Sermon- The Second Christmas Miracle Dec, 23, 2007 – China

Holes in the Dark

At Christmas we celebrate a miracle. That miracle is that Christ came to make a way for our sins to be forgiven. But there is a second miracle in what God did through Jesus that I want to talk about today and I am going to use this piece of paper to illustrate the point. If I hold this paper up to the camera you can see that it does not let light through. Everything goes black. Our world is a black place and so this paper represents the darkness in our world. Now listen to this scripture:

 

John 12:46

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

 

The coming of Jesus makes openings in our darkness so we can see God's light. There are many points in history that reveal the supernatural light of Jesus and they began even before His birth in Bethlehem. Let's begin with the first mention of the Savior in the Bible.

 

Gen 3:15

And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.

 

This is the first prophecy of Jesus because God said it would be an offspring of Adam and Eve who would eventually crush the head of Satan. Of course it was Jesus who did that when He rose from the dead as the first to overcome the death Satan tries to impose on us. I am going to make a hole in our paper to represent this first prophecy. This marks the obvious supernatural opening of light into our dark world when Christ was prophesied.

There are many prophecies about the Messiah from well before His birth. Each of them opens another beam of light from God's realm. We do not have time to go into many of them but another example is found in Isaiah written 800 years before Christ:

Isa 42:1-7

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.

 

5 This is what God the Lord says — he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."

 

This is another clear prophecy about Jesus that came true so I will make another hole to represent this opening in our darkness.

Now let's jump forward to the time just before the birth of Jesus. As you know several angels came to announce the miraculous birth. First Gabriel appeared to Zachariah while he was in the temple and told him his son John the Baptist would prepare the way for the Savior. Here is a hole to represent that supernatural event.

Next Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would have a virgin birth. Another hole in our darkness. Then Gabriel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to name the baby Jesus who would grow up to save the world from sin. Another hole of supernatural light.

Next we have the shepherds who saw the angels. Let us read that:

 

Luke 2:8-20

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

 

There are many divine miracles in the life of Jesus that bring light into our darkness but let's look at only two more.

Matt 17:1-5

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

 

4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

 

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

 

Obviously a lot of light was beamed into our world that day. Finally let's go to:

1 Cor 15:3-8

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

 

This is the biggest hole of all in our darkness; Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to more than 500 people. It was an obvious beam of God's supernatural light into our natural world. (Make a big hole.)

The Other Miracle

I believe God still breaks into our darkness with supernatural moments through the gifts of the Spirit and other clear miracles (more holes) however what I want to talk about is all the dark places between the prophesies, glowing angels, and supernatural breakthroughs. This is where we find the second Christmas miracle.

Other than the miracles we mentioned, God went out of His way to make sure the Messiah came in the most common and difficult manner. In fact as we look at the facts surrounding the birth of Christ it becomes obvious God is sending a message to us through the way Jesus came.

Jesus was born into a politically dangerous time. The Romans ruled, Herod was a madman, the Jews were hated, Bethlehem was a forgotten village used by herdsmen, Joseph was poor, Mary was a teenager, they were in the middle of a trip away from home, the people did not care if she delivered her baby surrounded by animal dung in a barn, it was Fall so the weather was cold, and the only ones to know of this grand event were the outcast shepherds who were not allowed in the main temple. If all this commonness does not get our attention there is one more clue God left for us.

From a Corrupt Line

This clue is found in the genealogical record listed in Matthew. Let's turn there. We don't have time to read all this but I want you to see something strange about this genealogy. Most Jewish genealogies record only the male linage. This genealogy uses all males accept for in three verses: 3, 5, and 6. In those verses it gives the mothers also. What is special about those three mothers? Let's look at each of them:

MT 1:1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

 

MT 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

 

MT 1:3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, (Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law and posed as a prostitute. Judah slept with her and so Perez was a child born of incest. Gen 38)

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

 

MT 1:4 Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

 

MT 1:5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, (The same Rahab that was the harlot that saved the Hebrew spies in Jericho.)

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

 

MT 1:6 and Jesse the father of King David.

 

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife, (Solomon's mother was Bathsheba whom David committed adultery with and had her husband murdered.)

 

MT 1:7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

 

MT 1:8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

 

MT 1:9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

 

MT 1:10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

 

MT 1:11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

 

MT 1:12 After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

 

MT 1:13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

 

MT 1:14 Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Eliud,

 

MT 1:15 Eliud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

 

MT 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

 

This passage highlights three instances of embarrassing circumstances: Incest, harlotry, and adultery with murder. Most would hide such a family heritage. They might list all the other mothers and hide these three but God lists only these so we will understand His message that His own Son was born of a corrupt linage.

The dark space between the miracles surrounding Christ's birth is very dark. It is filled with dangerous circumstances, smelly barns, forgotten people, and a corrupt family line. What is God saying in all this?

What is God's Message?

He is demonstrating in a way we cannot miss that the miracle baby Jesus, the Savior of the world is for everybody. No matter how small we are, how bad our circumstances are, or how corrupt we or our family has been—Jesus came for us. Listen to how the Bible puts it:

JAS 2:5 …Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

 

1 Cor 1:[27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are…

 

2 Cor 9:9

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever."

 

The Gift For Everybody

Friends it is my privilege to proclaim two Christmas miracles to celebrate today. First, Jesus has come to be one of us then to die for our sins then be resurrected. The second miracle is that gift is for everybody. Nobody is excluded based on how small they are or what they have done in the past. The thief on the cross next to Jesus was a terrible sinner who was crucified for his sins against society and all he said was he believed in Jesus and wanted Jesus to remember him when He got to heaven. And Jesus said to him:

 

Luke 23:43

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

 

Salvation is for everybody who asks for it.

The Gift for Every Part of Life

This second Christmas miracle teaches us something else. It teaches us that just as God was in control of all the dark parts of Christ's life, He is also in control of every part of our life. God is not only the God of supernatural miracles, He is also God of the dark areas of life. He is sovereign over our debts, our broken relationships, our illness, our suffering, and all our confusion. As we move close to Him He joins us in our darkness and brings light to every area of our life. (Hold paper close to light to show how the light shines through the paper where there are no holes.)

There is no part of your life that God does not want to bring His light, truth, and beauty to. This is indeed a remarkable Christmas miracle. We have so much to celebrate this Christmas because of what the Lord has done.

Prayer

Heart Nest

Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. Isa 26:20

 

I watched a bright yellow Weaver bird gather strands from a palm and construct his nest. While common in Africa, the Weaver is something of a marvel. A missionary boy in Nigeria brought me a nest to examine and I was amazed to find a repeating pattern in the bird's knitting. The nest was a hollow globe with a small entry at the bottom that kept out rain and predators. In Southern Africa I watched a Weaver add a hanging tunnel to the side opening of his nest. The only way in was to wiggle through the 30 cm long tube. A hundred of these nests dangled like Christmas tree balls keeping the eggs snug from the storms and mayhem of the outside world.

 

God tells His people to hide in their rooms from His wrath against the world. This is not an injunction to recluse away from the lost; it is warning to keep our hearts protected for our True Love. The activities of this life threaten to consume me—both its lures and its pain. Sexy ads, trendy cars, exotic vacations, agonizing diseases, bizarre changes, innovative technology, bloody massacres, radical music, births and death: so much to grapple with and integrate. Jesus says, "Let Me be your nest, your place of safety away from the noise of the world around you. Withdraw your heart into intimate friendship with Me while I deal with everything on the outside."

 

I am invited into a quiet yet passionate interior life with Jesus. My faith must weave a strong sanctuary against anything this life can dish out good or bad. Each new event is occasion to curl up next to Jesus and rest in His strength and peace; to grow in the fullness of my love. So much of what is said or goes on around me is never meant to come into the nest. I must trust Jesus to whisper those few things I need in order to serve Him. All the rest is marked to be destroyed by the wrath of God, so leave it outside.

 

Prayer: Jesus, hide my heart away from the temptations and pain of the world.

Choice of Perspective

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Rom 8:19

 

18 years ago Dani was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Her bravery in the face of growing disability has inspired many of us to greater faith in how God can strengthen the inner person. Last week she underwent another MRI and the doctor called to discuss the results. There was now no sign of the disease as recorded on previous tests. The copy of the report mailed to us confirmed what the doctor said. We were torn between celebration and confusion over the continuing symptoms. About three days later a second report arrived. It turned out the first result applied only to the scan of her neck and the second applied to the brain where the disease showed itself plainly. There is a lesson in this experience.

 

It is foolish to let our joy yoyo with physical circumstances. I tend to fixate on the current events in my life and miss the much larger picture. God is forever trying to enlarge my perspective to not be so shallow, frail, and stuck on the temporal. "You are consumed by the struggle," He challenges, "and forget the struggle is only the springboard to eternal glory."

 

An accusation many of us have hurled at Heaven is, 'How can a God of love allow suffering?' The plain answer is He agrees with us and has stepped in with a plan to end death, illness, evil, injustice, disunity, heartache, Multiple Sclerosis, and every other tragedy mankind brought on himself. The question is not where is God when there is suffering but where is man when there is a remedy? Am I so busy with my self important finger pointing that I will be left out of the solution? Our Heavenly Father has never been able to stomach the corruption of His creation. However in His perspective enduring a crushed body for a few years is more than worth the eternal joy, celebration, and praise that will be ours if we bear up with His strength. There is a stadium-wide bowl filled to the brim with golden reward. Sure there is a gnat flailing in our treasure but already the Mighty Hand is moving to remove it. Shall I choose to obsess with my tiny present sufferings to the exclusion of the overflowing bowl? I think not.

 

Prayer: Holy Father, let me see life with Your eyes.

Love Deeply

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Pet 1:22

 

It was a simple scene: A dilapidated mobile home, a dying tree, and a swing hanging from a branch. The Holy Spirit used these three elements to expose a rotting cavity in my soul. The disproportionate tree looked like a fat hunched-over man. Lightening must have shattered the top half years before. My first thought was that any decent arborist would have removed the oak long ago. My assessment of the ugly tree was arrested by the swing. Some child obviously treasured the stumpy old growth. The rundown dwelling in the background hinted the tree and swing may have been the child's only solace. He or she would grow up with fond memories of the dear bent trunk; the same one I would have summarily destroyed.

 

The black place in my heart God revealed through the tree was my preoccupation with perfection. If a tree is not symmetrical I want it cut down. If a human is not beautiful and rational I want them to change. When someone fails to progress at the rate I deem appropriate I disregard them. I only love God's creation when it measures up to my standards and in my foolishness I usually set the mark higher than I myself can attain. No wonder I am often disgusted with myself and the humans around me. The tree had disrobed my dark thinking.

 

What I need is more plain simple love. I need to brim so full of goodwill that I cannot help swamping those around me with joy no matter how deserving or willing to receive they may be. Giving love is like the sand in an hourglass. I am the top half others are the bottom. I must learn to let the sand of love flow according to how much I have and not according to what they possess. To withhold my sand unless they have value of their own is no true definition of love. The miracle of God's love is that as I pour myself into others He refills me from above.

 

The tree, the swing, and the trailer allowed me the mercy of realizing my pathetic need. Now I can go about the business of calling on the Lord to give me more love so I can pass more on.

 

Prayer: Patient Jesus, let me love no matter what.

Sermon- Great is Your Reward Nov 25, 2007 – China

Intro

Because of our time together earlier this year and because Andrew his kept me informed of what has happened in your group I now feel a great love for each of you. The Lord has put you into my heart and I have a deep fatherly affection for you. I want to protect and encourage you in any way I can. It will sadden me beyond words if any of you falls away from Jesus and the reward He has for you.

 

Good News for the Repressed

Because I love you I am excited to share some very good news today about your situation. The economic hardship you are living in and the persecution of Christians places you in a special category for a double blessing. Listen to what Jesus said to repressed people:

 

Matt 5:3-5

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

 

And listen to this:

 

Matt 5:11-12

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…

 

I was recently slandered and abused because of my trust in Jesus. It was the first time in my life. Many people have ignored me or muttered against me but I have never been openly attacked and forced out of an area of ministry. Now that the shock has passed I read these words of Jesus and I am beginning to rejoice. I have received hostility from the powers of Hell because of my dependence on Jesus. That is really good news.

Rewards

To understand why persecution and suffering are good news we must first understand what the Bible teaches about rewards in Heaven. I am not talking about gaining entrance to God's eternal Kingdom. I am assuming we all know how to get into Heaven.

 

John 14:2-6

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

 

5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

 

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

John 10:7-9

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

 

I assume we all know Jesus is the way to Heaven. However, once we have entered Paradise through the Jesus Gate we will discover treasures that were building up while we were on earth according to what we allowed Jesus to do in us. We get this false idea that in heaven everybody is equally blessed. To be able to be with Jesus and see God's face are indeed glorious blessings that outweigh anything, however, some will receive extra bonus blessings. Let me take time in the Scripture to show you that, after salvation through Jesus alone, God rewards according to what we do.

 

Matt 16:27-28

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

 

Matt 6:19-20

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

 

Matt 19:29-30

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Rev 22:12

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

 

Luke 19:22-26

His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

 

Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'

 

'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'

 

He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

 

In all of these passages a specific reward is given according to how we allow Jesus to invest our earthly lives.

Negative Levels of Punishment

Just as there are positive levels of reward, so there are negative levels of punishment in Hell.

 

Matt 10:11-15

Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

 

Notice it says it will be MORE bearable for Sodom. In other words there are different levels of negative reward or punishment according to what was done in the body.

 

God is a just God and nobody is getting away with anything. Every evil act and every kindness is recorded in God's books.

 

Rev 20:11-15

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

Notice there are two books. One is the Book of Life; the other records every action. If your name is written in the Book of Life every evil action of yours is transferred to the cross and paid for while you enter Heaven. Over in the Book of Remembrance all your evil actions are crossed out in the red blood of Jesus. All the good you did is recorded and sent on into heaven in the form of multiplied treasure. If your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life then you are punished for eternity for every evil act recorded in the book. Remember all this the next time someone harms you and you want to take revenge. And remember it when you are given an opportunity to perform a kindness.

 

God rewards. However, Jesus also said:

 

Matt 19:30

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

The rewards have nothing to do with how high we advance in our doctrine or denomination on earth. The greater rewards are given to those who show love in the face of hatred, forgiveness when abused, and trust in God when earthly life turns upside down. The one who is innocent as a child and living free from all bitterness will receive the greatest treasure in Heaven.

Baby Grace

In closing I want to introduce you to a three-year-old girl I met in India this February. She was abandon in an orphanage, her crib pushed away from the others, she cried and struggled for her final breaths. I prayed and wept over her for a long time but I doubt she lived more than a day or two after I left. There was no one around to tell me her name. So I will introduce her as Baby Grace.

 

I am so glad for how God has arranged rewards in Heaven. For three short years of misery and neglect on earth, I want Baby Grace to be received into Paradise with a level of blessing that is a multiplied reverse proportion of her earthly pain. And hallelujah, she will. She was last on earth and Baby Grace will join those who are first for eternity.

 

What are you struggling under right now? How are you suffering? Friend, rejoice, dance, sing out because as you turn this problem over to Jesus you will be rewarded. You will not be rewarded if you escape the situation outside of God's will. You will not be rewarded if you accept the situation as hopeless fate, but as you turn it over to Jesus and call on His inner strength to endure you will be rewarded and celebrate those multiplied blessings forever and ever. God sees and He is with you keeping track so He can bless you.

 

 

 

 

Rev 3:7-13

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name….

 

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Prayer