Brother Gary Sunday Morning 12/16/12

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 12/16/12

The father’s gift from eternity

Mic 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.

It is wonderful that God had it in His heart and mind to send a ruler, the governor: a king with the heart of a shepherd. 

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

He is born unto us.  This is marvelous.  I think of the greatness and bigness of God to send His son for even me!  It wouldn’t matter what nationality you are, how intelligent or ignorant, you are why Jesus came. 

He is wonderful: the miracle working God.  Everyone will need lots of miracles in their life from birth to death. 

Counselor, it is wonderful to have someone to go to. 

The everlasting father: the author of eternity.  He wanted you and me to be able to be there. 

The prince of peace:  In a world that doesn’t have much peace, we can have peace. 

Of the increase there shall be no end.  However spiritual that you are, there is always room for growth.  Everyone can say, “I am just a growing boy or girl.”

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  It will be God’s doing and He did it.

Isa 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

We see that the wisemen waited for the Messiah, Mary and Joseph waited, Simeon and Anna waited, and think of what God did.  Are we willing to wait for the miracle that God has for us?  I trust that your faith is encouraged this morning.

Mat 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Mat 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

There was a supernatural event that led them to Christ. 

Mat 2:3  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Mat 2:4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Mat 2:6  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

We thank God that Jesus came.  We are happy that the wisemen had the star that was leading them to the king, the governor. 

Mat 2:9  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Mat 2:10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Mat 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

We are blessed that these wisemen came to Jesus and found He whom they were seeking for.

Luk 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luk 2:2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luk 2:3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luk 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:)

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

Luk 2:6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Luk 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.

Luk 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luk 2:9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luk 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Luk 2:16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Luk 2:17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Luk 2:18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luk 2:19  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luk 2:20  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Mary and Joseph were waiting for this baby:

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

This savior is Jesus.  This savior is the one that makes us safe.  Most of us here are protected from most of the things that are in the world.  There are many evil things and spirits in the world.  Many of them will ruin young minds and lives.  The gospel causes us to be safe if we stay within the bounds of the gospel.

He is the deliverer.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Multitudes are bound and captive of that which is wrong.  This is why Jesus came. 

God chose to send this message to shepherds.  He sent the message that a savior had come.  There would have been in that day the same thought that would be in this day: the deliverance from the political powers that were oppressing them.  But this deliverance was from the spiritual powers that were oppressing them and had them in control.

He is the preserver.  Every good thing in our life comes from God.  It is only God that can preserve.  Man without God, if he leans to his own understanding, will lead himself astray every time.  This has happened many times.  There can be not enough books about this.  You can stay sweet and remain right with God.

God has ordained that He hears us in the secret closet.  We can be all by our self and have a wonderful prayer meeting with God.  We need to practice getting alone with God and getting every door shut and pray in secret. 

God ordained that where two or three are gathered together in His name He would be there.  This ordination is for the reading of the Word of God.  If you take the Word of God, where two or three are gathered together, he will be in the midst.

Agreement of prayer is to be as a symphony: many instruments playing in perfect harmony before God.  This comes up from hearts that have been made right by the preaching of and measuring to the Word of God.   Then when they bring their offering up before God it is as a beautiful symphony before Him.  It comes as a sweet smelling savor before Him.

It is wonderful that we can be preserved today.  We know the dangers are out there and we can be kept. 

This one is He that gives life.  The countenance of young people today is sad.  Jesus gives hope for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  God designed heaven for us to look forward to and also designed that we fully enjoy the journey. 

This name means that He gives escape.  When your mind is tormented with a thought, it is wonderful that you have some place to go where there is an escape.  I was talking to one that had a son that had cancer and she told me that she prayed and got it over on God and then got up and picked it up again. 

There is a place to place your burden.  Whatever your diagnoses, whatever your fear, you don’t have to live with that.  There is a place of escape and His name is Jesus.

This name gives hope.  We are so blessed that Jesus came.  The prophet Isaiah said:

Isa 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

I am encouraged because I know this beyond the shadow of a doubt: it is not what the natural eye sees or the mind thinks about.  He has something better than what you are hoping to see.  This is what the bible teaches.  God has something better to come across your path than the best thing that you have ever heard of.  The biggest problem is man being in the way. 

God has marvelous things.  If you will come out of your shell and let Him be your savior.  Quit limiting the Holy One and trying to get things to go the way that your ear, eye, or mind would think that it should be.  He delivers from evil, frees from evil and is the author of eternal salvation.

He is Christ the Lord, the anointed one from eternity, the Lord of lords.

Joseph and Mary waited eight days to name Jesus.  That was the law, it was all done right.  They waited forty days to take Him to church.  On the fortieth day:

Luk 2:21  And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luk 2:22  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

Luk 2:23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Luk 2:24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Luk 2:25  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Luk 2:26  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Simeon was waiting.  He was waiting.  I trust the eternal God of heaven has placed in your spiritual man the hope of a miracle before you die.  The name Jesus means wonderful which means miracle.  God doesn’t want you to choose your miracle.  There are better things in store for us than what we can think or comprehend.

Luk 2:27  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

I ask for your prayers that I will let the Holy Spirit of God lead me in everything.  It is important that we are at the right place at the right time. 

Luk 2:28  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luk 2:29  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

Luk 2:30  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Luk 2:31  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

Luk 2:32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Simeon took the little child.  People like to get a hold of babies.  I have seen them stand in line to get a hold of the baby.  Some are aggressive to get a hold of the baby because they think that they are special because they are the babies whatever. 

Simeon had been waiting to see the miracle.  People have a hard time waiting on God to see the miracle.  We would like to expect a miracle to happen that day. 

Lord, help our attitude to be, “God we are not telling you what miracle we are waiting for.  It is not something that I’ve drummed up, God you want to give a miracle.” 

Simeon took that child.  Joseph and Mary marveled.  Simeon blessed them.

Luk 2:33  And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

Luk 2:34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

This aging process can be wonderful if we are rightly related to God.  Here this gentleman was.  He might have had a family, but he was pretty much alone in the account that we have.  He came in expecting a miracle and had been waiting for a miracle.  This was the morning.

Be expecting a miracle.  Don’t get all tied up in what will happen to Social Security or in that shoulder that hurts or the elbow that hurts.  You don’t get tied up in that Brother Kelly, you live so that when you see a miracle you bless God.  I paraphrase the song, “Every time I see a baby smile, I bless Jesus.” 

Every time you see a parent you see someone that needs a blessing.  America has lost God as God.  When they look in the mirror then they see their God.  May God help us to not let that happen to us. 

Simeon first loved the child.  There will not be another Christ child, but God has ordained children to grow to use their talents to the glory of God. 

May God help us as the church to be blessing givers.  Help us to not be so concerned about materialism and about things that are going to pass away anyway.  Simeon blessed that child.  There is not a child born into this world that doesn’t have Jesus near them.  Simeon blessed the parents.

God help us to support not only the parents that are in this audience but other parents that we know and see.  You can give blessings and encouragement without dollars.  You can throw a party for a family without much money.  You can give gifts without spending much money.  Every once in a while you need to go through your house, “Can someone use this?”

When we raised children it was a lot easier to do than it is today.  We want to be a blessing.  I want to get old blessing from the inside.  There are some that have never matured past giving and receiving a complement.  We ought to be able to give and take a complement. 

I’m not talking about flattery but about good moms and good dads, people that work hard.  Moms and dads that make the sacrifice to have their children in church. 

You have heard of Anna, she was a widow of many years.  She was married seven years (if Clark has it right.)  She was 84 years old when she came to the temple.  She didn’t have a motor scooter.  She came to the temple just as Simeon was shouting and saying all these things.

She began to rejoice.  She said, “A savior has come.  He is the one that I’ve been waiting for.  He is from eternity, and He is the messiah.”  I read that Anna took the message of the savior to the homes in Jerusalem. 

So much of this is that we are always waiting for the wrong thing.  Isaiah: Eye has not seen, ear hasn’t heard.  God has something for you that you are not thinking of.

The same God inspired Paul to write:

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Love is a verb, when you love someone it causes you to make an expression.   The love of God sent Jesus to be our savior.  We love Him back and it causes us to make an expression in obeying His word and His leading. 

Eye hasn’t seen, ear hasn’t heard, neither has it entered into the heart what God has prepared for you.

God has something better for you than what I can tell you.  God has a plan that far exceeds what your eye can see, what your ear can hear or what has ever entered into the heart. 

I had a bad experience this week, I ran into terrible evil way too close to home.  Evil is especially attacking our children and our young people.  No one can force you to serve God. 

The better way is that if you will love God then He has something better than what your eye can grasp, what someone can tell you in your ear, or even what your heart can understand. 

My burden is that everyone in this congregation would choose to live so that we are a blessing to the parents and an encouragement.  You have plenty of pressures from the world.  May God help the brothers to be Simeons and the sisters to be Annas and do whatever we can to encourage others.

May God help us, Church.  As I age what will I fill my life with, when I get too old to preach, what will I fill my life with?  Should I take up fly tying?  Will we be Simeons and Annas, or will we be that old fellow or woman that is just waiting for someone to come around and feel sorry for us? 

I’ve been single, I’ve been married, I’ve been a father, I’ve been sick, I’ve been well, I’ve been loved and I’ve been hated.  One of the greatest challenges I’ve had in my life is to not get out of balance. 

You are forced here and there.  Pressure is put on you from society from here and there, but one of the greatest challenges is to get into that secret closet, “I’m feeling pressure here and there but God I love you.”

It hasn’t entered into the heart of man what God has prepared. 

To the saved, God help us to know how to fellowship and extend our heart with warmth.  You may feel inferior to someone but that doesn’t keep you from being a blessing.  You can go out of your way and reach out to others.  Not reaching out for what they can give you but because you love them.

The wisemen were on time.  To Joseph and Mary the baby came at the right time.  At the right time they named Him Jesus.  Forty days they want to the temple to worship and here was Simeon and Anna at the right time. 

From eternity Jesus comes to give us life and life more abundant. 

Spiritually things can be a lot better.  Our house may be on fire, someone may have found the keys and taken our vehicle, but through it all, spiritually things can be alright.