Luke 2:1-20
2 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 clothes, 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 clothes, 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!”
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.
Where has our Joy gone? And why have we lost our hope?
We have here a story of a birth that was so joyful that 3 wise men came from a long ways off and took a journey to be there for a glorious occasion.
We spend a lot of time in depression and anxiety over Christmas.
This year a lot of people have allowed Satan to destroy what we have learned in Sunday School about who Christ is and what he has done for us.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
We must watch out for Satan and his lies and the blindness he causes. Satan is looking and trying out new ways to get us discouraged and loose out with what God has for us.
We are at another Christmas. Christmas is not about the exchanging of gifts but it is that Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin to give us eternal life, this is why we celebrate Christmas.
The Wiseman brought gifts because they wanted to celebrate the one that God had sent to teach the world of the wonders of his love. The love that because he was born and died years later that you could not have to sacrifice to cleanse yourself, but that you may live on after life in happiness.
Even Caesar Augustus knew that this was a special child.
Why is it that we have now started to think that Christmas is just to busy and to expensive to get through.
When I was growing up we sat around the tree while dad read the story of Jesus being born before we could ever open gifts, even if he had just read it on Sunday Morning the day before Christmas.
It is not the time to give up, but the time to receive what God has for you. He wants you to be joyful and happy.
If was not but a couple of years ago when my daughter was blessed by someone in a special way. Her neighbor called to ask her what can we do for you, we want to do something special for you and your family. She then said that she would go and buy all of the kids shoes and she would buy them some groceries as well.
God has not changed and he is still trying to bless you. Don't turn your back on him.
It is the ultimate time for us to stand firm and have Christmas to celebrate our King. This is not the time to say we give up, but that we will be happy for what he has done.
God has bless us in so many ways. Most of all He has blessed us by sending His son named Jesus and placed Him in human form so that He may live, teach, and die for you and I.
It is indeed a great time for celebration.