Christmas Message - Luke Chapter 2:1-20

When God came down to the planet they could've done so many different ways.

Alice Temple cathedrals. Jesus was born in a bar that statement rang home one day when got jobs and became an they left the door open in the middle of summer. I asked that very familiar question.

Were you born in a barn and after I did the words that still small voice voice of God, not audible voice that still small voice of God's and yeah I was born in a barn for you. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As we approach Christmas coming up this Friday.

One of David McGee's associate pastors DA Brown is here with us on the program will the brother Merry Christmas Bob.

It's a special weekend. It sure is toss a little bit about what we have to look forward to this week teachings. Jesus didn't come simply to change our schedule to attend one day out of the year. He came to change our life. Join us today for a special Christmas message last is my favorite McGee with the teaching, God with us. Three from Luke chapter 2 if you got your Bibles with you turn with me there. Chapter 2 is part of the Christmas story. So let's read in Luke chapter 2 verse one… I came to pass in those days the decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered this census first took place our current NS was governing Syria so all went to be registered. Everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David just called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and the lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child, so it was while they were there the day's work completed 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 in another were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night and hold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around 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 will be 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 to you. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward men. Verse 15 so it was when the Angels are gone away from them in the heaven that the shepherds said to one another, let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that is coming to pass, which the Lord has made known to us and they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph in the bay buying in a manger now when they had seen them.

They made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child and all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Verse 20 than the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all this thing that they had heard and seen, as it was told them Jesus was given many names. Jesus obviously was one of his names that sort of a Hebrew to Greek to English form of his name Jesus's Hebrew name was yes you now wait translate directly from the Hebrew to the English yes you is Joshua, and even then there's a there's a little picture in that name because if we remember in the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses, and that's what we call the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures. Remember Moses received the 10 Commandments of Moses is not the one who led the Israelites in the promised land. And there's a picture there that the law can't lead you into the promised land.

I know people that think they're going to be justified or claimed righteous by the fact they've obeyed the 10 Commandments.

None of us have obeyed the 10 Commandments. So who took him into the promised land, Joshua and must remember, Josh was named was the same as Jesus, yes, you to lose a picture there that we can't get into the promised land by obeying the law or the 10 Commandments it takes Joshua to take us into the promised land by faith by belief is named Christos his anointed one. Our Messiah are Michiana in the Hebrew Christos in the Greek, to Jesus the Christ is not Jesus Christ in Christ was his last name and another thing that we call him as a man you well Emmanuel is actually one of my favorites. What is it mean it literally means God with us. That's the title of the teaching and get ready to share with you. God with us. Sometimes we think well we go to church to visit with God because God's in the church and while the pastor obviously I would encourage you come in the church. I would encourage you worshiping God.

God doesn't live in this building. When we leave. He kinda goes with this you will as the building is in the church we are the church.

God humbled himself. Jesus humbled himself and became a man, and came down to this earth were you born in a barn.

We asked that question.

Indicting people about their upbringing, their manners, their family, recasting questions about somebody when we say that were you born in a barn, but that question leads us to what is literally the greatest story that's ever been told a story that involves God a story about corrupt political leaders making empty promises. Corrupt government systems corrupt religious systems, religious leaders, who would forgotten God didn't love people the way they were supposed to and end of this Jesus comes. Jesus into a manger born in a bar and Jesus was the son of God is the son of God, the King of Kings my life. My life seen the Lord of lords, all power, authority, but he came to manger born in a barn, our Savior are King of Kings are Jesus was born in a bar.

Now here's the remarkable think he could have chosen to be born anywhere he could have chosen to be born in the palaces of Rome. He could've chosen to be born in the temple in Jerusalem. He could've been born in Alexandria center of knowledge than choosing the others, Joseph R chose a bar and must remember because as we look at little manger scene. Sometimes we miss the back story of your will or what was going on, Israel had been a powerhouse under such leaders as King David and King Solomon, a wealthy nation but over years of idolatry, of neglecting God and ignoring his word, the nation went downhill. It was no longer exception enter the Greeks with Alexander the great and then enter the ironfisted rule of Rome's only read the book of Luke, we need to understand.

Here's Israel that's been in invaded and occupied by the Roman Empire and Empire that gave them little or no voice took money from them took money from the temple, even for government projects totaling when and where to go.

Like in the census tax them on. Mercifully herded them together like cattle, often treating them worse than slaves and they responded the political demonstrations with massacres. That's kind of the political setting.

Few people live very well honestly we compare our living to 2000 years ago. Almost all of us live above their level survival. The ones that didn't live well with people I care a Jewish politician who had made arrangements with one or the tax collectors who'd sold out their country and countrymen for the golden coin of Caesar, and it was in this but that light show heavens life wasn't into a really peaceful laid-back time was a time of turmoil, spiritual darkness, and you can't find darkness with power.

You can't fight darkness with more darkness.

You can only fight darkness with light and so God showed his light into this world that light, the star of Bethlehem was both beautiful and symbolic of God shining his light as you can only fight earthly darkness with heavenly light and I think we would admit that there even now is earthly darkness. There's selfishness and violence and materialism and people not caring about other people Nevins light still shines into our earthly darkness. Heavens light wants to shine into your personal darkness.

Whatever you're struggling with whatever your sensing whatever you're feeling. Heavens light wants to shine in the that's not something everybody is offering you but it's what God is offering you heavens light still shines into our darkness in our pain will be right back with more from David Magee on cross the bridge right now.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob are excitable, God is doing to cross the bridge of pastor David and want to take a minute to pray for some listeners in these cities in Idaho Mountain home Pocatello salmon Sandpoint Twin Falls and Decatur in Mount Vernon, Illinois God, we thank you for everyone tuning in.

Today we pray that they would have an expectant heart. Hey, you want to speak to them right now knowing all situations that are going on in their life low. We praise are going to some sickness, some health issues that you please heal him and God that you would remind them that you love them, you know what's going on and you have a good plan. You will be glorified in their life and lower pray for the pastors and churches in this area.

We pray that they will be excited about following you, Lord, that they wouldn't grow weary in doing good and lower that you would remind the pastors that they are loved.

They are called and that you're gonna blossom in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David Magee as he continues teaching verse by verse were all here because we've already worked out all our issues and problems in men and women if you got issues for exam – Italy now we all got issues. Well got issues when I got problems when check them at the door. God wants to meet us right where we are and our problems actually begin to be solved. 123 not as easy as 123 but they begin to be solved with Matthew 123 chapter 1 verse 23 and that verse is this, behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is God with us now. I love study in the deep things of God. I love going into the original languages in a love reading commentary of modern men, older ones, but those three words are that complicated.

They're not that theological. If you will overlay our simple and so simple a child can understand God with us, and the only people who can really mess it are the people that want to mess estranged thinking this and say it but do you understand that some people will miss Christmas this year that I don't mean they won't celebrate Christmas. I don't mean they won't exchange gifts.

I don't mean they forgot where I was on the calendar. I mean, they will miss the real meaning of part of the real meaning is wrapped up in those three words, God with us united and have to come here. He chose to come here again, God with us the whole Bible is really about those three words and that's not an oversimplification of red. This book cover to cover and studied it for your and it's about those three words, God with us. God desires a relationship with humanity. God desires a relationship with people. God desires a relationship with you. God desires a relationship with you knowing everything you've done the wrong things you've done, knowing the right things, you failed to do. He still desires a relationship with you in this wonderfully deep complex beautiful book is summed up with those words God with us, me walk you through what was going on in the garden of the God desires a relationship with his people. With Adam and Eve, he came into the garden to see them to walk around with God with us.

Maybe it's time for you and the takeout of a new look at the book with open eyes, fresh air soft heart and new understanding to when I say God desires a relationship with you and with eyes and was people maybe you think that's a big huge grandiose statement and it is but is also statement of fact to their verses in here that you may have read before but maybe you can read pastor without really thinking about it. Genesis chapter 2 verse eight gives us a verse to think about in this whole relationship think this is the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he informed don't over complicate this God planted the garden of Eden for Adam and Eve to enjoy. Now don't know if you've ever planted anything.

Maybe a flower maybe a row of flowers. Maybe a vegetable garden, but I can tell you this. You don't usually plant gardens for people you don't like God planted a garden for adamantly and there's another verse and is it's really interesting that week 10. The scoop vastness. Genesis 321. This is in the Lord God made closing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

He planted a garden form he made them close the maybe cynical a pastor you cannot rock in my boat about who I think God is good, good is him simply read the Bible to seal planted garden verse my you don't like you don't make clothes for some. I don't care about you do those things for people you love God with us. God was with us the garden of a God was with us when he told Noah to build a boat God was with us when he told Pharaoh the most powerful political leader on the face of the planet.

At the time, let my people go, God was with us when he led his people, and of the promised land.

God was with us when he took a young shepherd boy who took down a giant with one will play strong God was with us. God was with us as he sent man after man, his prophets to talk to his people to encourage them to come back and God spoke to the same prophets to announce the coming of his son Jesus, God with us.

And when God came down to the planet they could've done in so many different ways palace temple cathedrals. Jesus was born in a bar that statement bring home one day when I've got kids, and they came and they left the door open in the middle of summer and asked that very familiar question. Were you born in a barn and after I did the words that still small voice.

The voice of God, not the audible voice, but that still small voice of God's and yeah I was born in a barn for you know anything back on the garden of Eden. You God wanted to be with us.

He wanted to be with humanity you want to be with mankind and we we betrayed him.

We disobeyed him we broke his heart. And we can't blame Adam and Eve is us.

Be honest. If you are were in the garden. It would've gone that differently.

Maybe some of us it would happen quicker.

Maybe some longer interesting were not told how long it took, but we betrayed him. So when we betrayed him and broke his heart and hurt him. Obviously, this all-powerful God, the world likes to paint as this maniacal crazy tyrant. Obviously, with this much power with this heartbroken God just is not how I responded to adamantly know after the heartbreak.

He responded by sacrificing animals, making us close to covering our mistakes. That's what happened in the garden after Adam and Eve messed up. God took animals and sacrificed and covered Adam and Eve cover their mistakes and that's a picture of his willingness to cover our mistakes when his people wandering around the desert disobeying them over and over hurting each other over and over how did he respond he gave them directions to build the tabernacle so he could meet with him and after they fell into idolatry over and over again. How did he respond to the betterment of the promised land and after they ignored him and really didn't put him first in their lives.

How they respond to give him directions to build a temple where he could meet with and after the religious system just fell into all about man and not loving God and not loving people.

How did he respond he was born in a bar came here to die for our sins. And when you get to the end of the book and the book of Revelation, you know, the part where man shakes his fist at God and man declares war on God man uses his mouth that God formed the curse God man uses the fifth that God formed in the womb to shake it, a God and how does he respond he builds a place called Paradise and invites us to this is the God who came to this earth.

God left heaven were angels were gathered around the throne singing praises doing evil laugh that came to earth God was born in a barn one because he desires a relationship with. And what's amazing is is now. I got sick.

He got one shot at this debilitating like those infomercials that slam you with a bunch information plead with you to find out where you can mess it. God has for years that their answers don't offer still stands.

What an incredible God, what an incredible story. He offers to set us free to heal us and he wants from us what nobody else wants wearing the time of year when different people different things from people all want this.

I want that. Please give me this and please give me that you know what God wants for last.

He wants arson he wants us to take those things in thing here God forgive me. Help me to deal with these things help me to overcome links only to be victorious over these things and friend, knowing you can wrap it as pretty as you like but nobody else wants your sin friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again is a congratulations thing you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out for Costa. Thank you so much DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners days you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart of David McGee. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God