C BOSTIAN THE PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH: 12/20/98

DISCIPLINED FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS:

Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree

that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (NIV)

Luke 2:2 (This was the first census that took place

while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) (NIV)

Luke 2:3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of

Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the

town of David, because he belonged to the

house and line of David. (NIV)

Luke 2:5 He went there to register with Mary, who was

pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV)

Luke 2:6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (NIV)

Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a

manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (NIV)

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the

fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (NIV)

Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the

glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (NIV)

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be

afraid. I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people. (NIV)

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been

born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (NIV)

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRISTMAS IS NOT THAT ITS A TIME OF GIVING AND RECEIVING FROM ONE ANOTHER BUT THAT GOD HAS OFFERED TO ALL MANKIND THE ULTIMATE GIFT WHEN HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE IT. THE ANGELS BROUGHT THE MESSAGE TO THE SHEPHERDS THAT NIGHT, "FEAR NOT, FOR BEHOLD I BRING YOU GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE A TO ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOU AND ME. GOD HAS PREPARED A MESSAGE OF GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE: FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD! JESUS HAS COME TO HELP US AND TO SAVE US BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HELP OURSELVES NOR CAN WE EARN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BY GOOD WORKS. IF YOU ARE DROWNING AND SOMEONE HEARS YOUR CRY FOR HELP AND RESCUES YOU, THAT IS GOOD NEWS. IF YOU ARE TRAPPED IN A FIRE AND SOMEONE COMES TO HELP YOU, THAT’S GOOD NEWS, TOO. IF YOU'RE ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY, ITS GOOD NEWS IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU SOME MONEY. BUT WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT THESE ANGELS ANNOUNCED TO SHEPHERD WHO WERE MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS THAT 1ST CHRISTMAS NIGHT? THE ANSWER IS FOUND IN MATT.1:21 AND MARY SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS: FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. JESUS HAS COME TO SAVE US FROM THE DIVINE PENALTY FOR OUR PERSONAL SIN WHICH IS ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD. NOW THAT'S GOOD NEWS, AND THAT'S THE ULTIMATE, BOTTOM LINE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS. UNTO YOU IS BORN IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD. THIS MORNING I WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE CHRISTMAS STORY AND REVEAL A TRUTH ABOUT A PRINCIPLE THAT CONDITIONED THE BIRTH, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD. MY MESSAGE IS ENTITLED: THE PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH: SMALL BEGINNINGS

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a

baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (NIV)

Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host

appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, (NIV)

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace to men on whom his favor rests." (NIV)

Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into

heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing

that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (NIV)

Luke 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and

Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (NIV)

Luke 2:17 When they had seen him, they spread the word

concerning what had been told them about this child, (NIV)

Luke 2:18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the

shepherds said to them. (NIV)

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and

pondered them in her heart. (NIV)

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and

praising God for all the things they had

heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (NIV)

Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to

circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name

the angel had given him before he had been conceived. (NIV)

Luke 2:22 When the time of their purification according

to the Law of Moses had been completed,

Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to

present him to the Lord (NIV)

Luke 2:23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,

"Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), (NIV)

Luke 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what

is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of

doves or two young pigeons." (NIV)

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called

Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was

waiting for the consolation of Israel, and

the Holy Spirit was upon him. (NIV)

Luke 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy

Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (NIV)

Luke 2:27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple

courts. When the parents brought in the child

Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, (NIV)

Luke 2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: (NIV)

Luke 2:29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you

now dismiss your servant in peace. (NIV)

Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, (NIV)

Luke 2:31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, (NIV)

Luke 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and

for glory to your people Israel." (NIV)

Luke 2:33 The child's father and mother marveled at

what was said about him. (NIV)

Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary,

his mother: "This child is destined to cause

Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own

soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (KJV)

Luke 2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the

daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was very old; she had lived with her

husband seven years after her marriage,

Luke 2:37 and then was a widow until she was

eighty-four. She never left the temple but

worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Luke 2:38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she

gave thanks to God and spoke about the child

to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (NIV)

Luke 2:39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything

required by the Law of the Lord, they

returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. (NIV)

Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was

filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. (NIV)

WE ARE HERE THIS MORNING TO REMEMBER AND TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS WONDERFUL PLAN FOR OUR SALVATION. INTERWOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF CHRIST'S SUPERNATURAL VIRGIN BIRTH AND THE HISTORICAL SETTING OF HIS LIFE AND DEATH WE DISCOVER THE LEADING PRINCIPLE THAT CONDITIONED HIS BIRTH AND LIFE AS SAVIOR OF THE WORLD AND SETS FORTH A PATTERN FOR ALL WHO RECEIVE HIM AS THE GIFT OF ALL GIFTS. THE PRINCIPLE THAT CONDITIONED THE BIRTH OF GOD'S SON IS THAT ALL GREAT THINGS IN GOD BEGIN SMALL AND REMAIN INSIGNIFICANT TO MAN. WE WOULD NATURALLY THINK THAT THE BIRTH OF GOD'S SON, THE GOD THAT CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND OWNS A THOUSAND CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS WOULD BE ABLE TO BIRTH HIS SON WITH ALL THE POMP AND GLORY FITTED FOR THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORD'S--BUT THEN GOD'S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS AND HIS THOUGHTS HIGHER THAN OUR THOUGHTS.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (KJV)

Here is the Messiah, the Savior King come to earth. That is the gift that God has given to mankind. Now look at the package and look at how its wrapped. He is born into a peasant family not a King's household. Shepherds welcome him, not nobles. His nursery is not a palace, not a temple, not even a clean well ordered home, but would you believe it, a stable? Is there truth in the way the first Christmas gift was wrapped? We, today, wrap up our Christmas package far differently. We make it a thing of beauty that tugs at our hearts. What effect do we try to achieve with our Christmas decoration? We want to create something of beauty that will impress the person receiving the gift. Listen, God’s not an American and He is never concerned with impressing anybody, any time, any where. He’s gonna do what He has to do In His own way to secure salvation for mankind and aren’t you glad He did?

NOW THE WORLD AT THE TIME OF CHRIST WAS FOCUSSED ON THE EMPIRE AND POLITICS OF CAESAR AUGUSTUS. THE ROMAN EM-PIRE STRETCHED ITS BORDERS TO MAXIMUM PROPORTIONS. ITS WESTERN BOUNDARY WAS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, ITS EASTERN BOUNDARY WAS THE EUPHRATES, IT REACHED NORTH TO THE DANUBE AND SOUTH TO THE SAHARA DESERT. PRACTICALLY NO ONE WAS LOOKING WHEN GOD SENT HIS SON TO BE BORN IN A COMMON STABLE IN A NO-COUNT TOWN IN BETHLEHEM EXCEPT A FEW COMMON PEOPLE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE MEDITERR- ANEAN IN THE LAND OF PALESTINE. IF GOD WERE TRYING TO IMPRESS ANYONE OR GET THEIR ATTENTION, HE SURELY DID A POOR JOB OF IT. YOU SEE, IT'S ONE OF THE CLASSIC CASES OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN: USING THINGS THAT SEEM TERRIBLY INSIGN-IFICANT TO PUT TO SHAME THE THINGS THAT SEEM HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT. GOD'S ULTIMATE CHOICE THAT CONDITIONS THE NATURE OF HIS WORK AND PURPOSE CAN BE FOUND IN:

1 Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that

not many wise men after the flesh, not many

mighty, not many noble, are called: (KJV)

1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of

the world to confound the wise; and God hath

chosen the weak things of the world to

confound the things which are mighty; (KJV)

1 Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things

which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,

and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (KJV)

1 Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Isaiah 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the

hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul;

then shall thy light rise in obscurity,

and thy darkness be as the noonday: (KJV)

EVERY PERSON NEEDS TO KNOW AND DISCOVER THE GREAT THINGS THAT GOD HAS DESIGNED AND MADE THEM FOR. YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL PURPOSE AND YOU WERE CREATED FOR GREAT THINGS. MOST CHRISTIANS DON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THIS GREAT PURPOSE AND DESTINY THAT GOD AS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN GOING UP THAN IN GROWING UP INTO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN CHRIST. THE MAJOR EMPHASIS THAT I WANT TO MAKE THIS MORNING AS WE LOOK AT THE PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH IS THAT YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST EMERGES FROM SMALL THINGS. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT START OUT AT THE TOP: WELL DIGGING AND GRAVE DIGGING. EVERYTHING ELSE STARTS AT THE BOTTOM AND WORKS ITS WAY UP. EVERYTHING ELSE STARTS SMALL AND RISES OUT OF OBSCURITY AND THEN AFTER YEARS OF HARD WORK AND AND FAITHFULNESS IN LITTLE THINGS IT EMERGES INTO A GREAT DESTINY. YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK A LOT ABOUT DESTINY THE PAST FEW YEARS AND YOU MAY JUST BE A LITTLE ANXIOUS. YOUR DESTINY WON'T EVER COME EASILY OR QUICKLY BUT IT EMERGES OVER A LIFE TIME OF DISCIPLINE AND EXCELLENCE. MOST BELIEVERS WILL MISS A GREAT DESTINY BECAUSE THEY PUT LITTLE VALUE ON SMALL THINGS THAT GOD HAS PUT INTO YOUR LIFE. THE GREAT THINGS OF DESTINY SPRING OUT OF SMALL THINGS THAT YOU DO IN AN EXCELLENT WAY EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE.

1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye

steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in

the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (KJV)

UNTIL WE REALIZE THIS PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH: THAT ALL THINGS GREAT IN GOD BEGIN IN THE SMALL INSIGNIFICANT THINGS OF DAILY LIFE WE WILL MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOD'S WORK AND FULFILL OUR DESTINY IN CHRIST. WHEN WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE DAILY INSIGNIFICANT THINGS OF EVERYDAY LIFE WE SET A COURSE FOR PLEASING GOD AND FULFILLING OUR DESTINY IN CHRIST. YOU SEE, ITS THE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT THINGS OF DAILY LIFE THAT GOD TAKES NOTICE OF AND WILL REWARD OUR LIFE PROPORTIONATELY. IF WE ARE NOT FAITHFUL IN FULFILLING THE SMALL DETAILS OF OUR LIFE GOD CANNOT ENTRUST US THE GREAT THINGS HE HAS FOR US. THIS PRINCIPLE WAS SET FORTH IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, EVERYTHING THAT GOD DOES IS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE TO THE NATURAL MAN SO WE HAVE TO LEARN HIS WAYS AND WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LIKE HIS WAYS AND THAT IS A PROCESS ALL BY ITSELF. HE WILL SLOWLY STRIPS AWAY THE PURSUITS OF THE FLESH FOR THE GRANDIOSE, THE GREAT, THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE POWERFUL UNTIL WE DELIGHT IN DOING THINGS HIS WAY. SO THE PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH MUST BE AT WORK IN OUR LIVES IF WE ARE GOING TO FULFILL GOD’S DESTINY FOR OUR LIVES. EVERYTHING BIG, EVERYTHING GREAT AND EVERYTHING IMPORTANT TO GOD BEGINS BY THE DISCIPLINE OF FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS.

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least

is faithful also in much: and he that is

unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in

the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to

your trust the true riches? (KJV)

Luke 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that

which is another man's, who shall give you

that which is your own? (KJV)

1 Pet 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so

minister the same one to another, as good

stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a

man be found faithful. (KJV)

ON THE NIGHT THAT JESUS WAS BORN, MOST OF THE WORLD WAS DISTRACTED BY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS. CAESAR WAS GETTING READY TO LEVY A TAX ON THE EMPIRE. LESSER RULERS STRUGGLED TO STAY IN POWER. POWER BROKERS WERE STRUGGLING EVERY WHERE TO MOVE UP AND STAY IN POWER. HAD THEY KNOWN OF CHRIST'S BIRTH THEY WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED IT INSIGNIFICANT IF NOT FOOLISH. YOU SEE, THERE ARE EVEN THOSE TODAY IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND INFLUENCE THAT CONSIDER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL UTTER FOOLISHNESS AND INSIGNIFICANT. THOSE WHO LOOK DOWN UPON OTHERS FROM THEIR PLACES OF SELF-DECLARED IMPORTANCE USUALLY OVERLOOK THE CHRIST. DON'T LET THAT UPSET YOU BECAUSE IT IS BY THE DESIGN AND PURPOSE OF GOD. IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS YOU'LL BE BLESSED, MISS IT DUE TO ARROGANCE AND YOU WILL BE FRUSTRATED YOUR WHOLE CHRISTIAN LIFE BECAUSE GOD'S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS AND HIS THOUGHTS HIGHER THAN OUR THOUGHTS.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK AT THE NOBILITY OF SMALL THINGS AS GOD SEES IT AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AS NATURAL MAN SEES IT. REMEMBER THAT THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MAN.

Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. (KJV)

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of

the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the

city of David, which is called Bethlehem;

(because he was of the house and lineage of David:) (KJV)

Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there,

the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (KJV)

1. FIRST LET'S CONSIDER THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE BIRTH CITY. THE HEBREW WORD FOR BETHLEHEM MEANS THE HOUSE OF BREAD. IN THE TIME OF CHRIST, BETHLEHEM WAS A INSIGNIFICANT AS A TINY LOAF OF BREAD. THE PROPHET, MICAH, PREDICTED THE BIRTHPLACE 8 CENTURIES BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN:

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be

little among the thousands of Judah, yet out

of thee shall he come forth unto me that is

to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth

have been from of old, from everlasting.

DIDN’T GOD CHOOSE JERUSALEM TO BE THE MEGA OF SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY. DON’T WE FIND THE TEMPLE OF GOD THERE AND THE PALACE OF THE KING. WHY WASN’T JERUSALEM A CONSIDERATION FOR THE BIRTH PLACE OF CHRIST. WHY THIS LITTLE HOLE-IN –THE WALL TOWN OF BETHLEHEM? I MEAN, EVEN THE CHRISTMAS CAROLERS SING, "OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM" DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR BECAUSE BETHLEHEM WAS FLY-BY-NIGHT TOWN THAT IF YOU BLINKED WHEN YOU DROVE BY YOU'D MISS IT. IT WOULD BE LIKE BATH S.D. WHICH IS JUST 5 MILES EAST OF ABERDEEN. WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE JERUSALEM WHICH WAS 5 MILES NORTH OF BETHLEHEM. SURELY THAT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE FOR JESUS TO BE BORN. IT WAS A BIG CITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS WERE MUCH BETTER. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN JERUSALEM ACCOMMODATED A MILLION PEOPLE. PERHAPS BETTER THAN JERUSALEM WOULD HAVE BEEN ROME ITSELF AS THE CENTER OF POWER AND INFLUENCE. BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY GOD DID IT AND IT SELDOM IS. GOD PICKED THE TINY, INSIGNIFICANT, UNIMPORTANT TOWN OF BETHLEHEM. THE CHOICE OF THE BIRTH CITY OF JESUS WAS CERTAINLY A CASE OF THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD BEING USED TO SHAME THE THINGS WHICH ARE STRONG.

Luke 1:26-38

26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35The 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. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God." 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. NIV

2. THE NEXT THING I SEE IS THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE BIRTH PARENTS, MARY AND JOSEPH. WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN BETTER TO HAVE THE SON OF GOD BORN IN THE HOME OF THE EMPEROR OF ROME OR SOME OTHER DIGNITARY? PERHAPS, BUT THAT'S NOT GOD'S WAYS AND IT NEVER IS. MARY AND JOSEPH WERE 2 LITTLE INSIGNIFICANT COUNTRY BUMPKINS FROM THE INSIGNIFICANT TOWN OF GALILEE. HAD BOTH OF THEM BEEN KILLED BY ROBBERS THAT NIGHT, THE WORLD WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN OR CARED. ONCE AGAIN, I'M REMINDED OF PAUL'S WORDS..."THINGS THAT ARE NOT TO BRING TO NOUGHT THE THINGS THAT ARE. YOU SEE, ITS GOD'S METHOD AND CHOICE TO WORK THROUGH SMALL, INSIG-NIFICANT PEOPLE, JUST LIKE YOU AND ME. WE ALWAYS THINK THAT IF GOD COULD JUST SAVE A PROMINENT CELEBRITY IN SHOW BUSINESS OR IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS OR IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THAT IT WOULD SAVE ALLOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THEN GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS AND HIS THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS. PEOPLE NEVER GET SAVED CAUSE THEY’RE IMPRESSED BY YOU BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE A FAITHFUL FRIEND TO THEM.

3. THE THIRD THING I SEE IS THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE BIRTH PLACE. THE ACCOMMODATIONS IN BETHLEHEM WERE PROBABLY NOT THE BEST EVEN ON A NORMAL DAY. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SUDDEN HOMECOMING YOU CAN IMAGINE THE PROBLEM THIS LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM HAD IN PROVIDING HOUSING FOR ALL ITS GUESTS. IN A SHORT TIME THE PLACE WAS PACKED TO OVERFLOWING AND MARY AND JOSEPH ARRIVED TO LATE TO GET A CIVILIZED PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT, AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE INN THEY DIGRESSED DOWN TO THE STABLE.

Luke 2:7 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. (KJV)

IN BIBLICAL TIMES A STABLE WAS A VERY OFFENSIVE PLACE. THE FLOORS WERE COMPOSED OF DECADES OF IMPACTED DUNG AND OTHER FILTH. THE STENCH WAS SO GREAT THAT THEY WERE PLACED FAR FROM ANY OTHER BUILDINGS. BY TODAY’S STANDARDS, ANIMAL ACTIVISTS WOULD SHUT DOWN THESE STABLES BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT MEET THEIR CRITERIA. TO THINK THAT THE LORD OF GLORY WOULD CHOOSE SUCH A PLACE TO MAKE HIS ENTRY INTO THIS WORLD IS ONE OF THE MORE PROFOUND REVELATIONS HE IS COMMUNICATING TO MAN. WE WOULD DO WELL NOT TO MISS THIS POINT BECAUSE HE HAS NOT STOPPED USING SUCH PLACES TO MAKE HIS APPEARANCES AND TO BEGIN HIS WORK.

Zech 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small

things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see

the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with

those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD,

which run to and for through the whole earth.

HUMAN REASONING WOULD NEVER LEAD ONE TO A STABLE TO FIND GOD AND THAT IS WHY THE ANGELS APPEARED TO THE SHEPHERDS THAT NIGHT. NOW EVEN THAT IS FOOLISHNESS. WHY DIDN'T THE ANGELS APPEAR TO THE MAYOR OF BETHLEHEM, OR THE EMPEROR OF ROME, AT LEAST THE INN KEEPER WHO WOULD HAVE UPGRADED THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS, NO IT WAS TO THE LOWEST WORKING CLASS IN ALL OF PALESTINE, TO SHEPHERDS THAT GOD REVEALED THE BIRTH OF HIS SON. NOW PERHAPS THESE SHEPHERDS WERE SIGNIFICANT TO GOD BECAUSE THEY NO DOUBT WERE WATCHING OVER A SPECIAL FLOCK OF CONSE-CRATED, BLEMISH-FREE ANIMALS KEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SACRIFICE IN THE NEARBY TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. THESE WERE SLAUGHTER SHEEP. EVERYONE OF THEM IN THE FLOCK WERE DESTINED TO DIE IN ATONEMENT FOR THE SINS OF MEN AND WOMEN THEY REPRESENTED. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF JESUS' BIRTH, THERE COULD BE NO MORE APPROPRIATE GROUP TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. YOU SEE, A LAMB WAS BORN THAT NIGHT, A TINY LAMB WHO LAY IN A MANGER, DESTINED FOR GOLGATHA'S ALTAR. JOHN WOULD LATER SAY OF HIM,

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto

him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which

taketh away the sin of the world. (KJV)

John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; (KJV)

John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he

saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (KJV)

YOU SEE, IN THE ACCOUNT OF HIS BIRTH THERE IS AN ALLUSION TO HIS DEATH. THIS TOO IS IN KEEPING WITH THAT PART OF THE NATURE OF GOD THAT USES, "BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD AND DESPISED THINGS" TO NULLIFY THE PRIDE AND ARROGANCE OF MAN. THOSE WHO ARE IMMERSED IN POWER AND PRESTIGE AND THEIR OWN SELF-INTEREST WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH TALK OF DEATH AND THAT'S BECAUSE DEATH IS THE ULTIMATE THEIF THAT STEALS AWAY WHAT THEY LIVE FOR. ISN'T IT INTERESTING THE DEATH TO SELF IS THE DOORWAY TO ETERNAL LIFE. EVERY PURPOSE, PLAN AND METHOD OF GOD IS CONTRARY TO THE NATURAL INCLINATIONS OF MAN AND THAT'S WHY PAUL WRITES IN:

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and

the Spirit against the flesh: and these are

contrary the one to the other: so that ye

cannot do the things that ye would. (KJV)

EVERY MAN WOMAN AND CHILD IS BORN WITH A NATURE THAT IS SELF-SEEKING, SELF-INDULGENT AND SELF SIGNIFICANT. IT IS THE PRIDE OF MAN THAT GOD RESISTS BUT HE WILL ALWAYS GIVE GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. SO WHEN HIS KINGDOM COMES INTO FORCE EVERY MOUNTAIN WILL BE MADE LOW AND EVERY VALLEY WILL BE EXALTED. IF YOU HAVE EVER FELT LIKE A VALLEY, AN INSIGNIFICANT NOBODY, BE ENCOURAGED THIS MORNING BECAUSE THE RIVERS OF GOD ALWAYS FLOW THROUGH THE VALLEYS FIRST BEFORE THEY EVER REACH THE MOUNTAINS. YOU WILL REMEMBER WHEN CHRIST WAS ABOUT TO COMMENCE HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY THAT GOD PLACED JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE JORDAN VALLEY. THIS VALLEY IS ACTUALLY THE LOWEST GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE ON EARTH. ITS SIGNIFICANT THAT JESUS BEGAN HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY IN THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH BECAUSE GOD IS WILLING TO REACH DOWN TO THE LOWEST PLACE TO SAVE SINNERS LIKE YOU AND ME. IF WE WILL RESPOND TO HIM WITH HUMILITY AND LOWLINESS OF MIND GOD WILL EMPOWER US TO DO GREAT THINGS IN AND FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. BUT IF AT ANY TIME WE REBEL AGAINST THIS PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST BIRTH WE WILL CUT OURSELVES OFF FROM THE BLESSINGS AND PROVISION OF GOD THAT IS NECESSARY TO FINISH THE WORK HE HAS CALLED FOR US TO DO AND TO FULFILL OUR DESTINY IN CHRIST. WE MUST BE WILLING TO BEGIN SMALL AND REMAIN INSIGNIFICANT TO OURSELVES AND TO OTHERS. NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT'S HARD? WE WANT PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE DO AND TO PROMOTE US TO PLACES OF IMPORTANCE. BUT HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOD'S WAY BECAUSE PROMOTION COMES FROM THE LORD. GOD WILL REWARD YOU DAILY DISCI-

PLINE OF FAITHFULNESS IN STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE SMALL DETAILS OF YOUR EVERY DAY LIFE WITH HIS PROMOTION TO GREATNESS AND SUCCESS. THE KEY IS TO EMBRACE THIS PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH YOU LIVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE: THAT EVERYTHING BIG IN GOD BEGINS SMALL AND REMAINS INSIGNIFICANT TO OUR OWN HEARTS AND MINDS. DO YOU WANT TO BE GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? THEN WE MUST FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLE SET FORTH IN CHRIST'S BIRTH AND LIFE. WE MUST BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE WORDS OF JESUS IN

Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye

know that the princes of the Gentiles

exercise dominion over them, and they that

are great exercise authority upon them.

Matt 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but

whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; (KJV)

Matt 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let

him be your servant: (KJV)

Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be

ministered unto, but to minister, and to

give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)

HERE WE SEE JESUS WASHING THE DISCIPLES FEET ON THE LAST NIGHT HE SPENT WITH THEM BEFORE HIS BETRAYAL AND CRUCIFIXION. HE IS INSTRUCTING THEM CONCERNING THE INCLINATION THAT THE NATURAL MAN HAS TO ASPIRE TO GREAT THINGS AND POSITIONS OF POWER AND INFLUENCE. HE GIVES THEM AN EXAMPLE OF GREATNESS ACCORDING TO THE STANDARDS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY SERVING THE DISCIPLES AND WASHING THEIR FEET. HIS EXAMPLE TRANSCENDS THIS LITTLE DISPLAY BECAUSE HE DID ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASED THE FATHER. FROM THE TIME OF HIS BIRTH TO HIS CRUEL DEATH AT CALVARY, JESUS LIVED A LIFE OF PERFECT OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER NY FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS AND IN GREAT THINGS. HE LEFT US AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS. SO LET'S DETERMINE IN OUR HEARTS THIS MORNING THAT WE WILL BE MORE CAREFUL TO THE DISCIPLINE OF FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS UNTIL OUR DESTINY IN CHRIST UNFOLDS BEFORE US IN THE GREATNESS AND SPLENDOR THAT WILL GIVE GLORY TO GOD. IT ALL BEGINS BY RECEIVING THE GIFT OR ALL GIFTS, JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. AS WE GIVE GIFTS TO ONE ANOTHER LATER THIS WEEK LET’S OFFER OUR LIVES TO GOD AS A GIFT THAT IS CONSECRATED TO HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE AND DESTINY, SUBMITTING OURSELVES TO THE DISCIPLINE OF FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS. LET’S EMBRACE THIS NEW PARADIGM THAT EVERYTHING BIG IN GOD BEGINS SMALL, AND EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A SMALL CHURCH, GOD HAS GREAT THINGS IN STORE FOR US IF WE CAN EMBRACE THE PRINCIPLE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH WHICH IS THE DISCIPLINE OF FAITHFULNESS IN SMALL THINGS.