TH131024/The Greatest Story Ever Told

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partners, please visit us online@harvest.org chapter 2 Luke chapter 2 and the title of the message is the greatest stories are to be the greatest story ever told was pray together father as we revisit the story.

It is so powerful it's awesome. It seems simple but yet it's is told in a way that's understandable but it's the story that forever changed human history. The story that forever changed our lives. The story of stories, the greatest of all stories and we pray as we look at it once again that you help us to see it with fresh eyes and carried with fresh ears and and appreciate even more.

All that you done for us so we bless.

We ask you to bless this time a Bible study. In Jesus name we pray amen or in a series of messages called the greatest stories ever told in its very much in a flyover of the mountain peaks of the Bible we look at Anna many, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. We follow the exploits of Samson.

The adventures of King David and Queen Esther, we seen the fire fall on noncriminal with Elijah and we have seen the three Hebrew lowly boys walk through the fire and the book of Daniel, the Old Testament stories. But now we come to the New Testament and we come to the greatest of the greatest stories all these other stories in effect are but a prequel to the story before us right now. And of course I'm talking about the story of the birth the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now in our last message we look at some Christ's company. Remember, those are appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament, and now we see him coming in human form to the circle we reminded you that when we read the Christmas story. This is not when Jesus began in effect, this is when Jesus was born among us is a man, but Jesus being God and member of the Trinity is eternally always was.

He always will be, but now we see him coming in human form to this I will get a focus on what I guess we could call the first Christmas I guess I'm cheating because I'm effectively preaching a Christmas sermon in October but title to going into too much trouble for this, but of the first Christmas was not about giving gifts to one another. The first Christmas was about God's gift to us the gift of the son of God and the story begins with a tree of family tree to be exact, pretty much the whole story starts with the telling of this genealogy of Christ. You know when you read the genealogy in the Bible.

There's a temptation to skip over it because you think will this doesn't mean anything to me that's a mistake because the Bible says all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, not even include those genealogy though they can be a bit tedious at times, only look at the family tree of Jesus. It really matter for many reasons but for the Jewish person. The family tree was a big deal. It was almost like the resume of the tribe they came from their descendents, and so forth and so we look at the family tree of Jesus. Now Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus of the line of Joseph and Luke recorded through merit because some of noted that there is a bit of a difference in there is, but they both trace back to King David. Why is that important because the Bible said the Messiah would be of the root and offspring of David, so God's promise was that David's offspring would bring forth the one who would deliver Israel and reign as king, which meant that any claimant to the throne of Israel had to demonstrate through his genealogy that he descended from David, and by the way, if you think you have a weird family.

Jesus had a really weird one. How many of you have word families are. How many of you have totally normal family.

You're the weirdest person we are strange families well of curious relatives will Jesus at the pretty interesting people in the most exclusive genealogy in human history.

It's interesting and loose genealogy of Jesus.

There's no females but in Matthew's genealogy verse five. Who are they team our Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and of course merit allies at significant will team our was a moral Rahab was a prostitute. Bathsheba was an adulterous Ruth wasn't even Jewish, and yet these people factored in to this exclusive genealogy, genealogy, and of course Bathsheba, an adulterous of the government and that now Mary. She was a pure woman a godly woman living in Nazareth now as we come to David himself. Christ is descended from David with David have any flaws. Oh, absolutely. He was guilty of adultery and guilty of murder so what is my point in bringing this all up.

Will it just shows us even in the family tree of Jesus were reminded of why he effectively came. That is, to show his forgiveness and mercy.

If you don't even read the Christmas story. The genealogy of Christ alone says God give second chances, even if you've messed your life up. God can intervene when you think of the mistakes these people made yet God allowed them to be connected to the bloodline of the Savior of the world. That's a pretty amazing thing. So as we come to the story.

It's interesting and looks version of it that doesn't start with the words. Once upon a time because it's not a fairytale yet at the same time it is all the pageantry all the pathos all the magic if you will, of the best fairytale. I mean you got shepherds bowing, Wiseman worshiping angels singing in a brilliant start. It's a great story apart from its significant but it doesn't start with Once upon a time it starts with genealogies to pinpoint it in time, because Luke was meticulous in his reporting he's telling is a real story and he's telling us where this story started and what it became.

This story starts in heaven, and it unfolds on her. So it starts with the angel Gabriel being dispatched to marry now if you were an angel, you would've wanted that assignment for sure I would've gotten okay with a Chopin who wants to announce the Messiah maybe really you know, Gabriel fairly high-ranking angel against this great privilege and he now comes down to the earth to this humble peasant girl named Mary living in an obscure little town renowned for its wickedness called Nazareth, Mary was a nobody and a nothing town in the middle of nowhere, and yet despite this town known for immorality. Mary lived a godly life and she was handpicked by the Lord to be the mother of Jesus, so the angel announces to Mary that she is going to be the mother of the Messiah. Luke 128 says Gabriel appeared to her and said, greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you confused and disturbed Mary try to think about what the angel could mean don't be frightened Mary, the angel told her, for God is decided to bless you.

So she's overwhelmed but she's ready to obey.

There's just one problem. Her husband to be Joseph. How is she going to convince him that she's the mother of the Messiah and become a you live in Nazareth, Mary. That's a city that is known for girls, you know, because a lot of Roman soldiers were there. You see, so a lot of these girls would end up pregnant and so Mary can come along now and say oh no, it's not what you think. I'm actually chosen woman here that Isaiah spoke of. Well, that was going to be a hard sell for sure. And when Joseph heard that Mary was pregnant, though he loved her with all of his heart he he decided he was not going to marry her and he was going to put her away privately, but that then the angel comes to him and tells him that everything Mary was saying was true and then he tells them there to name the child Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

By the way, Jesus was a common name. Back in those days Yeshua so it's not unusual that he was to be simply name Jesus. But it points out that he will save his people from their sins. This is the Jesus, if you will. Are you sure means Jehovah is salvation. In a case shows was not quite getting the picture of final detail is given to them in Matthew 123 when the angel says the burgeon will be with child, and bear a son and a call his name Immanuel, which is translated, God is with us.

That's right, body your wife to be. She's the one you got it on the word of an angel representing God so the Joseph credit, he immediately is ready to back up Mary and you know there's an interesting thing Mary lived her whole life with a bad reputation. The irony here is this girl was so pure and yet throughout our life. A lot of people didn't buy the whole virgin birth deal stuck on one occasion the Pharisees came to Jesus and they said all of these.

We were born of fornication. In other words, I think, well least we were conceived out of wedlock like you were not can you imagine if Jesus wanted to just lose it right then what you see what you decide.

What did you then do that. But that was the reputation Mary had to live with. Mary was told when she dedicated the young Jesus in the temple, a sword will pierce your own soul throughout her life was a lot of pain in Mary's life that she had the bear because this great privilege brought a lot of responsibility and it also brought a lot of heartache, most significantly, when she saw her dear son.

Hanging on the cross of beaten to a pulp and beyond human recognition and that she had to see that happen to her home boy that she loved what all of her heart. So everything is now in place. So now we pick up the very familiar telling of the Christmas story in Luke chapter 2 starting in verse one. Let's read that together. It says it came to pass in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered or taxed.

The sentences took place when Iranians was governing Syria so all want to be registered. Everyone to his own city. Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child, so it was mother while they were there. The district completed for a beer for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the end. There watching a notice that Luke was a physician by trade was very meticulous in his reporting. Though Luke does right rather politically. I he was a stickler for the fact to see Luke was not an eyewitness of the life of Jesus, as were Matthew and John.

He was a physician who came to faith from a non-Jewish background.

He also is the author of the book of acts. It was his desire to bring a historical and accurate record of the life of Jesus that would be understandable to those who are outside of the Jewish culture so Luke wants us to know that these events really took place. As I said there not fairytales or legends that Luke invented they happen in real time back in Luke 13 he writes I myself of carefully investigated everything from the beginning it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you. That is why Luke in verses 2 to 3 mentioned Caesar Augustus quite reading. Now we read over that and it doesn't mean a lot to us, but what it does do is pinpointed historical so then we go back to historical records and say do they confirm with Dr. Luke said will indeed they do fact of the matter is there's a lot of data on lemon Caesar Augustus was the first real Roman Emperor's name was Caius Octavius.

He was a great nephew of Julius Caesar Octavius was a born fighter with our clawed his way to power by defeating Anthony and Cleopatra, the Roman Republic was now gone and in its place was the Roman empire. You know the Republic ruled by the Senators was now being displaced by Caesar who wanted to be a godlike figure and he wanted to be in total control and so when we read and know of Caius Octavius is referred to as a Augustus Caesar. That was not a name that was a title. Caius Octavius was giving himself a new title.

What was it Augustus, which means holy revered of the God it was under Augustine's role that strides were made toward making the Caesar's God.

In fact, there is an inscription that is been down about Augustine's seizure, Caesar, were he is described as the Savior of the whole world that's important information because now we read about an angel coming. There is born into this state and the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, where way. There's some guy named Caesar who thinks he's the Savior and factors in inscription of him saying he's the Savior of the whole world. So when we read was born a Savior that's clearly saying to Caesar. There is a Savior body, but you ain't here. The angel is saying, in effect, because this is not the savior of Rome. Jesus is over that matter, the Savior of the whole world, so let's restate it in a time when men wanted to become God. God became a man. The truth Savior of the world is now, draped in gold and silk with a baby wrapped and ran know you look at the story of Jesus.

It's not a rags to riches story. It's a riches to rags story affect the very opposite.

He went from being a sovereign to being a servant. He went from the glory of heaven to a stable for animals. I heard that one of Queen Elizabeth visits to the United States as she brought 5000 pounds of clothing she had to personal valets and a hairdresser aboard as well. She also led to special leather covers for the toilet seats used by her Majesty, hardly traveling light, look, here comes now God in human form.

Coming to this earth leaving all those privileges behind and walking among us as a man, so the Lord touch this little man Augustus Caesar who is big in his own mind, you know Caesar inquiry Renee is that they were hot stuff, but they were just passing figures on the pages of history. In this day no one was more known or feared than Caesar Augustus now he's just a point of reference in the greatest story ever told. The only reason you never even heard of Caesar Augustus is because of Luke's account, giving us a backdrop to tell us a story of Jesus. Now we need more dogs after Roman emperors, and we name our sons after apostles right so we wouldn't even know their names and were not for the Nativity story.

But why did God need Mary and Joseph to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem what's an obvious answer because the Scripture said Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 52 thou, Bethlehem, will you be little among the thousands of Judah get out of you shall come forth one whose origins are been ever lasting but why go to him. Bethlehem was the boyhood town of David Wright when the prophet came to anoint the next king of Israel, he would find them in the house of Jesse living in Bethlehem. By the way, the name Bethlehem means house of bread. So God moved event God move the most powerful man on the earth to make a decree so he can get Mary and Joseph point A to point B, get them over to Bethlehem history is his story.

It's been said that history swings on the Cubans of the door of a stable Bethlehem so because Joseph was related to David had to return to Bethlehem to be taxed and I don't know if even understood what was happening. I really (Joseph was a Pokey. Come on, we gotta get there to put the Bible prophecy because she's really late in her pregnancy and this is not a journey they want to make, but I think they're just doing what they're ordered to do by Caesar, and it was all part of God's plans and I think a lot of times you were working to live, or not getting what's happening to us.

Why did that just happen. Why did that door just close why did that other things just transpired.

It isn't until the passing of time that we can look back and say so now I get it right and the Bible says the steps of a righteous man woman to courts are ordered by the Lord.

So now they arrive.

Now if it was, as we see it in the paintings you know they have little halos over their heads marries on the donkey and Joseph is leaving her in the order thought that everyone would open up their doors with amazingly there turned away. There's no room for them in the in and that it was really indicative of the treatment. Christ received throughout his entire ministry. There's a telling passage of the gospel of John rinses everyone went to his own house.

Then, in direct contrast. It says Jesus went to the Mount of olives. Other words everybody went home for the night and Jesus just pretty much slept out in the open air. And Jesus didn't have a house to return to your homes. He visited like the home of Marion Martha and Lazarus are Bethany but didn't really have his own home. In fact, Jesus said, you know birds have dozen boxes of holes, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

Yet there's no room for him in the end no room for him in the end, yet he himself said in my father's house are many rooms. Mankind didn't have room for Jesus, but Jesus has room for mankind density interesting contrast and so now they come to this place where where there is no imminent and we usually vilify of the innkeeper are certainly he was pretty heartless here. You can clearly see this woman was ready to give birth any moments I mean she was clearly pregnant and no, I've learned to never ask a woman when she's due because she may not be as a woman after church once and she was clearly very pregnant, ready to give birth like it in the second lesson well. When you do. She said what is it what were they when you do. She says not to pry. Hey, how you get out of that. So until that information is voluntary to me. I will say anything, but clearly Mary. She was ready. So what was this guy's problem. Well, there were clearly poor.

There was no money in it. The bottom line for this guy was the bottom or we might say the shackle he was simply preoccupied is in was full but he could have made room. Now here's the interesting thing thing to consider their two words, both translated in the New Testament one speaks of what we would call a hotel but was very primitive but there would be food and fire entertainment and a roof over your head. Basically, an enclosure, but that the other room work for in just objectively almost is like a corral if you will just some walls around it you're there. The animals are there. The elements are there and not months. Just a place to spend the night.

This is the in Mary and Joseph were turned away from not the one with the rough one that was in the opener. What this guy could move a couple of animals to make room for Mary to give birth to her child. Unbelievable.

But you know what it said to be the villain. Maybe he's just typical of a lot of people today a which is so busy I'm so busy I just don't have time.

I don't have room for you Mary and Joseph and were that way with God. It's easy to be critical of him, but is a lot of times were just so busy with our so-called schedules and we don't have time for the Lord. Someone once said that you could put on many American tombstones.

The words hurry worried and very were always in a rush where the only nation in the world of the mountain called Rossmoor right so this time is the ultimate opportunity.

But people are like this today all I would like to go to church but I'm busy. Here's the irony.

To me, people attend church less during the Christmas season. Then during it getting momentous Christmas and started churches go to midweek Bible studies. It's all about Jesus. We get all hung up in all the busy activities of that time of the year. There's just a lot of people that are so busy and we can effectively lose Jesus at the one time of year when we should be focusing more on him from a lot of people are having is a part of these little nativity scenes and the people are stealing the baby Jesus and I read about one church that kept having their baby Jesus: it's an old Bridge, New Jersey. So they put a GPS tracker in the figure, and they said in the article. There's been no attempt of since we announced work sucking our Jesus, I'm so glad the real Jesus cannot be stolen or lost with all this clutter of activity. We too can miss Jesus and this is maybe one of the reasons why people get so depressed this time of the year. I'm a chaplain for two Police Department on Newport Beach Police Department at Costa Mesa Police Department and uncalled sometimes, very late at night early in the morning to go help someone or to intervene in some situation in was called last December to visit man his wife had committed suicide and he came home to find her in. I as some of the officers there about that sort of thing this time of year and they said there's no question suicides are up in the holidays because people are so depressed United it's because Christmas doesn't measure up to our idea of editor. Maybe those movies that we like to watch or those TV commercials and wheezing. My family's not like that and so people are suicidal. This time of year that because the clutter of Christmas takes the place of what it really should be the clutter of Xmas replaces the Christ of Christmas, so the thing to remember is we don't need Christmas presents. We need his presence in our lives. So here's Jesus born in a stable.

One of the problems with the nativity story is we romanticize everything in one of the things we romanticize is the birth itself, but let's remember where Jesus was born Jesus was born in what is called the stable but probably was a barn or more specifically, possibly even a key, and that this is not where you would have a baby it's an unsanitary environment.

This is a stall when you kept animals that men that there would be strolling around this meant there would be animal feces. There would be coal God incarnate, was born on the dirt floor of a filthy cake.

I don't know about you but this does not diminish the Christmas story forming and enhances it that romanticize stop that doesn't do anything for me because it's not reality when I realized what God went through to come to this earth of all ways, it even makes it more wonderful art can't use a great commentator wrote the quote was clearly a leap down is that the son of God, rose from his splendor stood poison the rim of the universe irritating light and dove headlong speeding to the stars over the Milky Way Earth's galaxy where he plunged into a huddle of animal, nothing could be lower." Yes, God became a fetus, the Creator of the heavens and the earth was an embryo. As I said before, it was deity and diapers you know I love babies week.

Have a little baby boy in our family now little Christopher ways a year old so is not really a baby but he still very small and you know it is so amazing to watch babies develop and grow. It's almost like you do something new every day right and I remember the last Sunday I dedicated the baby here in the second service and that baby up. It was a month old. It was so small you know you hold it so carefully and support its little head in its neck and its body and you have to be so gentle with the little wanted to think that God Almighty that Creator of the universe is this helpless little baby is a lucky super baby and no plan around, you know how to: go back down again picking himself walking around with no he's like, and I don't mean that irreverently I do think he's just a baby like any other baby. Augustine said he was unspeakably wise, yet he is wisely speechless." He's the word without a word. CH Spurgeon said infinite yet an infant, eternal get portable woman supporting the universe, yet needing to be carried and a mother's arms, King of angels and yet the reputed son of Joseph, heir of all things and get the carpenters son Almighty God, became a helpless baby and in swaddling classes like these are rags wrapped around him symbolizes whole or his whole life rather from the cradle to the cross, Jesus could have been born in the most elegant mansion on the Ritzy Is Blvd. in Rome could have had parents of great wealth and stature posting of their pedigree.

He could have the finest roads on the most exclusive shops. He could have had legions of angels at his beck and call, but instead he lays all of that aside for us. Second Corinthians 8, nine, says going was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that there was poverty, you might be rich. So God is coming to the world.

So who should be the first to know. Let me ask you this, when you had your first child, your children are your first grandchild.

Could you tell first probably family right you called your mom, your dad are or your brother, your sister or maybe your best friend so you know God is come to the earth who does the announcement go to first mentor for me. I wouldn't send an angel and the Caesar Augustus auditor right before hey Caesar, what's up all why you're the guy that thinks you're a God newsflash God in human form, is come, the Savior of the world. Born in a manger them but that's not the angels appeared to come to those religious leaders. The Sadducees and the Pharisees in Jerusalem know God makes this earthshaking announcement to shepherds shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. Now I mentioned shepherds last time a little bit but like every other aspect of the Christmas story we've glamorized them. We romanticize this is well and we miss the beauty of the story understand to be a shepherd in this culture was to be at the bottom of the social ladder.

Shepherds were despised in this culture the testimony of a shepherd was not even allowed in accord of law because it was assumed that such people would live to see the shepherds to the work that nobody else wanted to do what needed to be done there dirt under their fingernails were hard-working, they were not able to observe the ceremonial handwashing and they felt right at home. When they heard that a baby was getting born in the cave. Yeah we do that all the time.

That's all. Shepherds had their babies out of the open air. So it's interesting that the announcement is made from Angels to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night was announced to them. Luke chapter 2 verse eight there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night; angel of the Lord stood before them the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were greatly afraid. And the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign you find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and inner peace, goodwill toward men and it was so in the angels were gone away from them in the heaven, the shepherds said one to another. Let's go to Bethlehem and see this great thing that is come to pass with the Lord is made known to us amazing on the shepherds and really all of Israel were living in frightening times.

They were under Roman rule. And then there was that paranoid King Herod would execute people at will. The lands occupy. There was a fear about the future, we will never leave with the ever be free again with the Messiah ever come, and suddenly the Angels say don't be afraid.

The Messiah has come, but an angel with a powerful being and would frighten people is interesting.

Most of the times when angels appear they start pricing Journal notes, you're not really what is it okay okay, don't forget, I know I know I'm an angel. I know I know but don't forget this is good.

I have a message for you.

They had to say that. Let's give that some people would do when John the apostle was on the island of Patmos on the Lord gave the revelation to him the unveiling of the future he fell down to worship the angel and the angel said don't worship me. I'm a servant of God just like you and your brothers are prophets as well is all who obey.

What is written in the scroll worship God know it's been said night not check this out myself.

But it's been said that the words dear not appear 365 times in the Bible. If that is true. That means there's a fear not, for every day of the year.

That is probably through him and 64 and it messes up whole point about that size that I'm told you what going count. Let me know. But the message of Christmas. The message of the birth of Christ.

The message of the arrival of the Messiah is fear not, and have joy Ray Steadman a great commentator made this statement and I quote the chief mark of the Christian ought to be an absence of fear in the presence of joy he goes on to say we have "of the description of a Christian is one who was completely fearless, constantly cheerful and constantly in trouble."

That's the message.

Don't be afraid there is great joy. Why number one because it's personal. It's personal. I bring you good tidings of great joy, number two, it's positive, I bring you good tidings of great joy and number three it's universal. It's to all people which shall be to all people.

It's personal. It's positive it's universal. You're never going to find joy in Christmas itself, but you will find joy in Christ who's come to us. So why is it good news my close with this because number one we have a Savior we have a Savior that reminds us that we need to be saved because we are like a person drowning that see or like a person in a burning building. We need someone to save us.

We don't need an advisor.

We need a Savior we need someone that will put it on the line and get in there and rescue us from this situation that we are red and that's why the word saved is the perfect word to describe what happens to a person who believes in Jesus your say say from what you're saying from future judgment hearsay from hell would also you see from your say from your personal sin in your say from the power of the devil. So a Savior's, and the hope now that we have is when we die we will go straight into God's presence in to Number two we have a Christ verse 11, there's gonna do this in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord Christ means anointed one. Another word would be Messiah Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise to send his son as the Messiah. And this is just a good reminder to us that God keeps his promises you keep yours. While I don't always keep my because I think promises I can't keep but God always keeps his promises. And what is he promised.

While Jesus said I'll never leave you or forsake you. So we have the promise of through life will never be alone. He promises in Romans 828 because all things to work together for good to those that love him. The called according to his purpose.

He promises that way and we have a loved one who was die and proceeded us to heaven we will be reunited with them again.

We have a Savior we have a Christ. And finally we have the Lord we have a Lord what is at meetings. I'm no longer in control of my life.

He is not calling the shots. He will direct me in the way that I should go and he will protect me in that way as well. You know, I am convinced that the Christian is indestructible until God is done with, but from when your number is up itself. You don't determine that and the doctor doesn't determine God determine set since this is your time and so we don't have to live in fear. You know it's interesting when the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Remember, one of his temptations was to to throw himself off the temple and then Satan quote Scripture and say next." Psalm 91, the Angels will keep you in and protect you.

He said, and then Jesus comes back and says it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God, and basically the devil was challenging Jesus to test God.

There's a big difference between testing God and trusting God. We should not test the Lord. We should not take stupid risks and be foolish, but at the same time before seeking a walk with the Lord in the center of his will.

We know that our times are in his hand and will protect us and he will guide us and that's the message we have here we have a Lord, by the way, this is only for believers. If you're not a believer you don't have this hope and so I want to close the service by giving you an opportunity to become a believer. Wife is coming to the communion table in the communion table is what we receive these elements that represent the broken body in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the Bible is very clear in pointing out that a nonbeliever should not receive the elements of communion. You might think of this is purely little religion little ritual this to get me closer to God. Au contraire, that's French for nurture no to the contrary.

This is the last thing you should do if you're not a Christian because it's just a little ritual. It's a symbol it's a symbol of what Jesus did on the cross and the Bible says that we should not eat or drink of these elements in an unworthy manner. What that means is, is that we should not receive these elements without believing on the one they represent. So for you to eat of the bread and drink of the cup and not believe in Jesus. That's almost like a mockery of Jesus. It's almost insulting to him. See, this is only for the believer and the Bible says only receive these elements, we should examine ourselves such a good time for a self exam how my doing spiritual.

How is my walk with God.

Is there a sin to confess his change that needs to be made, then this is the time to make it as a person to forget and forgive them know only come to the Lord in this way, we want to connect clear the decks if you will. So for those of us were believers and one is a Lord just cleanse me as I I come and receive these elements representing your broken body in your shed blood within Jesus is as we receive these elements that we are to do this in remembrance of him in it that was translated from the original language it would safe and affectionate remembrance of him. So this is not to be some cold ceremony there should be an affection Lord, thank you thank you that you did this for me thank you that I'm your son and your daughter that I can approach you. It doesn't say you have to be worthy to do it it says don't do it in an emerald and unworthy manner, none of us are working. None of us deserve to be approaching God is not about worldliness but it's about not being disrespectful of the one they represent. So maybe you're here tonight and most of your and the sever this because it's been sleeping but he just woke up.

I made that up.

He then wake up now. He's a but your hearing in your say well I'm not really sure if I'm a Christian.

Well let's get that settled right now.

How does one become a Christian. Well, let's go back to why Jesus came.

He was born to die, that we might live. Jesus came to this earth, and he was born in that Manger and will get to the story later but those wise men brought those gifts. Remember, by the way that came later that they were there the same night that Mary and Joseph were there in the little nativity scene they came later. Maybe up to two years later. I know that messes up your Christmas deal, but it was later I'll tell you why when we get to that, but they brought interesting gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh goal because he was a king. Frankincense a written sense because it would be our high priest murder and embalming element because this child would die for the sin of the world for his whole life and ministry Jesus live in the shadow of the cross. He was headed to that cross and he knew it. That's why he came to die for your sin and for mine so I could know God were all separated from God by our sin. But Jesus died there in our place at Calvary and rose again from the dead ball turn for my sin and asked him to come in to my life as Savior and Lord will forgive me of all of my sin.

That's right all the wrong things you've done will be forgiven by God to check this out and forgotten by God. Forget your sin. Our God is a bigger racer and the Lord says your sins and iniquities. While I remember no more.

But you have to admit you're a sinner and turn from it and ask Christ to come in your life and if you've not done that. Do it right now as we prepared to receive communion and then will invite you to join us.

Let's all bow our heads and everybody praying please father, thank you for this great story, Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth and being born in a manger and then dying on the cross. All for us so we could know you so we could be forgiven. You paid the price. We should have paid and now Lord, you stand at the door of our life and you not and you say to a simple hear your voice and open the door, you will come in part, I prefer anybody here that does not yet know you help them to see their need for Jesus, help them to come to you now. We pray on our heads about your eyes are closed and were praying. How many of you would say tonight. Greg, I want Jesus Christ to come in on my life. I want him to forgive me of my sin. I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven.

You talked about a Savior tonight. I want the Savior pray for me affect your desire. If you want Jesus to come in your life if you want to be forgiven of your sin.

Would you let your hand up wherever you're sitting and I'll pray for you, slipped her hand up and I'll pray for you tonight publish with your hand up when we pray for you tonight.

You want Christ to come in your life wherever you are, bless you with a partner. I can see it please God bless you in the back of bless both of you there anybody else come bless you, bless you, Devon lifted her hand yet lifted. Now you want Christ to come in your life. We pray for you. Lift your hand accomplish you publishing them in the very back.

Anybody else on final moment with your hand now. We pray for you, bless you what I have just about maybe some of you would say yeah I've been a prodigal son or daughter. And I want to make a recommitment to Christ right now that she wanted to raise her hand up when we pray for you tonight. You want to come back to the Lord publishing them appear the front come bless you there there in the very back of the she was well anybody else with your hand up you want to return to the Lord as someone who's gone astray.

Your father welcomes you tonight with open arms. Anybody else if you have a lifted her hand yet lifted. Now let me pray for you, bless you nonalcoholic you get a raise your hand if you would please distend your feet, lead you in a prayer.

That's right. Stand your feet even if you did not raise her habit you want Christ to come of your life.

You want your sin forgiven your want to come back to him again tonight.

Stand your feet, lead you in a prayer before we receive communion to stand up. God bless you that understanding. There's more of you that razor can go instead. No, don't be embarrassed you're among family and friends here that's right got bless you stand up publishing standup a few Mark Stennett now know will all pray together and receive communion even if you do not raise your hand but you want to make this commitment are recommitment to Jesus stand up one final moment come bless you.

Anybody else stand accomplish. All right, bless you all of you that are sending. I want you to pray this prayer out loud right where you stand again as I pray pray this out loud after me. Okay, pray this after me now Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you were born in that Manger new died on the cross and you rose from the dead. Not come in the my life and be my Savior, and be my Lord and be my God, and be my friend.

I choose to follow you, Jesus, from this night for thank you for accepting me and forgiving me in Jesus name I pray, amen