She praised the Lord for who He was.

 

Beginning in verse 51, she praised the Lord for what He did.  He executed justice by scattering the proud, exalting the humble, and providing for the poor.  Not only did He execute justice, He protected Israel, His chosen people. 

 

Verse 56 ends with Mary staying with Elizabeth for about three months and then returning to be with her parents in her house.  In the remainder of today’s text, I want to show you three lessons on obedience from the Christmas Story.  They involve Zacharias and Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist.

 

 

1. Obedience never gets old, Luke 1:57-58.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 

 

In verse 57, Elizabeth had carried John the Baptist to term, and it was now time for her to give birth.  Her friends and her family had heard that the Lord had been merciful to her in opening her womb, and they came to rejoice and celebrate with her the birth of John the Baptist. 

 

When I say that obedience never gets old, I have two applications in mind.  First, a Christian never reaches an age where obedience is no longer right.  In some contexts, we give senior adults a pass.  We say they have done their time, and they are no longer required or expected to follow the rules.  That never is true in Christianity. 

 

Luke 1:7 and 1:18 tell us that Zacharias and Elizabeth were “advanced in years.”  We don’t know their age specifically, but I think it is safe to conclude that they were both senior adults.  However, they were still obedient and faithful to the Lord in their old age. 

 

Obedience in the lives of our senior adults blesses my heart.  For years, I have seen senior adult ladies who drive to church on Monday morning to turn in their offering envelopes if they were sick or out of town the day before. 

 

From my perspective and the church’s perspective, could this have waited?  Sure it could.  However, it could not wait in their minds. Keep in mind that these ladies were on fixed incomes and may have had more medical bills than they could pay, but they never reached an age where obedience wasn’t expected of them.

 

Second, when I say that obedience never gets old, I mean that it is always right to do the right thing.  Sometimes, we believe the lie that it’s alright to be disobedient in certain circumstances.  It is ok to lie in certain circumstances.  It is ok to use profanity in certain circumstances.  Abortion is ok in certain circumstances.  Not tithing is ok in certain circumstances.  Obedience never gets old.

 

Zacharias and Elizabeth had lived lives of faithful obedience for many years.  They were devout Jews, and Luke 1:6 says they were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

 

However, wouldn’t God understand if in these circumstances of old age, they decided not to trust or decided not to believe?  Obedience never gets old.  It is always right to do the right thing.

 

 

 

2. Obedience will sometimes be very unpopular, Luke 1:59-61.

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”  61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

 

Generally speaking, obedience will most of the time bring support and rejoicing for the follower of Christ.  However, there are also some times when obedience will be very unpopular because of the crowds and because of culture.

 

In verse 58, we saw friends and family who were rejoicing and celebrating what God was doing through Elizabeth.  Elizabeth had been obedient.  Consequently, her neighbors and relatives or family and friends rejoiced with her.

 

That should be true of this body of believers and Christians in general.  When we hear of a brother or sister in Christ being obedient, we should rejoice.  We hear that a couple decides to work out their marriage in spite of an affair rather than get a divorce, the body of Christ should rejoice, and not tell them they are stupid and will only get hurt again. 

 

Rejoicing over Elizabeth’s obedience and God’s mercy quickly changed when Elizabeth’s obedience didn’t match what her family and friends thought she should do. 

 

Remember that Zacharias and Elizabeth were devout Jews.  We see that from verse 6, and we see it in having their son circumcised on the eighth day.

 

However, popular opinion changed quickly when it came to naming the boy.  It was Jewish custom to name the son after his grandfather.  Even to name him after his father would have been fine.  In this case, it would have been Zacharias, Jr, but that was not what God wanted.

 

Somehow, Zacharias had communicated to Elizabeth that Gabriel told him to name the boy John.  For Elizabeth, that settled it.  His name would be John because that is what God wanted.  Notice the response of the culture and the crowd in verse 61.  There is no one in your family with that name.

 

Brothers and sisters, obedience will sometimes be unpopular. Don’t let culture or the crowd lead you astray.  Don’t ever let culture be your excuse for disobedience.  For the follower of Christ, if culture and the Bible are opposed to one another, you better kick culture to the curb or risk the hand of God’s discipline in your life. 

 

Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to gender identity.  Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to the definition of marriage.  Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes the sanctity of every life.  Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to faithfulness in your marriage.   Don’t let culture lead you astray when it comes to supporting Israel and trying to end terrorism.

 

Just like the follower of Christ shouldn’t let culture keep you from obedience, don’t let the crowd keep you from obedience.  The crowds don’t like sexual purity teenagers.  However, it is right, and it is God’s will, and God will bless it.  Obedience will sometimes be very unpopular with culture and crowds.

 

 

3. Obedience can change your situation immediately, Luke 1:62-66.

62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.  63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

 

After the neighbors and relatives balked at Elizabeth naming this boy John, they appealed to Zacharias.  Remember that Zacharias had been deaf and mute for nine months and much time to think about God’s plan in complete silence.  How would he respond? 

 

Verse 63 says he took a tablet, and that wasn’t an iPad, and he wrote, “His name is John.”  In thinking about what God wanted for 9 long months, Zacharias decided to believe God and obey God.

 

Obedience can change your situation immediately for the individual.  Notice verse 64.  And at once, Zacharias could speak and hear.  Immediately, obedience changed the situation of this individual. 

 

Some of you are hear this morning and you need to be healed.  Some of you have a hardened heart because you won’t forgive, and you need to be healed.  Some of you have a peaceless heart because you won’t change your attitude or mindset or belief, and you need to be healed.  Some of you have a passionless heart because you’ve given up on your marriage and won’t fight for what God’s plan is, and you need to be healed. 

 

Decide to obey this morning and be healed immediately.  Decide to obey and change your situation immediately.  Decide to forgive and be healed immediately.  Decide to change your belief and be healed immediately.  Decide to fight for your marriage and be healed immediately. 

Notice also that obedience can change the situation of others immediately as well.  When everybody who was around saw that Zacharias’ wish matched what Elizabeth said, they knew God was up to something.  Everyone was filled with reverence or awe and couldn’t stop talking about what happened, and they knew that God was going to be up to something big with John the Baptist.  Obedience can change your situation immediately and the situation of others.

 

 

Conclusion

So what about you?  In what area of your life do you need to obey?  For some of you, it is the call to salvation.  You will never be too old to trust Christ.  It may not be very popular with your friends and our family, but being obedient and trusting Christ this morning can change your situation immediately.  Your eternity will change from hell to heaven in the blink of an eye.

 

For others of you, you will never be too old to be baptized.  You will never too old to join the church.  You will never be too old to tithe or share your faith or be faithful to your spouse or forgive an offense.  It may not be popular to do it, but obedience will change your situation immediately. 

Can a Virgin Give Birth?

On this first Sunday of December, we turn our eyes and hearts toward Christmas.  There may be any better place to begin that journey than Luke 1.  Today, we begin a verse by verse study that most likely will include all of 2024 and even part of 2025.

 

In this study, we will look at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  In the process, we will ask and answer, from the Bible, many questions.  Our first is, “Can a Virgin Give Birth?”

 

 

1. The Administration of Luke, 1:1-4

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

 

In the first four verses, we were introduced to Luke.  He is the author.  He was also a doctor, the personal physician of the Apostle Paul.  He not only wrote the gospel bearing his name, but he also wrote the book of Acts.  They should be viewed together as two volumes documenting the historical reality of Jesus Christ and the birth of the New Testament Church.

 

His aim in this writing was to give a historical account of the life and ministry of Jesus.  In other words, he recorded history, and this third book of the New Testament is in narrative form. 

 

Also, because Luke was a Gentile, this gospel is very unique.  He is the only Gentile author of the 66 books of the Bible.  Another purpose of his was to demonstrate that gospel is for every single individual and every single type of person…even though they might be the outcasts of society including Gentiles, women, the poor, and the sick.

 

Notice his audience.  It was an audience of one.  What do we know about Theophilus?  It seems that he may have been a new believer.  This record of Jesus’ life would serve as the foundation of Theophilus’ new found faith. 

 

 

2. A Declaration to Zacharias, 1:5-25

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 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. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”  19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”  21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.  23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

 

In short, an angel, Gabriel, in verse 13, said that Zacharias and his wife would have a son.  That son would be John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus Christ.  John’s purpose would be to prepare the way for the Lord.

 

 

3. The Salutation from Gabriel, Luke 1:26-29

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.

 

Verse twenty-six begins with a time reference of six months.  It refers to the announcement of John’s birth.  Therefore, John the Baptist was six months older than his cousin, Jesus Christ. 

 

In the same way that Gabriel went to Zachariah in announcing John’s birth, we see Gabriel in verse twenty-six being sent by God to Nazareth to a virgin that was married to Joseph.  Verse twenty-seven tells us that this virgin’s name was Mary.

 

I need to remind you about the two significant parts of a first-century Jewish marriage agreement.  Our translation says betrothed.  Yours may say engaged.  This meant the betrothal period.  It was the first part of the marriage arrangement.

 

The husband’s family would offer a payment to the wife’s family initiating this arranged marriage.  Joseph and Mary would then be considered married even though they would not live together and would not consummate the marriage sexually until after the ceremony almost one year later. 

 

For at least a year, Joseph and Mary were considered husband and wife, and if their relationship ended, it would have to be by divorce.  Therefore, you can see their engagement was much more binding than what we know as engagement.

 

After one year, there would be a wedding ceremony and marriage feast that would last about one week.  Joseph would send for Mary.  The ceremony would take place.  The feast or reception or party or celebration would last a week.  Then Joseph and Mary would sexually consummate the marriage and hopefully live happily ever after.

 

However, as you know, these plans would be radically altered.  Verse twenty-eight records Gabriel’s salutation or greeting to Mary as he calls her “highly favored one” and tells her that the Lord is with her. 

 

According to verse twenty-nine, she was troubled or confused.  I can understand because I have never had an angel speak with me.  Nonetheless, the angel called her “favored one.”  What did that mean?  Why was she favored?  We’ll find out more in just a moment. 

 

My last comment regarding these four verses is to point out the repetition of “virgin.”  You see it twice in verse twenty-seven.  Keep in mind that Mary was mostly likely a young teenager.  Let that sink in.  She was probably younger than my youngest daughter.    

 

Undoubtedly, she was sexually pure.  By the way, just as that was good at this time, it is good today young ladies and young men.  Remaining sexually pure until marriage is God’s undeniable desire for your life, and you will never regret it. 

 

Mary was a virgin.  She was sexually pure, and she had been 100% completely faithful to Joseph and their marriage. 

 

 

4. The Proclamation about Jesus, Luke 1:30-35

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. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  

 

This next section is about the proclamation or announcement of Jesus’ birth.  Obviously from verse thirty, Mary was afraid as would I be. 

 

Again, Gabriel told her that she had found favor with God.  We will soon see that this favor is because she will give birth to the Son of God.  Mary didn’t do anything to deserve this honor.  God graciously chose this first-century, undeserving, anonymous before now, peasant girl, to conceive and give birth to Jesus the Christ. 

 

Verse thirty-one is the formal proclamation.  Mary will conceive and give birth to a son.  His name will be Jesus, which means Yahweh saves. 

 

In verses thirty-two and thirty-three, Gabriel predicted five things about Jesus.  First, He will be great.  Second, He will be called Son of the Most High or Son of God.  Third, He will be given the throne of David as coming through that line or heritage.  Fourth, He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.  Five, His kingdom will have no end.  These last three will be realized in the one-thousand-year earthly reign of Christ after the rapture of the Church and the seven-year earthly tribulation period chronicled in John’s Revelation.

 

As you can imagine, Mary was not only troubled and confused and afraid because of this angelic encounter in and of itself, but the fact that she would conceive and birth this baby was extremely confusing. 

 

Why?  She was a virgin.  In her words, “How can this be?”  Please note this is now the third use of the word “virgin.” 

 

In verses thirty-five and thirty-six, Gabriel informed Mary how this would happen.  The Holy Spirit would come upon her and the Most High or God would overshadow her.  By the way, there is not one hint of any type of gross sexual immorality here between God and a human being even though that is what our Mormon friends believe. 

 

This act is mysterious.  It is not fully-understandable. It is the miraculous conception.  It is supernatural.  It never happened before and has never happened since. 

 

 

5. The Veneration of Mary, Luke 1:38

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

When I say the “veneration of Mary,” I mean something different than what our Catholic friends mean.  They mean the veneration or honoring or worship of Mary.  Mary is the object of their veneration and honoring and worship.

 

I mean Mary is the source of the honoring.  Mary is the one doing the honoring.  Look at verse thirty-eight and how Mary responded to Gabriel’s announcement of her pregnancy and Jesus’ birth.

 

She calls herself the Lord’s “maidservant” or slave.  That communicates submission.  She would be submissive to God. 

 

She then said, “Let it be to me according to your word.”  She was willing to do what Gabriel said. 

 

Third, she believed.  She believed God’s plan would happen as described by the angel.  Mary couldn’t have responded better, and is an example to us in that regard.

 

 

Conclusion

36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

 

What is the point of this text and my message to you this morning?  The point is Luke 1:37.

 

Read it with me.  Read it again.  Read it a third time.  Memorize it.  Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror and refrigerator and the dashboard of your car.  For nothing will be impossible with God.

 

Gabriel illustrated this truth with Elizabeth and Zacharias, but this miracle is much more.  This isn’t the elderly giving birth even though it was hard to believe. 

 

This is a virgin conceiving birth, and we’re not talking about artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.  We’re talking about a virgin conceiving and giving birth to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

 

This statement made to Mary is similar to the question that was a statement made to Sarah in Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too difficult for the LORD?”

 

The virgin birth was prophesied about in Isaiah 7:14 and is affirmed in Matthew’s gospel 1:23.  For nothing will be impossible with God.

 

Now, what about you?  Do you believe it?  Do you believe Luke 1:37 and its application to your life? 

 

Can God save you and forgive all your sin?  Can God fix your marriage in spite of falling out of love or infidelity?  Can God heal your disease even if its cancer or the doctor has said there is no hope?  Can God break your addiction even if its alcohol or pornography? 

 

For nothing is impossible with God.  If God can cause a virgin to give birth, I think He can handle your greatest concern!

 

 

A Hard Lesson for Believers

What is the Key to Godly Living?

Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church is a letter of joy.  He encouraged them how to respond to adversity in the church, specifically a conflict between two women that was dividing the church. 

 

Last week, we saw in 4:2-7 his encouragement to rejoice in the Lord, relax because Jesus is returning soon, and request or pray to the Lord about all things.  Instead of allowing your mind to be dominated by worry and anxiety, do something else.  Think on the opposite. 

 

What is the key to godly living?  The key to godly living is godly thinking.  Right thinking leads to righteous living. 

 

The secular world knows this.  When you put garbage in, do you know what you get in return?  Garbage in translates into garbage out. 

 

However, long before GIGO, we had Solomon and Jesus.  See Proverbs 23:7 and Mark 7:20-23.

 

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

 

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

 

 

Exposition

Today, we see Paul encouraged right thinking.  He then advocated righteous living. 

 

Look at the end of verse 8.  Meditate on these things or your Bible may say think or dwell. 

 

The idea is to take into account or consider.  Then reflect.  Then let that truth shape your behavior. 

 

Behavior is seen in verse 9.  Paul says do these things.  So again, the key to godly living is godly thinking.  Right thinking leads to righteous living. 

 

Therefore, what should occupy our thoughts if not worry and anxiety?  For the Christian, Paul outlined six (6) virtues in verse 8.  Notice also that he doesn’t have just one thing in mind.  He used that plural phrase “whatever things” six times.

 

Now let’s look at the virtues.

 

First, think on whatever things are true.  This is opposed to false.  Brothers and sisters, a lot on Facebook and Instagram is NOT true.  Discipline yourself not think and meditate and dwell on social media.

 

Second, think on whatever things are noble.  This is also translated dignified or worthy of respect.  Television and movies often fall short of noble.

 

Third, think on whatever things are just.  Your Bible may say right or fair.  Stop dwelling on your think that referee caused your team the game.  Stop thinking about how you think your boss or supervisor treated you unfairly.  Stop thinking about how your friend or family member hurt you with their words. 

 

Fourth, think on whatever things are pure.  The idea here is wholesome and holy.  In other words, don’t let your mind continually dwell on sin.  For example, stop thinking about life with that other person who is not your spouse.  Stop thinking of how you would retaliate for your hurt.

 

Fifth, think on whatever things are lovely.  Lovely things make for peace as opposed to conflict. 

 

Sixth, think on whatever things are of good report.  Think positive thoughts instead of negative.  Instead of dwelling on all of the short comings of EBC, dwell on our strengths.  Instead of dwelling on all of the short comings of Rains ISD, dwell on the good.  Instead of dwelling on all of the weaknesses of your spouse, dwell on the positive. 

 

Whatever things are virtuous and or worthy of praise, meditate, think, dwell on these things.  Change your way of thinking.  Habitually guard your mind.

 

Jesus was getting at this in His sermon the mount. See Matthew 5:21-22 and 5:27-30.

 

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

 

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

 

First, meditate on what is praiseworthy.  Second, imitate the Apostle Paul.

 

In verse 9, Paul said these do.  What are these?  These are the things Paul taught (learned and received) and what Paul did (heard and saw). 

 

However, here’s the key in imitating a human.  Imitate them as they imitate Christ.  See 1 Corinthians 11:1.

 

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

 

Naturally, I will disappoint you.  Paul will disappoint you. 

 

However, when I am living supernaturally imitating Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit, follow me and follow Paul.  Godly thinking leads to godly living.  Right thinking leads to righteous living. 

 

Conclusion/Invitation

So here is today’s invitation.  First, for my brother and sisters in Christ, win the battle of your mind.  Make it a daily habit to guard your mind and think on the things of the Lord.  Godly thinking leads to godly living.  Right thinking leads to righteous living.

 

If you are not at peace with God through Jesus Christ, that is your first order of business.  Be at peace with God through Jesus Christ and receive the peace of God.

 

Admit that you are a sinner.  Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you sins and in your place.  Confess Him as Lord and Savior.  Call on Him to save you!

 

 

 

What Do I Do When Adversity Strikes?

What do you do when adversity strikes?  In our study of Paul’s letter of joy to the Philippian Church, we have talked a lot about adversity, and the fact that no one is immune from adversity.  Every person in the room is either in the middle of adversity or just coming out of adversity or about to enter adversity. 

 

One of my closest friends from college is a husband, father of 3 boys, and pastor.  He and his family started a church on the East Coast and pastored that church for 10 plus years before returning to Texas and taking an associate pastor position at a church in Austin.

 

Last month, my friend and his wife entered adversity.  Their oldest son, almost the same age as Caleigh, who is a collegiate athlete, found out that he has cancer, and he is 20 years.  It is cancer that started in his groin but is also in his stomach, lungs, around his heart, and has a spot on his brain.  What do you do when adversity strikes?

 

In Philippians 4, Paul addressed a crisis in the Philippian Church.  Now don’t get me wrong.  On paper, it certainly doesn’t seem like their crisis is of the same magnitude as the crisis I just described.    

 

However, for them, I’m sure it was.  For Paul, I’m sure it was.  Certainly, Paul experienced his own different crises throughout his life and ministry.  Remember his experience in this same place, Philippi, from Acts 16:11-25. 

 

In verses 16 and 18, he encountered a girl who was demon-possessed.  In verses 19-21, he and Silas were arrested.  In verses 22-24, they were stripped, beaten, and locked-up in prison.  Paul knew crisis.

 

At this time, there was significant division in the Philippian Church.  Two women in particular were at odds with each other.  Again, that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but to them, it was. 

 

We see Paul address them in verse 2.  They were Euodia and Syntyche, and Paul implored them, begged them, pleaded with them to be of the same mind in the Lord.

 

In verse 3, Paul even called on others in the church to help these two sisters in Christ come together.  The NKJV translation says “true companion,” but more than likely, this was the proper name of a man that Paul was calling on to help.  His name literally meant yokefellow, and Paul wanted the yokefellow to yoke these two ladies together or bring these two ladies together.  Paul also called on Clement to assist as well.

 

By the way, we in the church, brothers and sisters in Christ, are supposed to work out our conflicts differently than the world. We live in such a litigious culture, and shame on us when we let that culture come into the Body of Christ.  Paul called on others in the church to mediate this conflict between Euodia and Syntyche.

 

Also, do you know for certain this morning that your name is written in the Book of Life?  That is God’s book that has written in it each and every name of every person who has and who ever will call on the name of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, to save him or her.  You can make sure your name is written there today by calling on Jesus to save you this morning. 

 

From God’s Word, how do we respond?

 

 

1. Rejoice in the Lord, Philippians 4:4.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

 

First, we can and should rejoice.  But what is there to rejoice about?  Notice the text.  Rejoice in the Lord.  Paul even said it twice.  We are to rejoice in and because of the Lord.

 

To rejoice is to make an intentional decision of choosing joy rather than being slave to our feelings and letting our circumstances determine our emotion. 

 

We can rejoice that God is in still in control: Psalm 103:19.

 

9 The Lord has established His throne in heaven,

And His kingdom (or sovereignty) rules over all.

 

We can rejoice that God is working all of life for our good and for His glory: Romans 8:28.

 

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

We can rejoice that God promised to see us through: Psalm 1:1-3.

 

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

 

We can rejoice that God will meet our needs: Philippians 4:19.

 

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

And, we can rejoice that God cares for us: Matthew 6:25-34.

 

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

When adversity strikes, rejoice in the Lord.

 

 

2. Relax because of the Lord, Philippians 4:5-6a.

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  6 Be anxious for nothing.

 

Verse 6 says to be anxious for nothing.  Don’t worry about anything.  Instead, relax. 

 

Can we relax because we are immune to adversity?   Can we relax because adversity won’t hurt us?  We can relax because the Lord is at hand or near.  Heaven is so close.

 

I have said this before and repeat it this morning.  If you are follower of Christ, even the best of this life is the worst you will ever experience because of your future home in heaven.  However, if you aren’t a Christian, this life is the best you every experience as your eternity will be in hell.

 

Because the Lord is at hand, I can relax, and I can make sure that my gentleness is known by everyone that God puts in my path.  Why?  Because I am on my way to heaven.

 

Our English translations don’t seem to have an exact way to translate Paul’s sentiment in verse 5, but the NKJV says let your gentleness be known to all men.  Your translation may say graciousness or kindness.

 

Brothers and sisters, the world is watching how we handle adversity.  Will we get mad and seek revenge or hold a grudge or get mad at God and leave the church?  Relax because of where you’re headed and let your gentleness and kindness be known to every person that God puts in your path.

 

3. Request of the Lord, Philippians 4:6b.

…but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 

Instead of being anxious or worrying, we need to make our requests known to God through prayer. 

 

Thanksgiving should be our attitude in prayer.  In all things, we are to be thankful for the fact that God is good, and He does good to us and for us.

 

It is hard to distinguish prayer and supplication.  They both mean to speak or ask for definite answers to prayer. 

 

Instead of worrying about your marriage, request of God in prayer to fix you and your spouse.  Instead of worrying about your finances, request of God in prayer to fix your income and expenses.  Instead of worrying about your job, request of God in prayer to fix you coworkers and your employer.  Instead of worrying about your health, request of God to fix your family and your loved ones.

 

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 

 

 

Conclusion

Perhaps the best part of today’s text is verse 7, and it is our conclusion.

 

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

In verse 7, Paul described the result of all that he instructed in verses 2-6: rejoice, relax, request.  It is the peace of God…which is hard to explain because it surpasses all comprehension. 

 

Inner peace doesn’t make sense to the outside world.  When adversity strikes, it makes sense to panic and worry. However, the follower of Christ can have this mysterious peace of God.

 

Furthermore, it is that peace of God that stands as a guard over our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Why do we need our heart and mind guarded in adversity?

 

When adversity the strikes, the devil may say to you, “Is God for real?  If He was, would you even be experiencing this?”

 

The devil may also say, “If God is real, does He really love you?  If He did love you, wouldn’t He protect you from this?”

 

Or, “If God is real and does love you, is He still with you now?  It sure doesn’t feel like He is with you.  Don’t you really feel alone and abandoned?”

 

When you rejoice and relax and request, God guards our heart and mind from doubt.  We need that brothers and sisters. 

 

Finally, for some of you this morning, I want you to notice one caveat that pervades this passage of Scripture.  If you are not in Christ, what we have talked about today will be impossible for you. 

 

You can’t have the peace of God until you are at peace with God.  And that only comes through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:1 says it like this.

 

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Today, if you are a follower of Christ, I hope you are encouraged from God’s Word. 

 

If you’re not, will you admit that you are a sinner?  Will you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins?  Will you call on Him as Lord and Savior and be saved?

 

At this time, please bow your heads and close your eyes.

A Gut is a Bad God!

Running for the Prize

This past Monday, Christy and I went to the Regional Cross Country Meet to watch four EBC members run.  The meet was held at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie on the banks of Joe Pool Lake.

 

In our particular region, there were 179 girls and 182 boys running for the prize.  Our girls were running two miles.  Our boys were running 3.1 miles.  At this meet, the prize was the opportunity to run at the State Cross Country Meet.

 

In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul used a racing analogy for the Christian Life.  If you were here last Sunday, the Christian’s greatest desire is to know Christ more.  To say it another way, eternity with Jesus is the prize.  Are you running for the prize? 

 

 

1. Forget what’s behind you, Philippians 3:12-13.

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

 

If you have ever run a race, what is behind you is in the past.  Don’t worry about the past.  Don’t be concerned with what is behind you.

 

In verse 13, Paul said he was forgetting those things that were behind him.  This could include both good and bad things.

 

The message that he communicated to the Philippians was that in the Christian Life, even Paul had not mastered it.  In verse 12, he said that he had not already attained it, and he had not achieved perfection.  In verse 13, he said he had not apprehended the prize. 

 

What good things might he have forgotten?  Remember the resume that Paul listed in verses 5-6?  None of those things were any good to him now.  He was forgetting them.

 

He also could have been thinking about past failures.  Satan loves to remind us of our failures.  However, Paul was forgetting those too.

 

You mean Paul had failed?  Of course he had failed as has every person in the room. Most, if not all, can identify with Romans 7.

 

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

 

Regardless, if it is good or bad, in running for the prize of eternity with Jesus, forget what’s behind you.  Looking back generally is not good.  See Genesis 19:15-26.

 

15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”  18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”  21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”  Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar.  23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.  26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

Instead, what did Jesus say?  See Luke 9:62. 

 

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

 

2. Press toward the prize, Philippians 3:12-14.

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

 

The idea is found here in verse 12.  Paul said he pressed on.  In verse 13, he said he was reaching forward to those things which are ahead.  In verse 14, he said he pressed toward the goal for the prize. 

 

Perhaps Paul was a sports fan.  He often used sports analogies.  See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

 

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

 

I’m not sure who wrote Hebrews.  However, that author also appreciated sports.  See Hebrews 12:1.

 

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.

 

At the meet on Monday, a lot of runners were giving it everything they had.  They were pressing on and reaching toward the goal of that finish line.  Others seemed to be just enjoying a day out of school. 

 

For this group, I could say the same.  Are you pressing on toward the goal?  Are you reaching forward to the prize?  Or, are you just content with your fire insurance? 

 

 

3. Know for certain for the prize is, Philippians 3:15-16.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

 

In our last two verses for today, Paul makes another appeal for unity.  We’ve seen and heard this previously as there was an issue dividing the Philippian Church. 

 

Regardless, Paul appealed for them to be of the same mind regarding the prize.  Make no mistake.  The prize was and is eternity with Jesus Christ. 

 

However, if you don’t agree, like Paul, I think God will convince you of otherwise.  Jesus is the prize!

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

For the casual observer this morning, Jesus is the prize.  Therefore, it is not being a better person.  You will never be good enough to go to heaven.  Today, I invite you to receive the gift of eternal life with Jesus in heaven.

 

For my brothers and sisters, the American Dream is not the prize.  Early retirement is not the prize.  Our team winning the championship is not the prize.  Becoming more like Jesus is the prize! 

 

Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, is famous for this quote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

 

You cannot keep the American Dream, your riches, or your life.  If you are follower of Christ, you cannot lose Jesus.

 

Becoming more like Jesus is captured in one word, “obey.”  Forget what is behind.  Press on toward the prize.  Obey the Lord Jesus. 

 

The Christian’s Greatest Desire

Today, let’s turn our attention to Philippians 3:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Christian’s Greatest Desire.”

 

In verse 1, we recognize that Paul was a Baptist Preacher.  How so?  He says, “Finally,” and has two more chapters before he’s done.

 

Also, in verse 1, we know that he is still talking to us, brothers and sisters in Christ.  We also find our first imperative or command in today’s text.

 

 

1. Rejoice in the Lord, 3:1!

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 

 

We have seen in the past that this is a letter of joy that Paul wrote to the Philippian Church, and joy is a theme that runs throughout the letter. 

 

Remember the difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is a positive emotion that usually out of our control but is determined by outward circumstance. 

 

On the other hand, joy is a positive emotion that can be decided because of an inward reality.  For the Christian, our inward reality is our saving relationship with Christ. 

 

And let’s talk about our that saving relationship works as I believe that is why Paul commanded us to rejoice.

 

The Protestant Reformation was started by Martin Luther and was the reforming of the Catholic Church.  From that reformation, the Protestant Church came or at least grew. 

 

Also, as it relates to salvation, Protestant Christians endorsed and propagated the truth that salvation is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone.  However, you normally hear it expressed by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

 

Our text today gives a different order, but I don’t see it as consequential.  Notice the truth of being in Christ in verses 1, 3, and 9. 

 

Also, I believe God’s grace, while not explicit in these verses, is certainly applied.  What is grace? 

 

Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve.  It is implied regarding righteousness at the end of verse 9.

 

Our response to God’s grace is faith.  Again, look at verse 9.  We have faith in Christ which is the righteousness from God by faith. 

 

So what does that have to do with Paul’s command to rejoice?  I can rejoice because salvation is not up to me.  Otherwise, I would fail, and so would you.

 

Only Jesus can save.  Therefore, my invitation today is for you to be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

 

 

2. Beware of False Hope, 3:2-6!

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 

We find our second imperative in verse 2…beware, beware, beware!  Beware of dogs, evil workers, and the mutilation!

 

Who are these people?  These people were called Judaizers.  They were Jews who gave the impression that they had converted to Christ.  However, they added to the gospel. 

 

Their gospel wasn’t by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Their gospel was Jesus plus circumcision, and that is no gospel at all.

 

In a sarcastic tone, Paul referred to them as pesky, flea-ridden, mangy mutts. He also called them evil workers, and in a direct reference to circumcision, he called them mutilation.

 

By the way, circumcision was the precise cutting away of the foreskin of the mail reproductive organ that was the outward sign of the old covenant. Paul called them carless cutters of flesh.

 

Then, in verse 3, he declared followers of Christ as the true circumcision.  Those are the ones who have been spiritually circumcised by cutting away the outward skin of our hearts that are now committed to worshiping God and rejoicing in Jesus and putting no confidence in the flesh or human morality. 

 

However, Paul had every reason to boast about his life.  His heritage was pristine.  There was not more deserving person than Paul in light of his family tree and the life he lived.  Concerning righteousness of keeping the law, he would have been found blameless. 

 

With Paul’s credentials, we are reminded that there is no hope in our genealogy.  There is also no hope in our morality.

 

However, let also take this reminder one step further to some thoughts I am hearing and seeing today.  There is no hope in generosity.  There is no hope in ingenuity, and there is no hope in nationality. 

 

Brothers and sisters, beware of false hope in anything or anyone other than Jesus.  The good news of the gospel is that eternal salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

 

 

3. Know Christ More, 3:7-11!

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

As we are aware of false hope and false gospels and because there is only salvation in Jesus, the Christian’s greatest desire ought to be, should be to know Christ more.  That was Paul’s testimony.

 

In verse 7-8, he said everything earthly means nothing.  He counted it as loss, and Paul suffered loss because of his decision to follow Christ. 

 

In verse 9, he could never have the righteousness of Christ doing good.  It can only come through faith in Christ.  You can’t achieve it or earn it.  You can only receive it.  It is by faith. 

 

Consequently, I want to know Christ more.  That is verse 10.  I want to know that He is superior.  Everything is loss compared to him.  The American Dream is loss.  Early retirement is loss.  Grandchildren are loss. 

 

I want to know that His power is supreme.  That power is what raised Him from the dead.  It can save your marriage.  It can save your relationship with your children.  It can save your business. 

 

I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings.  If you follow Christ, like Paul, you will suffer at some point.  However, because of the fellowship we have with Jesus, He promises never to leave us or forsake us.  We will never be alone.

 

 

Conclusion

Today, our invitation will be different.  With your heads bowed and eyes closed, will you put your faith in truth in Christ this morning?  Will you stop trusting in genealogy or morality or generosity or ingenuity or nationality?  Today, will you be saved by grace alone through faith a lone in Christ alone?

 

Also, if you are a Christian, if your desire is to Christ more, would you stand?  If you will commit to make that your desire, would you stand?