2014.12.24 Christmas Eve
Immanuel
Good Evening and a Blessed Christmas Eve to all of you….... We want
you to know that we thank the LORD for everyone of you…..
Most of us spend Christmas Eve with Family.... We have been coming to
Germany for the holidays for many years.....and it is a wonderful time of good
food and remembering God´s great mercy and unfailing Love.....
It is fitting that we spend
some time worshipping our Lord Jesus as a church family too! We are
celebrating the miracle of Jesus birth…… Turn with me to Isaiah 7….v14…
Isaiah 7:14 NKJV
sch 2000
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name
Immanuel.
14
Darum wird euch der Herr selbst ein Zeichen4 geben: Siehe, die Jungfrau5 wird
schwanger werden und einen Sohn gebären und wird ihm den Namen Immanuel geben.
A virgin shall have a baby….
A miracle for sure…. But there is much more to the miracle than the virgin
birth…. You shall call his Name…..
Immanuel….. This name can be
translated “God with us”….
God in the flesh come down to live here with us……
That´s the meaning of the word Immanuel….. God with us…..
This name for the Messiah
tells us how truly incredible is this child that we worship….. Yes…. he is the
Messiah….. Yes….. he is the redeemer…. As the shepherds were told by the
Heavenly messenger…. The Savior is born…..
His name shall be called
Immanuel….. describes the fantastic truth that God has keep His promise to
dwell with men….. That is why He has received a name above every name….. In
Heaven and in earth…. Turn with me again to Isaiah….ch9…v6…
Isaiah 9: 6,7 NKJV
6 For
unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of
the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah
9: 5, 6 Schlachter 2000
5
Denn ein Kind ist uns geboren, ein Sohn ist uns gegeben; und die Herrschaft
ruht auf seiner Schulter; und man nennt seinen Namen: Wunderbarer, Ratgeber,
starker Gott, Ewig-Vater, Friedefürst.
6
Die Mehrung der Herrschaft und der Friede werden kein Ende haben auf dem Thron
Davids und über seinem Königreich, daß er es gründe und festige mit Recht und
Gerechtigkeit von nun an bis in Ewigkeit. Der Eifer des Herrn der Heerscharen
wird dies tun!
What a fantastic prophesy…… It reminds us of this
very important truth…… God is by nature a Savior…..
God´s plan of redemption continues perfectly……
A long promised Savior is born…..v6 In his names we come to understand that
this baby boy is the very incarnation of God…..
This Advent season…. We have been studying the
birth of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Luke…. We have met many of the
ordinary people that God revealed the Messiah to..... at his birth and
during his earthly ministry as the son of man……
In our text from Luke…. We see the Saviors
birth announced to Shepherds…… Shepherds….
Shepherds were necessary……. Sheep and goats
were the main source of food and clothing for the Children of Israel…..
But there was something special about these
shepherds…….. You see this is Bethlehem……the City of David and
the place……. It is just outside of Jerusalem…. It was also called the
tower of the Flock….. Migdal Eder……
Migdal Eder is where the Prophet Micah said
that the Messiah would be revealed…. Turn with me to Micah 4…..
Micah 4: 6-8 ESV
6 In that day, declares the LORD,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away
and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion
from this time forth and forevermore.
8 And you, O tower of the flock,
( Midgal Eder)
hill of the daughter of Zion,
to you shall it come,
the former dominion shall come,
kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
Micah 4:
6-8 Neues Leben
6 Der Herr
verspricht: »Der Tag wird kommen, an dem ich alle, die zerschunden sind, und
alle, die ich in meinem Zorn verstoßen habe, sammeln werde. Und ich werde alle,
denen ich Böses zugefügt habe, zusammenholen.
7 Ich will
dafür sorgen, dass die Zerschundenen als heiliger Rest erhalten bleiben und die,
die sich weit verlaufen haben, werde ich zu einem starken Volk machen. Dann
wird der Herr vom Berg Zion als König über sie herrschen bis in Ewigkeit.
8 Und du,
Wachturm auf dem Hügel von Jerusalem, wirst deine frühere Herrschaft wieder
erlangen.
These shepherds were in the right place at the
right time………to be the first to hear the Good News……… The Savoir…… The
Messiah….. The hope……. The Light of the World……. they saw it with their own
eyes they heard the Good News from the mouths of Angels……
There´s even more to this story…….You see these
shepherds worked for the Temple……. The flocks that they cared for were
special….. They were set apart…… destined for the temple as sacrifices…… sacrifices
for sin and for thanksgiving to the LORD GOD……
At the base of the tower was a special place
for the ewes that were about to give birth were taken to protect them and their
new babies….. they must be protected from any injury………lambs for sacrifice had
to be perfect…. Spotless……
What a fantastic place for the Lamb of God to
be Born…….. The spotless lamb of God…… seen first by the shepherds whose entire
life was to care for the lambs to be sacrificed…..
Remember….. When they saw Jesus…… they went
and told everyone……. They were the first missionaries…… And even though they
were shepherds….. The people listened and believed them…. And all who heard
were astonished…..
These simple shepherds worshipped and praised
God!
Ordinary people with a special assignment……..
Just like us…… We are ordinary people with a special assignment….
As the prophet Micah said…. Jesus was born in
Bethlehem….. turn with me to Micah 5…v…2…
Micah 5:2 NKJV
sch2000
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
1 Und du,
Bethlehem-Ephrata, du bist zwar gering unter den Hauptorten von Juda1; aber aus
dir soll mir hervorkommen, der Herrscher über Israel werden soll, dessen
Hervorgehen 2 von Anfang, von den Tagen der Ewigkeit her gewesen ist.
Bethlehem was no ordinary place…..……
Let´s talk about Bethlehem…..
The Name Bethlehem….. "Bethlehem Ephratah."
Bethlehem Ephratah
The word Bethlehem means
"the house of bread,"
Ephratah….. Means…. "fruitfulness," or "abundance."
Jesus was born in the house of abundant bread…..
Twice
in the Gospel of John…. Jesus said… I am the bread of life…. John6: 35,48…
Jesus is that bread from heaven that gives eternal life….
Wonderful and Glorious!
Bethlehem Ephratah! House
of abundant bread….
Bethlehem is called "little among the
thousands of Judah." Why?
Jesus was not born in Jerusalem's palaces…… but the humble,
village of Bethlehem…… In a stable… What humble beginnings for the King of
Kings and the LORD of LORDS…..
We are celebrating the birth of the Savior....Jesus the Messiah!!!
but we must remember ..... The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the Whole world was born to die.....
To die....... to redeem us.....He came to die so that we could live with
Him forever......What unfailing LOVE..... What Mercy......
David understood this so very well..... He was a real person…. totally
ordinary.....not perfect... a sinner saved by grace.... let´s remember this
babe in a manger came for us...... to take the punishment for our sins.... to
die for our sins.... so that we could be forgiven.... He came to Redeem us and to give us everlasting peace and Joy..... to
wash us white as snow....
Let´s
pray......
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