December 31, 2006 - Think Of It As A Gift

By: Rev. Steve Bass

INTRODUCTION

• Let’s face it: A New Year’s Eve sermon
• doesn't have...
• The dramatic power of an Easter message-
• Or the warm embrace of a Christmas sermon
• Which means it’s kind of difficult to get pumped up about listening to one
• Personally-
• I've always thought New Year’s is a pretty lame excuse for a holiday
• Celebrating anything a week after Christmas seems like a monumental anticlimax to me
• Plus- there’s nothing special about beginning a new year on the 1st day of January
• The Romans- the creators of the modern calendar- could just as easily have chosen:
• March the 1st
• July the 1st
• Or the 15th day of September for that matter
• The way I look at- it would make a lot more sense to start a new year:
• On the first day of spring
• Rather than 11 days into winter
• ...But in spite of these things- I'll bet that when you wake up tomorrow morning things will seem different
• It always happens on New Year’s Day
• Somehow it feels like you've got a brand new lease on life
• Now the fact is you'll wake up with the same problems- the same challenges- the same sorrows you'll go to bed with tonight
• But still- you'll wake up tomorrow morning thinking: Maybe THIS year will be better
• It is the unique gift of a new year
• The question is: How are you are going to use that gift?
• Are you going to just muddle through another 12 months of existence on this planet?
• Or are you going to look at 2007 as a unique opportunity to use your life to bring glory and honor to God?
• That’s what I want us to think about this morning
• I'm going to offer a few simple suggestions that will make a difference in your life-
• And allow you to BE a difference in someone else’s life- in the new year

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SET ASIDE TIME FOR GOD

• I've never seen the play or the movie RENT- but I love a song from the show: Seasons of Love.
• The lyrics say:
• 525,600 minutes- 525,000 moments so dear
• 525,600 minutes- How do you measure? Measure a year?
• In other words: You will have exactly 525,600 minutes to live during 2007
• Which comes to 31,536,000 seconds
• Or- to make it more manageable- 8,760 hours
• Now let’s...
• Say you average 7.5- 8 hours of sleep per night-
• Which is what doctors say an adult needs to stay healthy
• That will leave you with about 6000 hours of awake time
• Now let’s assume that-
• you're going to spend about 2200 hours in the coming year making a living-
• That leaves you with about 3,800 hours
• Obviously you have to eat to stay alive- so let’s assume you devote about 1 hour per day for eating-
• That leaves you with 3435 hours
• Now here’s the question: How much of that remaining 3,435 hours are you going to give to God?
• Let’s put it this way:
• If you...
• Spend 30 minutes a day in prayer and Bible study AND...
• Come to every worship service the church offers during the year AND...
• Never miss a single week of Sunday School
• you'll be giving God less than 400 hours in the coming year.
• To put it another way:
• If you're one of the most active, dedicated, consecrated people in the church- you'll be giving God less than 5 % of the 8,760 hours He'll give you in the coming year
• And sadly, most Christians don't give God anywhere near THAT much time
• I want you to listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well...
• Your FIRST priority in life MUST be your relationship with God
• God will not accept second place.
• He wants- He expects- He demands- He will accept nothing less- than FIRST PLACE in your life
• Deuteronomy 4:24 puts it this way: For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God...
• Folks, let me encourage you to give God more of your time in the coming year
• Part of that includes a commitment to attending church regularly
• Worshiping in God’s House with God’s people on God’s Day shouldn't be just another way to spend your leisure-time
• Worshiping God should be an absolute priority that NEVER changes unless you've been providentially hindered
• You should also commit yourself to spending fellowship time with God every day
• That ought to include three components:
• Worship
• Prayer
• And Bible study
• And don't rush through your time with God as if-
• It’s some burden to be borne-
• But consider it a blessing- and a privilege- to be treasured and enjoyed
• Read Psalm 63:1-8
• In a recent issue of Christianity Today Bob Roberts wrote these words:
  "The fruits of the Holy Spirit are, it seems to me, largely fruits of sustained interaction with God. Just as a child picks up traits more or less simply by dwelling in the presence of her parent, so the Christian develops tenderheartedness, compassion, humility, forgiveness, joy, and hope through ‘the fellowship of the Holy Spirit’ that is, by dwelling in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. And this means, to a very large extent, spending time in fellowship with Him everyday."
• If you want to really grow in the Lord in the New Year- make a commitment to set aside time for the Father!

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

• Illustration: Now you've Gone To Meddling
• A few years ago I went back to New Sandy Creek Baptist Church to preach as a part of their 100th anniversary celebration
• As preachers tend to do on such occasions- I started reminiscing
• I remember at one point I made a comment about the church’s "BYW"
• For those of you who don't know- BYW stands for Baptist Young Women
• It was the name of a missions group designed for women between the ages of 18-30
• Which was odd because everyone in NSC’s BYW were in their 30's, 40's or 50's!
• Anyway- I made a crack about this incongruity
• You do realize that BYW stands for Baptist YOUNG Women?
• Suddenly Gordon Wilder- the chairman of the deacons- spoke up: Steve- you'd better be careful cause you've stopped preaching and gone to MEDDLIN’!
• Well...
• For just a few moments I'm going to stop preaching- and start meddling
• One of the commitments you need to make in the New Year is do something good for your physical body!
• As evangelical Christians we don't talk about this very often
• we're so concerned with a person’s SPIRITUAL condition before God- and rightly so
• That we fail to talk about the physical bodies we occupy
• Folks- the Bible makes it clear that a Christian is supposed to treat his or her physical body as the temple of God
• Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
• Read 1 Corinthians 6:19
• During the coming year you need to do something to repair and renovate the temple of God you occupy
• You might need to:
• Lose weight
• Begin an regular exercise program
• Stop smoking
• Get proper amounts of rest
• Reduce the stress in your life
• But the bottom line is: You need to take better care of the physical body God has given you
• I've got to tell you the story of my birthday gift from Pam
• She'd seen a Today show where they talked about a video game called Brain Age
• The game was developed by a neurologist
• It’s designed to exercise your brain- to keep it functioning at its best
• Pam thought that sounded like a good idea
• Unfortunately- she didn't realize that you had to have a $129.00 Nintendo DS game console in order to run the $20.00 game
• Which is how I came to get a Nintendo DS video game system for my 50th birthday this
• The point I'm trying to make is that taking care of your body also includes taking care of your brain
• So turn off the television from time-to-time
• Read a book- work a puzzle- play a game- listen to music- or learn something new
• Here’s the thing-
• The earthly bodies we live in were not designed to last for an eternity
• But God did design them to last for a lifetime- so take better care of God’s handiwork in 2007

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOUR FAMILY

• Illustration: A Pastor’s Sad Advice
• When Matthew was a baby I invited my home-church pastor- Dr. Raymond Sanderson- to come and preach revival services for me
• Dr. Sanderson stayed in our home during the week- and I couldn't help notice something odd
• The first thing he did every morning was go into the nursery to see Matthew
• Now I knew Dr. Sanderson had four grown children and ten grandchildren- but he acted as if he had never been around a baby
• I'll never forget what he told me one night- while he was rocking Matthew to sleep: Steve- when my kids were growing up I was always too busy. Most weeks I wasn't home a single night- I thought the church would fall apart if I wasn't there...I made a big mistake. I never really knew my own children...Don't make the same mistake I made.
• Read Psalm 133:1-3
• God understands something that we sometimes forget:
• If you're too busy to spend time with your family
• Then you are TOO busy! PERIOD!
• God created our families to be places of love and unity and joy- and that takes time and effort and energy!
• I found this in a book of illustrations- I'm not sure who wrote it- but I like it. It’s called Love Adds The Chocolate

A house is a house is a house until love comes through the door, that is.
And love intuitively goes around sprinkling that special brand of angel dust that transforms a house into a very special home for very special people: your family.
Money, of course, can build a charming house, but only love can furnish it with a feeling of home.
Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch, but love may decide to tuck a little love note inside.
Money can provide a television set, but love controls it and cares enough to say no and take the guff that comes with it.
Obligation sends the children to bed on time, but love tucks the covers in around their necks and passes out kisses and hugs (even to teenagers!).
Obligation can cook a meal, but love embellishes the table with a potted ivy trailing around slender candles.
Duty writes many letters, but love tucks a joke or a picture or a fresh stick of gum inside.
Compulsion keeps a sparkling house. But love and prayer stand a better chance of producing a happy family.
Duty gets offended quickly if it isn't appreciated. But love learns to laugh a lot and to work for the sheer joy of doing it.
Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often love will add a little chocolate.

• Folks- this year you need to make a commitment to see that your home is a place of peace and happiness and joy in the Lord!

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO FIND A PLACE OF MINISTRY AND SERVICE

• A few years ago I got a phone call from a friend
• He and his wife had adopted a poor family for Christmas
• Their adopted family lived in a bad section of town
• Making my friends a bit nervous about delivering the gifts- they weren't sure how they would be received
• Suffice it to say- It went great!
• The mother was so thankful for the gifts she gave my friends hugs and kisses
• After they left my friends went back to the car and started crying tears of joy and satisfaction
• Billy: It may us feel so good to know we were able to help someone have a happy Christmas
• In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says:

  "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me..."

• Think about the implications of this statement because this is mind-boggling.
• Whenever you...
• Serve a meal at the Emergency Winter Shelter
• Volunteer at the Battered Women’s Shelter or Crisis Pregnancy Center
• Fill a shoe box for Operation: Christmas Child
• Work at Loaves & Fishes ministry
• Go Christmas caroling at a nursing home
• Take a meal to someone who’s lost a loved one
• Volunteer to participate in the annual Mission Tour
• Visit someone who is sick and in the hospital
• Spend a Saturday morning helping a widow with odd jobs around the house
• Share the Plan of Salvation with someone who is lost
• You are ministering to the One who died on the Cross so that your sins could be forgiven
• Folks- let me encourage you to find a place of ministry and service in the New Year
• Not only will your life be made richer and fuller and more filled with meaning
• You NEVER know how God is going to use you for His glory
• Illustration: A Visitor’s Testimony
• Recently a church was having a testimony time following its weekly visitation night
• One man stood up and shared his experience: I didn't really want to go tonight- the only reason I came was because I would've felt guilty if I'd have stayed home. But I came- and visited the person we were assigned. She had just found out that her brother had been killed in a ‘hit and run’ accident. I didn't know what to say- but we offered to pray with her. Afterwards she told us that she knew we were an angel sent by God.
• This year make a commitment to find a place of ministry and service
• You will be a blessing in someone’s life
• And- in turn- you'll receive a blessing from God

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR

• Illustration: Finding The ‘Shocked’ Neighbor
• It’s one of the staples of local television news
• Someone is arrested for- say- a series of murders
• And somehow the reporter will find a neighbor who is shocked- SHOCKED- by the news
• They must have them read from the same script: I can't believe they arrested him. I used to hear him crank up a chainsaw from time-to-time- and he did dig a lot of holes in his backyard late at night. But he seemed nice- always waved whenever I saw him. I thought he was just a normal guy.
• And the truth is- he probably was
• The sin in his life may be different from the sin in your life
• But the Biblical verdict still stands: For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God
• If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior today- you're in trouble
• You may not be a murderer or a drug dealer or a pornographer
• But unless you come to Jesus and receive forgiveness of sin you will spend eternity in the same hell they will!
• The Bible says that the wages of sin is death- spiritual death- eternal separation from God in a hell prepared for Satan and his demons
• And it doesn't matter what the particular sin in your life may be- the pay-off is the same!
• We've just finished celebrating the Advent season of worship
• At Christmas we remember the birth of an infant baby in the manger of Bethlehem
• But as we tried to stress: The REASON we celebrate Christmas is because that Child grew up to become the Man on the Cross!
• Jesus died a horrible death on the Cross so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish- but have everlasting life
• The bottom line is that because of what Jesus has done- YOU can be saved!
• I'm not trying to scare anyone- but the simple truth is that some of us sitting in this place today:
• May not live to see the end of 2007!
• Almost certainly some of us won't ring in 2010!
• Illustration: Talking With Joe About Terry
• I remember bumping in to a pastor-friend at the hospital a couple of years ago
• As we chatted I asked him how he was doing
• There was a long pause and he said: Not too good- it’s been a bad week
• He went on to tell me how a man in his church had been killed in an automobile accident a few days earlier
• The man had left behind a wife- and two young children
• PF: He had just called Carol 20 minutes before the accident- saying he was on the way home...They were going to decorate the Christmas tree that night
• Folks- the future is too uncertain- and the wages of sin too certain- not to have Jesus Christ as your Savior
• The Good News is that it is the simplest thing in the world to become a Christian
• Jesus has done the hard part by dying on the Cross
• Now all you have to do is say Yes! to Him
• Do NOT let this year end- and a new year begin- with knowing- beyond a shadow of a doubt- that Jesus is your Savior. Let us pray

December 24, 2006 - That’s What Christmas Is All About

By Rev. Steve Bass

INTRODUCTION

• At its heart- the story of Christmas isn't complicated:
• It’s about a mother- and a child
• The most fundamental human relationship you can imagine
• Of course- Joseph should be added to the mix
• Biologically speaking Joseph wasn't related to Jesus
• Jesus was Mary’s child
• And God’s only begotten Son
• But remember:
• Joseph WAS the man God had chosen to be Jesus’ earthly father
• So let’s be sure we put him in the picture
• Isn't that nice?
• A mother- and a father- and a child
• A family...as pure and simple as that
• Of course- when it comes to Christmas people have never been content with the pure and simple
• That’s why no Nativity scene would be complete without a manger
• And if you're going to have a manger- you've got to have a barn
• People love the idea of Jesus being born in a barn
• Even though He was actually born in a cave
• Think about it- we tell children fantastic stories about a stable filled with a menagerie of animals witnessing the birth of Jesus
• Granted- you MAY have had a few sheep and camels lying around
• But the fact is the Bible doesn't mention any animals being in the cave on the night of Jesus’ birth
• In fact- the belief that Jesus’ birthplace was a barn comes from the fact Mary laid Jesus in a manger
• A manger is a limestone trough used to feed animals
• But the presence of the manger doesn't necessarily mean the cave was being used to shelter animals on that particular night
• So what else should go in our Nativity scene?
• Shepherds! you've got to have shepherds
• And the chorus of angels who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds
• Which brings us to the weather. Most people assume the night of Jesus’ birth was clear and cold
• That’s because in the Northern Hemisphere we celebrate Christmas in the winter
• But the fact is Jesus was NOT born in December
• Late spring? Middle of the summer? Maybe.
• Late December? Never!
• How do we know that? Shepherds didn't keep their flocks out in the fields at night in December
• The reason we celebrate Christmas in the winter is because early Christians were severely persecuted for their faith
• Gathering for Christian worship could be a dangerous thing
• Particularly a gathering to celebrate Jesus’ birthday
• But- in those days Romans celebrated a pagan winter solstice festival on the 25th of December
• In other words: Christians could gather to worship on the 25th without attracting a lot of attention
• Which is why we celebrate Christmas during the cold, clear nights of winter
• OK-
• We've got a Nativity scene with-
• The Holy Family
• The barn and the manger
• The shepherds and the angels
• And a few animals thrown in for good measure
• So what are we missing?
• Ah! The Star of Bethlehem- and the magi
• When was the last time you saw a Nativity scene without the wisemen?
• I suspect it’s been a long time.
• Which only goes to prove people have never let facts get in the way of a good Christmas story
• The Bible indicates the magi didn't arrive on the scene until Jesus was about 18-24 months old
• That would be like someone showing up in April of 2008 to celebrate my granddaughter Vivian’s birth
• Personally- I've always wondered why Simeon and Anna don't have more of a role in the Christmas story
• They saw Jesus at the Temple when He was a week old
• And immediately recognized Him as the Promised One of God
• Please read Luke 2:21-38
• Clearly Simeon & Anna should be honored for their role in the story of Jesus’ birth
• But when was the last time you heard them mentioned at Christmas?
• It’s the magi- who were two years late to the party- who are inevitably placed in Nativity scenes!
• And even then people don't get it right
• First of all they assume there were only 3 wisemen
• That’s strictly a guess based on the number of gifts they brought:
• Gold
• Frankincense
• And myrrh
• But for all we know there could have been 23- 53 or 103 wisemen for all we know
• The one thing we do know is that they were NOT kings
• The magi were star gazers- astrologers really
• Who understood the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem heralded some momentous event
• Folks- what is it about Christmas?
• Why can't we be content with what the Bible tells us
• Why do people have this compulsive need to inflate or change the story of Jesus’ birth?
• For instance- over the years pastors have preached countless sermons about the heartless innkeeper who supposedly turned away the only begotten Son of God
• Folks- the Bible doesn't mention an innkeeper!
• All the Word of God says is that Mary placed Jesus in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn
• And then there are the songs
• Take the Little Drummer Boy...PLEASE!
• It’s a cute song
• Although realistically the idea of a baby being lulled to sleep with the pounding of a drum is pretty ridiculous
• But- who cares?
• We LOVE the little boy standing beside the manger playing his rumpa-pum-pums
• So put him in there! Who cares about Biblical truth?
• This Christmas some Christians will even erect Nativity scenes featuring Santa Claus
• I guess they're trying to say that even Santa bows at the feet of Jesus
• Although it seems like a blasphemous blending of fact and fiction to me
• Plus I couldn't get a felt cut-out of Santa
• So we'll leave him out
• I could keep going on- but I think you get the point
• People keep adding layer after layer after layer of myth and legend to the Christmas story
• But strip it all away and it always comes back to a mother- and a child

IT’S ABOUT GOD

• And even that’s not simple enough
• Because if you really want to UNDERSTAND Christmas you have to go past the mother and the child
• You have to go back to God
• Please read Genesis 3:7-13
• What we have here is the first prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus
• In other words: Even as Adam and Eve were making the decision to sinfully rebel against God
• God had already put into motion a plan of action that would save the world from sin
• It’s interesting: God had told Adam and Eve what the consequences of sin would be
• If you sin- you will die
• In the New Testament the Bible puts it this way: the wages of sin is death
• And here’s the thing: Because God is perfect in every way
• He HAS to execute judgment on sin
• If He didn't do it- He wouldn't be a holy and righteous God who is worthy of our worship and praise
• I guess the simplest thing God could have done would have been to destroy Adam and Eve
• To make them suffer the consequences of their sin
• You did the crime
• You pay the fine
• Of course had God done that- none of us would have never been here today
• See the message of the Bible- the message of amazing grace- is that in spite of their sin
• God still loved Adam & Eve
• And God loved all the future of generations of sinful human beings they would produce
• God not only loved us
• He wanted a state of reconciliation to exist between Himself and His Creation
• And so God created a plan of salvation
• God’s plan dictated that His Son- His only Son- would-
• Be born
• Live a life among the Jewish people
• And die on a Cross for your sin- and my sin- and the sin of the entire world
• Galatians 4:4-5
• John 3:16-17
• Romans 5:6-11

THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT CHARLIE BROWN

• Over the years A Charlie Brown Christmas has become a holiday classic
• This year marked the 41st consecutive year it’s been shown on network television
• Which is strange because it’s a show that almost didn't get on the air at all
• In the fall of 1965 creator Charles Schultz and producers Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson showed CBS executives the show for the first time
• The network honchos almost had a stroke
• They were convinced Schultz and the producers had blown it
• They didn't like.../They didn't agree with.../And they hated...
• The cheap- comic-strip style of animation. They wanted the beautiful, flowing animation of a Disney cartoon
• The decision to use regular kids instead of professional voice actors to play the parts of the Peanuts characters
• The modern jazz soundtrack Schultz, Melendez and Mendelson had chosen
• They wanted traditional sounding Christmas songs
• They just didn't get the catchy rhythms pianist Vince Guaraldi had created
• But what appalled the executives were the themes Charles Schultz had created for the show
• They kept asking if a cartoon holiday special should depict a depressed Charlie Brown seeking the true meaning of Christmas
• And quite frankly- they were terrified by the overtly Christian message of the story
• And yet- as you will see- that’s what made A Charlie Brown Christmas so special (Show video clip)

CONCLUSION

• Folks:
• The story of Christmas isn't complicated-
• It doesn't need to be filled with a lot of fluff
• Christmas is about a mother and a child
• A mother who was obedient to God’s command
• A child who is, was, and will always be the only begotten Son of the Living God
• But above all Christmas is about God-
• And His unfathomable love for you and me
• Let us pray

December 10, 2006 - Unto Us A Child

by Rev. Steve Bass

Scripture Meditation: Isaiah 9:6-7

INTRODUCTION

• If you're ever at Presbyterian Hospital and you hear the sounds of Brahm’s Lullaby wafting through the halls
• Don't worry-
• they've not run out of anesthesia
• They're not trying to put someone to sleep for surgery by other means
• Instead- you can celebrate because another baby has just entered the world
• There is just something about a baby
• Someone once said an infant is God’s opinion that the world should go on
• In any event- a child’s birth is an occasion of joy and peace and thanksgiving...
• It’s also a time of intense speculation
• Even as you gaze at that beautiful face you can't help but wonder
• What kind of life will this child live? What kind of person will he or she turn out to be?
• I'm sure Mary and Joseph were asking themselves the same kinds of questions on the night Jesus was born
• Now obviously they had some advantages that we didn't have on the day Vivian was born
• If they wanted to know who Jesus was- and what Jesus would accomplish- they needed to look no further than Isaiah 9:6
• Turn with me to this passage of Scripture
• A couple of weeks ago I used Isaiah 9:2-7 as the text for a sermon entitled: How Did They Miss It?
• But then we were talking about how the Jewish people wound up misunderstanding the prophecies concerning the coming of the Christ
• Today I want us to look at this verse in some detail as we think about who the Baby of Bethlehem was
6
• For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• What an amazing collection of titles:
• Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Each one is important.
• Each one tells us something important about Jesus
• This morning- I want us to think about each of these titles

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

• First of all- Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus "Wonderful Counselor"
• Let me share some numbing statistics with you this morning
• If you take the average number of people who worship here at Sunset Road Baptist Church on a typical Sunday morning
• You would discover:
• That 15-20 would be physically addicted or psychologically dependant on drugs or alcohol
• That around 30 folks will have experienced a bout of clinical depression in the last five years
• That upwards of 40 of the women present will have been the victim of some form of sexual abuse
• That about 1/3 of the congregation have either gone through- or will experience- a divorce at some point in their lifetime
• That anywhere between 90-110 people will have been raised in a ‘dysfunctional’ family
• I could keep going- but I think you get the point
• There are a lot of hurting people...
• In this world
• In this room!
• Now I'm deeply grateful for the advances that have been made in the treatment of mental and emotional illness
• I'm a beneficiary of these advances
• But folks-
• Here’s the thing...
• Doctors can prescribe medicines that treat the chemical imbalances that cause illness
• Psychologists and therapists can care for the emotional baggage that illness creates
• But only Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness and loneliness of life- and make it worth living again
• Turn with me over to Luke 8:26-39
• Folks- here’s the "good news of great joy which will be for ALL people":
• What Jesus did for this demon-possessed man
• He is ready- willing- and able to do for you!
• Never forget- Jesus Christ is the "Wonderful Counselor"
• Do you have a burden you can't share with anyone else on the face of this Earth?
• Take that burden to Jesus and see what happens
• He'll Read you
• He'll love you freely and unconditionally
• He'll restore your brokenness and hurt
• He'll heal your soul- your emotions- your life- your ALL
• He'll renew your sense of purpose and direction
• He'll grant you freedom from the past and offer you a bright hope for tomorrow
• And He'll make sure that the "rest of your life will be the best of your life"
• Folks- Jesus is the WONDERFUL Counselor
• Learn to love Him- to trust Him- to depend on Him
• Because He will NEVER let you down

THE MIGHTY GOD

• The second title the Bible gives Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 is "Mighty God"
• One of the awesome things about being a pastor is that you get to be with families during some of the greatest experiences in their life
• Pam and I had one of these opportunities last Monday afternoon
• We were able to be at Presby. Huntersville when Ronnie & Betty Cowles’ new-grandson was born
• We got to see Cannon when he was less than 30 minutes old
• He was a beautiful- healthy 7 lbs. 13 oz little boy- but he was also a totally helpless and dependent infant
• One of the incredible things about the message of Christmas is...
• That God’s only Begotten Son came to Earth as a beautiful, healthy- but totally helpless and dependent infant.
• Think about it:
• This was a child who had to nurse at His mother’s breast in order to survive
• And yet He also possessed all the Might and Power and Majesty and Glory of the Almighty God!
• Hebrews 1:1-4
• I love Mark Lowery’s song "Mary Did You Know?"

  Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
  Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
  Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
  This child that your delivered will soon deliver you
  
  Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
  Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with His hand?
  Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
  And when you kiss your little baby you've kissed the face of God? Oh, Mary, did you know?
  
  Mary, did you know that your baby boy is the Lord of all creation?
  Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
  Did you know that your baby boy was heaven’s perfect Lamb?
  And the sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I Am!
  
  (Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry)

• You know, when Paul considered the power and majesty of Jesus he wrote these words: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13)
• In other words: "I have discovered that the Baby of Bethlehem- the Carpenter of Galilee- the Man of the Cross- the Resurrected Lord- has the power and majesty and grace to carry me through whatever challenges my life has to offer...
• "Even when I find myself in the most depressing- discouraging- miserable circumstances imaginable- Jesus can pull me through!"
• Let me tell you something folks- Christianity...
• isn't a religion of mild-mannered losers
• Is a faith of power and strength and VICTORY because of the Lord Jesus Christ!
• He is our Rock and our Salvation
• As the Psalmist says: "Of whom shall I be afraid?"
• Remember- the Bible says Jesus is the ‘Almighty God!’
• There is NOTHING He can not do- all the power of the Universe is at His command
• When you accept Him as your personal Savior and Lord:
• He comes in and breathes power and strength into your life
• And grants you the courage you need to live day-by-day
• Illustration: ‘What The Soldier Said’
• Following the successful D-Day landings an American solider was asked about the progress the United States was making in the war
• He said "the Nazis still have some teeth left- but we've come (over) here with a pair of pliers"
• Folks-
• Your Adversary still has some teeth left- and that may leave you feeling discouraged and defeated
• But I want you to remember something:
• Jesus has the pliers you need to overcome Satan
• Because He IS the ‘Mighty God!’

EVERLASTING FATHER

• The third title the Word of God gives Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 is ‘everlasting Father’
• Illustration: "Mel White"
• About twenty years ago Mel White SHOCKED the evangelical world when he announced he was gay
• Now this was a man who'd produced a number of movies that were used to bring thousands of people around the world to a saving knowledge of Christ
• He helped Billy Graham, W.A. Criswell, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell write inspirational bestsellers
• He was a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary- and the pastor of a large church in California
• Now I'm not here this morning trying to defend MW
• He made his choice
• And his choice involves living a lifestyle that is sin in the eyes of God
• The only reason I bring up his story is because of something his mother said during an interview on 60 Minutes
• Mike Wallace asked her: You know what other Christians are saying about your son. They say he is an abomination. What do you think about that?
• In a soft, quivery voice Mrs. White replied: Well, he may be an abomination- but he’s still my pride and joy
• You know folks- when you stop and think about it- that’s a pretty good definition of what it means to know Jesus as your ‘everlasting Father’
• In a sense we're all ‘abominations’
• Your sin may not be a gay lifestyle
• But the Bible says you're like me- you have sinned and come short of the glory of God
• And yet for some barely credible reason- you are still Jesus’ ‘pride and joy’
• This is the message He kept trying to teach us in the parables
• In one story Jesus talks about a foolish shepherd
• Who left 99 perfectly healthy sheep unattended in the open country
• To go and find one, scrawny little lamb that had wandered away from the flock
• In another parable He tells about a ditzy housewife who was so excited to find a coin she'd lost
• That she called all her girlfriends together
• To throw a party that probably cost more than the coin was worth!
• And then- in the most shocking story- Jesus describes a loving father
• Who publicly humiliates himself before everyone in his hometown
• By running out to meet his rebellious bum of a son who comes home after blowing half of the family fortune
• What’s the common denominator in these three parables?
• The foolish shepherd- the ditzy housewife and the loving father all cared deeply for that which was lost
• It may have only been...
• One scrawny little lamb- but it was the foolish shepherd’s scrawny, little lamb!
• One cheap, gold coin- but it was the ditzy housewife’s cheap, gold coin!
• One really obnoxious son- but it was the loving father’s really obnoxious son!
• You may only be a ‘sinner saved by grace’- but Jesus- the everlasting Father-
• Loves you more than you could possibly know!
• And He will NEVER let you go!
• Turn with me over to Romans 8:35-39
• Folks- it doesn't get no better than that!
• Jesus loves you- PERIOD!
• He IS the everlasting Father

PRINCE OF PEACE

• But there’s one additional title the Bible gives Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. It says He is thace
• You know there are a lot of prayers being offered up for peace during this Christmas Season
• The war in Iraq continues to drag on-
• With thousands of U.S. casualties
• And no end in sight
• And no matter what your political beliefs:
• Everyone wants to see the war end
• And the men and women in our Armed Forces come home safely
• But here’s what you need to understand:
• The guns could fall silent tonight- all the terrorists and insurgents could be captured and brought to justice
• But peace- real peace- would still elude this old world!
• You see- the simple truth is that there is no peace apart from Jesus!
• Until you've been reconciled to God through the blood Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary
• You are a living casualty of war
• Scripture references:
• Colossians 1:21
• Romans 3:10-17
• In Acts chapter 2 we see Peter preaching to the crowd that had gathered at the Temple on the Day of Pentecost
• Suffice it to say he laid it on the line- describing in vivid detail the sin and rebellion in the hearts of his listeners
• Finally in verse 37 the people cried out: Brothers, what shall we do...?
• Which is a good question- but not the RIGHT question
• See all the folks listening to Peter were operating on the assumption that THEY had to do something to make things right with God
• When the truth is- God had already done something to make things right with THEM
• Read what the Bible says in Galatians 4:4-5
• Folks- THAT is the message of Christmas
• The world asks: What do we have to do to be saved- to discover God’s peace in our life?
• God’s answer never changes: YOU don't have to do anything- except receive My Son as your personal Savior and Lord
• The Word of God tells us that Jesus came to Earth as the Prince of Peace
• The Bible says: ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’
• In other words:
• While we were still caught up in our sin
• Jesus came into this world as God’s One and only way to peace!
• Look- if your life is filled with misery and despair this morning- there’s an answer
• He was born in the manger of Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago
• He died on the Cross for the sin of the world when He was 33 years old
• He Rose Again on the third day- victorious over sin and death
• A Day is coming when He will Come Again surrounded by all the armies of heaven- to take His people home
• And when He comes ALL of his people will be with Him- and enjoy the perfect peace and rest of heaven- for all eternity!
• His name is Jesus- He IS the Prince of Peace
• Do you have a personal relationship with Him?
• Let us pray

December 6, 2006 - When Mary Heard The News

by Rev. Steve Bass

Scripture Meditation: Luke 1

INTRODUCTION

• I wonder if Mary’s breasts had fully developed before she became pregnant with Jesus
• I'm not trying to shock you with that question
• Rather I'm trying to emphasize how young she was when Mary learned she was going to give birth to God’s only begotten Son
• You know- today it’s not that unusual for a girl to develop at a relatively young age
• Doctors say it’s because of a combination of:
• Modern nutrition- including childhood obesity
• And exposure to natural and artificial hormones in food
• But some girls begin to develop when they are as young as six or seven
• On the other hand- in Biblical times girls began to develop around the age of 12 or 13
• Which roughly coincided with the age at which they got married
• Since Mary was about to be married to Joseph- she was probably no more than 13-14 years old when she learned she was going to give birth to Jesus
• Please read Luke 1:26-38
• Throughout Christian history many legends have grown up about Mary
• Despite the Bible saying nothing about it- somebody came up with names for her parents
• Supposedly Joachim was her father
• And Anna was her mother
• At some point the Roman Catholic Church began to teach that Mary’s conception was different from any other human being who ever lived
• This is the doctrine of the immaculate conception
• Which claimed Mary was born free of the stain of original sin
• In other words:
• The Biblical truth that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God didn't apply in Mary’s case
• The idea being that the sinless Son of God couldn't have spent time in the body of girl who was touched by sin
• Later- Catholic doctrine taught the perpetual virginity of Mary
• According to this theory Mary never consummated her marriage with Joseph- she went through her life as a virgin
• Sort of makes you wonder where Jesus’ brothers and sisters came from
• Look- the Bible doesn't tell us much of anything about Mary
• It tells us her hometown- Nazareth
• It tells us that she was betrothed to Joseph
• That she had a kinswoman named Elizabeth
• And that she was a virgin at the time of Jesus’ conception
• And that’s it!
• The remarkable thing is that God chose this otherwise unremarkable teenager
• To give birth to His one and only Son

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

• Over the centuries Gabriel’s greeting has been badly misunderstood
• Calling Mary ‘highly favored’ is not a commentary on her character
• Mary is ‘highly favored’ because she is the recipient of God’s grace

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

• It’s interesting- and not coincidental- to contrast the response of Zechariah and Mary to Gabriel’s appearance
• Zechariah was a priest conducting his duties when the angel appeared to him-
• And told him his wife would give birth to a son
• Who would be John the Baptist
• Look at what it says in verse 12: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
• The words here could easily be translated scared to death
• This encounter with God’s messenger left Zechariah in fear for his life
• Mary’s reaction is very different
• The Greek indicates a sense of humble reverence
• Mary had been told she was the recipient of God’s special grace- she couldn't figure out why she'd been so blessed!
• It’s interesting to note that Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid
• Because what he was telling her was incredibly frightening
• An unmarried and pregnant 14 year old in those days could expect to be stoned to death for sexual immorality
• Ted Lowrie has told me that in his business career he learned that-
• Once you tell somebody ‘you're fired’- they don't hear anything else you say
• You may tell them they're about to get a $2 million dollar severance package- but their mind is still focused on the shock of being fired
• When you think about it in those terms- it’s amazing that Mary was able to absorb the news about Jesus
• And it was incredible news
• Mary was about to live the dream of every Jewish woman at the time
• She was being told she would give birth to the Messiah
• The Promised One of God
• Now there’s nothing in Old Testament prophecy that speaks of any special honor that would come to the mother of the Messiah
• But over the centuries the priests and rabbis had taught that the mother of the Messiah would bask in her son’s glory
• That her name would be remembered- and honored- for all time and eternity
• So try to put yourself in Mary’s shoes
• She was being told she was favored by God’s grace- that she would give birth to the Messiah
• But she also knew God’s request could cost her- her life

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

• You know- this question marks Mary as a girl with a lot of faith- and guts
• She’s being asked to do something no one-
• Had ever been asked to do before
• And that no one would ever be asked to do again
• This pre-adolescent child was being asked to surrender her body completely, totally and absolutely to God
• Maybe it takes the bravado of youth to do it- but Mary:
• doesn't seem the least bit concerned with the risk to her life
• Her only question concerned the HOW of the conception
• Would it take place as a result of her marriage to Joseph?
• Or did God have something else in mind?
• We don't know if Mary had been exposed to pagan religious concepts
• But the idea of a woman becoming pregnant by a god was fairly common in the ancient world
• In these mythologies the god would appear in human form and have intercourse with the woman
• The baby would be called a ‘son of God’
• But it wouldn't be considered a virgin conception or birth
• Now in Judaism at the time there was some difference of opinion about the origin of the Messiah
• Some rabbis taught that he wouldn't have a human birth- that he would just suddenly appear without warning
• Other rabbis believed the Messiah would be born in the usual way- but have the special favor of God on him
• And then there was the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14
• What makes this prophecy difficult is that the Hebrew word used here- almah- can have two meanings:
• It can:
• Simply mean a young woman
• Or it can mean a woman who has never had sexual intercourse
• In the original prophecy of Isaiah the word ‘virgin’ probably meant a young married woman
• Here you have to understand the context of the prophecy
• The Jewish king Ahaz was terrified by the military forces aligned against him
• He was convinced the nation would be destroyed
• And that he would be killed
• Against that gloomy backdrop- Isaiah tells Ahaz
• Not to be concerned
• That in fact God is poised to bring Israel lasting peace and a military victory over its enemies
• Speaking through Isaiah- God gave Ahaz permission to ask for a sign
• Something Ahaz sanctimoniously refused to do
• Isaiah responded by saying: In that case God Himself will give you a sign:
• A young woman- who was probably one of Ahaz’s wives- would become pregnant
• And give birth to a son named Immanuel- who’s name means ‘God with us’
• Over the centuries the Jews had come to understand that the broader context of this prophecy concerned the coming of the Messiah
• By the time of Jesus’ birth most rabbis believed the word ‘virgin’ meant a sexually innocent young girl
• In any event- there can be no doubt about Mary’s condition
• The Greek word she uses in verse 34 can only mean one thing
• A young person who has never had sexual intercourse

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

• The answer Gabriel gives Mary is unambiguous
• You will not become pregnant as a result of intercourse with a god
• Your pregnancy will result from a special creative work of the Almighty God of the Universe!
• You know- I've never understood why some Christians have so much trouble with the idea of the virgin conception
• If you believe God has the power to create the Universe
• Why is it so hard to believe that He could conceive a child in the body of a young virgin girl?
• Look- the doctrine of the virgin conception is only mentioned in two places in the New Testament
• Matthew chapter 2
• And Luke chapter 1
• But it’s an underlying reality running throughout the Bible
• In the New Testament- Jesus is uniquely God’s Son
• He is fully human
• But He’s also fully God
• And we're not talking in the sense of an adoption
• Jesus the Christ is only begotten of the Father
• In other words: The relationship of the Son to the Father predates:
• The Resurrection
• Jesus’ baptism
• His birth
• Even His conception
• In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about the unique status of Christ when he compares:
• Adam- the first human- through whom came a legacy of sin and death
• And the new Adam- who is Christ- through who came reconciliation with God and eternal life in His name
• In any event there’s no doubt that Mary recognized something different was about to happen to her
• If she would have gotten pregnant through her marriage to Joseph- that would have been normal and understandable
• But she realized that God had to perform a miracle for her to become pregnant before marriage
• And she accepted it without question
• Look at what she says in verse 38

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

CONCLUSION

• Sometimes evangelicals don't know what to do with Mary
• we're so afraid of going overboard like Catholics do
• We tend to push her to the side as we think about the birth of Christ
• But here’s the thing:
• It takes two to tango
• In this case:
• In an effort to save the world- God was ready to do something that had never been done before
• But He also needed a mother- someone who would bring this special child into the world
• Let’s never forget that this young girl said ‘Yes’ to God
• It was an act of faith that transformed the world
• It was an act of faith that changed eternity
• It was an act of faith that should inspire us to this day.
• Let us pray