Christmas Message - Luke Chapter 2:1-20

God with us. I keep saying that because I want you to get it. We all have these experiences work we desire the relationship with somebody else who pushes away. Maybe Horace maybe betrayed us, and in that moment.

Maybe we got a small taste of what God feels when we ignore Turner back. This is how we come to this manger in Bethlehem. And this is how the Messiah, the Savior son of God was born in a barn 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 a sub program will the brother Merry Christmas Bob. It's a special weekend. The it sure is toss a little bit about what we have to look forward to this week teachings of 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. Now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching, God with us to read from Luke chapter 2 if you got your Bibles with you turn with me there. Luke chapter 2 is part of the Christmas story. Celeste read in Luke chapter 2 verse one and it says I came to pass in those days the decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. The census first took place. By creating this 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 that 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 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 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 come 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 the things 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 Joshua. Now wait translate directly from the Hebrew to the English Joshua is Joshua and even then there's a there's a little picture in that name because it we remember in the Hebrew Scriptures. 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. So who took him into the promised land, Joshua and must remember Joshua's name was the same as Jesus, yes, you his name. Christos is anointed one, or Messiah are Michiana in the Hebrew Christos in the Greek so it's 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 know anything back on the garden of Eden. Yet 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. 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 Adam many no after Adam and Eve messed up. God took animals and sacrificed and covered Adam and Eve cover their mistakes and it'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 at God and how does he respond well. 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. He laughs that in came to earth God was born in a bar one, because he desires a relationship was 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 now.

Are you gonna 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 were in the time of year when different people want different things from people all want this.

I want that. Please give me this and please give me that. But you know what God wants from us. He wants our sin he wants our wrongdoings wants us to take those things and say here God forgive me. Help me to deal with these things help me to overcome Lisa's coming to be victorious over these things and friend know what you can wrap it as pretty as you like but nobody else wants your sin. Nobody else watch garbage. Imagine boxing up every wrong thing you've ever done, and given it to somebody that's what happened in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus said this cup was the cup of all of our wrongdoings, but he knew that's what he was here to do because he desires a relationship with us and Jesus would rather come home and be born in a bar, and he'd rather come here and be accused of blasphemy. He'd rather have a crown of thorns shut down on his head. He'd rather hang on across than the live without you see this is the Christmas story, God desiring a relationship with you in the beginning and the garden of Eden. God want a relationship with them when he invited him to the promised land, God wanted a relationship with people with us when God gave instructions to build the tabernacle, God wanted a relationship with us when he gave instructions about build the temple is to have a relationship with Ashley.

God came here and died on the cross was to have a relationship with us and when God built heaven was because he desired to have a place where we can have a relationship together. Man praised God to give my hand if your sin are going well this sounds incredible does.

This is why they call it the new will be right back with more from David McGee 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 in Twin Falls and Decatur in Mount Vernon, Illinois God, we thank you for everyone tuning in. Today we pray that they would have an expected 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 going to blossom in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse epic guy tell me the good news.

Well the good news is your dirty ride on stinky center.

Nothing you ever do amount to nothing in HR real real hard, much harder than you're trying now and you never make a mistake, then you might get into heaven. That's a good news is not the good news. The good news is, God loves you. He desires a relationship with you. He wants to forgive you so much. The God was born in a bar. This is what the Bible is all about. This is what life is all about.

This is what Christmas is really all about. Amen. God desires a relationship with us. God desires a relationship with you, God with us. I keep saying that because I want you to get it.

We all have these experiences were we desires a relationship with somebody else who pushes away maybe hurt us.

Maybe betrayed us, and in that moment maybe we got a small taste of what God feels when we ignore them turn their back on.

So this is how we come to this story, and in Luke chapter 2. This is the the back story of you well. This is how we come to this manger in Bethlehem. And this is how the Messiah, the Savior, the son of God was born in a barn.

I won't ever ask that question again.

Somebody comes in the house and leaves the door open and there leaves the fridge door open or whatever I want answer that question because I realize now that my Savior was born in a barn for me and for you a barn now some of you have been in Barnes them of you have not let me help you, because we have these nice little sanitized manger scenes only everybody so nice and clean. Looks like they just pulled her close out of the washer and dryer books loops 2000 years ago.

They didn't have a washer dryer and there's a couple things that are missing and that manger scene. One of them is the smell of a barn you been in the barn. You know what I'm talking about.

Another thing that's missing is excuse me for saying this is cattle, biscuits which go in Barnes not sure what cattle biscuit is after my after the service explained that's where God showed up because he was making a statement. It wasn't by accident was a very deliberate thing was God saying you know I'm willing to do anything. I'm willing to meet you where ever to reach 12 at 123 Matthew chapter 1 verse 23 behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated God with us. God is with Manson amazing thing in and of itself mean if you had some political leader hanging out with.

Here are some actor or actress or some big name musician you got all yeah I'm I'm with someone so it's way beyond that and think about the words God with us. If you say you can say you and emphasize each word had with us. God with us. God was these are powerful words, God with God not just a good person but a good man, not a religious leader, not a political leader with more empty promises of how they can change the world without changing the human heart. God in human flesh. John 114, six of the word became human and made his home among us, and he was full of unfailing love and faithfulness and we seen his glory, the glory of the father's one and only saw not about us not beyond this not high up in some celestial place removed and unattached, not barking out orders from a corner office yelling out religious rules from a platform or pulpit or offering us hidden secrets in a bestseller. No with us among us and the places despair and darkness right in the middle of problems and pain heartbreaks and heartaches right there with us became what four to establish new rules was God just so man that he was like an angry parent you've got kids or had kids you know they get doing whatever plan indoor soccer something you know you're like, hey hey hey quit that don't make me come down there. Is that why was God was looking going on as you doing that you that I don't make me come down there know was not a no adverse doesn't think I was so mad he sent his son, God was so fed up he sent his son now in a twisted unfair cold and spiritually dark world. God so loved the world that he sent us to judge the world to condemn the world to beat the world. Wonder of wonders. John 316 says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, and a lot of Christians think will Jesus obviously let some undone. I'll begin condemning the world on his behalf.

That's my ministry God did not send the son into the world to condemn it, but that the world through him might be saved, God with us in this world Godzilla. This this will the one more live in the one filled with school shootings and murders. These scam artist con artist religious action hucksters. This will because he loved and I you and I not necessarily powerful people that the people that think they don't have any problems but I Romans 5H is this. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ died for us. When we got it all figured out when we worked out our issues when we were living while we were still sinners maiden demand, we appear to give us some spiritual subpoena or judicial jury summons the heating demand that we come to him.

All he would've been within his rights to do it. But now he came to us he came to see us.

He came where we were came as a baby came as a carpenter's son and of itself is amazing because you were trying to go up the ladder. We spent so much time and energy going up the ladder.

Some of us are consumed with going up the ladder and Jesus stepped away down the ladder by choice stepped away from his throne. It should have happened, but it did in this world, darkness and despair. Heavens light shines into this into this moment, Jesus the son of God to our thinking about this and we mark the calendar with Christmas. Each one of us, has to figure out what what is Christmas all about Alvin trying to talk to about it. You have to make the decision I can make that decision for you when we put another another way might be interesting for you. Where are you in this spiritual manger scene of life. You see some manger scenes. This year that just drive right by right is and how you look at the birth of Christ and by the way, I'm not suggesting that you stop at the manger scene and then go stand in it because you could be arrested for that, but I'm speaking spiritually spiritually review got distracted from what Christmas is really all about when we put another way, are you interested in involved with are committed to Jesus again your decision. I can give you the information I can encourage you to make the right one. But it's your decision and some of you honestly, you've been waiting to make this decision.

You keep saying one day I'll do it all today's that day but the season be this season.

If you're interested in Jesus than you do the Christmas thing you play the game.

You do the gift thing. It really doesn't impact the way you live and because of that. Honestly as I can impact the way you down. Or maybe you're involved. Maybe you believe in Christ you believe in Christmas is God becoming man make you go to church occasionally but you, on the sidelines. You don't volunteer help give on a regular basis, but once a year you do kind of experience the peace of God because you think about what really happened that some people think that if they're interested in. They should have the joy in the peace of God, it doesn't come when you're just interested in him and it doesn't come when you're just kind of involved with him the joy and the peace come when you're committed to him. Jesus said if you want to discover life if you want to find that what life is all about. Give your life the way that's a committed life and not only does that put you in the nativity scene if you will, but you can recognize yourself in the nativity scene is when you're committed to Jesus you're the one that's bowing down before worshiping him as the King of King and the Lord of lords. We put it in this life lesson form. Jesus came not to change your schedule or to change one day a year became a change your life friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a 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.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes during a came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous is a congratulations string you just made the greatest session 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.

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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 coffee. Thank you so much DA before we go.

What are some ways that bless our listeners they wake up with Pastor David 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 continued teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God