Lesson – Saturday December 20, 2014 Love in Action Just imagine that the first lady is pregnant, where would be a good place for a president’s baby to be born? What would you think if you were told that after birth the baby was placed in a cowshed? What comes to mind when you think of a cowshed? The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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 guest room available for them. We can infer from the story in the Luke 2 that Christ birth was unusual. After birth he was laid in an unusual place, not a place where anyone would wish for. Key Points: 1. There was no room for baby Jesus. Jesus identifies with most of you today. You’ve had no room to spend for many nights; sometimes you sleep in alleys or near a dumpsite. Not a place anyone would wish for. We can say that Christ was rejected at birth by the community and you may have faced rejection. Do not give up, Christ identifies with you. 2. You are surrounded by poverty where you live and work. Maybe comparable to where Christ was laid after birth. 3. You should not allow where you are today define who you are and will become. Christ was born a King and remains to be the King of kings despite the location of His birth. You are a child of God and you can discover and fully live out God’s plan irrespective of your present circumstances. Live like a child of God! 4. Christ’s unusual birth did not hinder Him from obeying God and achieving God’s purpose. Do not allow your present stop you from obeying God and achieving God’s purpose. God has a great plan for your life. 5. Christ did not settle down in the manger for the rest of His life, He was not to be defined by the manger, He knew He was the son of God and not a child of the manger. People can easily call you names based on where you live or work but we should not allow that to determine who we are and what we become. We should not find comfort in our ‘mangers’ but work to become the person God intended. Where do you begin? Begin by surrendering your life to Jesus and committing to honor Him and letting Him direct your life. Let this Christmas mark a new beginning in your life. Today, we offer you an opportunity to receive Jesus into your life and completely surrender to Him. He knows what you are going through and He is more than willing to change you and your circumstances. Will you come to Jesus today? Will you let Him be master of your life and trust Him to change the course of your life? Altar call Extend to them an opportunity to give their lives to Jesus. Jesus saves and changes the lives of people. It is His power and not our ability we depend on. Do not doubt that He is able to save a person living on the streets, no matter how long they have lived on the streets. Ask those who want to surrender their lives to Jesus to repeat this prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive my sins and save me from eternal separation from God. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose again declaring victory from the hold of sin. By faith, I accept Your work and death on the cross as sufficient payment for my sins. Thank You for providing the way for me to know You and to have a relationship with my heavenly Father. Through faith in You, I have eternal life. Thank You also for hearing my prayers and loving me unconditionally. Please give me the strength, wisdom, and determination to walk in the center of Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 08:41:52 +0000
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