R362 Does Christmas Really Make Sense Anymore

God has an Encouraging Word for you and me today. The Bible-based teaching from Dr. Don Wilton at a very odd question yes works on God's word modified Dr. Don's give-and-take is to Isaiah chapter 9 in just a minute, but this is the question that puzzles me.

Does Christmas really makes sense anymore. Of course it does or does it go find out if Dr. Wilton opens God's word together with us in just a moment. And speaking of opening God's word on a regular basis through 2022.

If you haven't picked it up. There is a wonderful leather bound 52 week devotional called heaven life and the resurrection available on our website right now. That's online@tewonline.org is you purchase that for yourself or some friends for a gift for Christmas you'll be supporting the ministry of lifting up the name of Jesus and seeing life changing every day with the ministry of the current does Christmas rarely makes things anymore. Turn with me in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 9 Isaiah chapter 9. One of the greatest prophetic passages in all of Scripture dealing with this wonderful time of Christmas does Christmas make sense anymore. I'm sure you all heard about the little girl came running home one day from church and she had this big picture in her hand and in this big picture. She she had drawn something and she said mommy, mommy. She said my Sunday school teacher was happy with my picture to her course the mommy being like all mommies looked at that and love. Love you little girl and wanted to say a whole lot about it, but she wasn't quite sure what the picture was all about. So she sent her little girl. She said Mike little girl honey, what is this, she said this is the Christmas story should the Christmas story. She said she said wisely. An airplane the she said because we were told that in the Bible that Mary and Joseph took flight to Egypt. So the mother in all wisdom. Modern said well that's that's very insightful. She said, but who's that big man sitting in the front of the airplane and of course she seemed relaxed Pontius the pilot so the mother of course loved the little girl even more disabled.

Obviously that must be Mary and Joseph and and the little baby and and the little girl was really getting into it. She said, but but honey please. The big man sitting on the back of the airplane having such a roller coaster ride. She said mommy that's round John virgin. Have you ever wondered what some people must think of Chris. Just think about it for a moment think about what is going on in Spartanburg this week. It's one.

I wish that you could have all been him the lab and activity and watched key change.

They were magnificent. The Dickens Christmas thousands of people claim are speaking to some of our city officials this week and they were also ecstatic coming. It was just the right time came to me and he said to me, I want you to do certain things and we did week we have we have blue Drake doing a magnificent Christmas program in the auditorium. We have the lab Christmas trees at North Lockwood Christmas on Main Street Tonight and tomorrow night.

Next Sunday we got yesterday's teams and Ron Wilson requires an and we have all these poinsettias in the choir and orchestra Christmas is so wonderful I'm I'm delighted to report to you that statistics are up in Spartanburg. Retailers and shoppers are delighted because business is good but does Christmas really make any sense anymore. What are actually understanding about Christmas. Let's try and discover something about this in God's will in turn with me to Isaiah chapter 9. I want to read verses six and verse seven. I'm going to say to you that probably verse six is the centerpiece of Christmas prophecy. Here it is to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, the Prince of peace and all the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever and forever and forever. How is this going to be accomplished there.

It is busy you.

The Lord Almighty will accomplish this, that, keep your finger therein. Isaiah in turn with me to Matthew chapter 1 Matthew chapter 1 has the genealogy of the king Matthew chapter 1 verse 22. All of this wall of water. All of the things about Christmas. The Christmas story. All of this took place in order to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet with the virgin will be with child will give birth to a son.

They will call him Immanuel, which means God with us. Leather this morning. Does Christmas really makes sense anymore. It's hard to even try to sort Christmas just go down to the more you see what we mean.

Note the traffic and the congestion all the glamour the elaborate fabrication of Christmas that is going on at every corner will wind up of celebration. There is a bizarre ensemble of activity.

There is an odd mixture of pagan ideas and and superstition and fanciful legends and playing good old-fashioned ignorance associated with Christmas. Christmas is so special is I want us this morning to come to the point that we recognize and we acknowledge are fresh in our own hearts that Christmas most certainly does make sense. You might say today will pasta how do you know that Christmas make sense. I want us to go back in the Scripture and I wanted to look at three basic fundamental reasons why Christmas makes so much sense for us today right in the midst of all the wonderful things that we look forward to all the things that we do and say together number one Christmas makes sense because of the source of Christmas. Number two because of the sovereign of Christmas and number three because of the Savior of Christmas. That's what the prophet Isaiah was talking about here in this magnificent prophecy Christmas Mike St. cc number one because of the source here in Isaiah chapter 9.

Just think about three things, the story and the name which is above every name, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the word of God.

Guess we just read together. Wonderful to read the word of God key change Johnny Burnett. You did such a magnificent job they they all asked me on Tuesday night to not write the Christmas story some of you might've heard, and I when I got together with Rick I sitting by British contact say something I'm a preacher you know I mean preachers about to say something you mean. You just he said that's right, I just want you to read the Christmas story: I just say something he said no just read the Christmas story and so I rated I was standing on Main Street with my wife and there standing next to me when my voice came over the loudspeakers was a cop when that voice came over this couple who are not from Spartanburg. I need to add their and they not from this community, I heard one of them say you know that's the preacher from from the church and the other person said we end and then the other one said, you know, and they started.

I'm glad to say it was it was nice things that they were saying and and after a while I couldn't stand it anymore like I just did this to the man next to me and I sitting I see you you need to make that check. He's a jolly fine person and I would've given anything just to have had them on TV. The way he did a double take at me like this and I could see they were saying to themselves what can we say that we shouldn't see something very special about the word of God is, why don't you this Christmas take God's word and just read. Maybe your father this morning. You say you know I'm so weak and doing devotions and bleeding my family wanted to wanted to just take God's word.

You see friends Christmas makes sense when we go back to the source. When we go back to God's work. Now that lots of things the cards and and. And the reason and the kinds of things that we write in virus wonderful that we seem to each other.

Go back to the source is not only the word that they is the story the word talks about here.

The Bible tells us about the story. This is the original account. This is the way things were. As they happened. This is the centerpiece of all the Christmas prophecy and can you imagine that this word told the story of the 600 years before it actually took place.

That's why it's called prophecy.

God was doing something so special and so meaningful. But you know it's not just the word in the story. It's the name Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14 tells us about Matthew chapter 1 verses 22 and 23 tells us about when we go back to the source we get back to the lay that which is above every name, email you well and you know what that means. It means God with us. Just think of all the people from California to New York City from London to Johannesburg from Pakistan to Malaysia to Thailand uniting all people who are lonely today who have needs and who want one incredible thought we got a group of man in our church. You are amazing fact focus on going to tell you they just three of them. They were down here near helping center in the reconstructed old bicycles do know that they have reconstructed this year. In the last couple weeks, 85 bicycles. People bring by their old bicycles instead of putting them on the garbage. These three men sit down in a little wrinkly old dinky little moving down the end about parking watcher near the helping center that has no heating, no air conditioning roofs about the caving forepart, and these men senior adults simply and they labor and they put together 85 bicycles that they do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ through our church to needy boys and girls all across Spartanburg County. Here I want you to know friends. There is nothing more wonderful in giving a meal and giving a bicycle and giving but I want to tell you the greatest thing you can do is to go back to the source and say Christmas makes sense because of that you will God is with great this Christmas really makes things well, it's not just the source analysis enables us to make sense of Christmas. It's because of the sovereign sovereign what the Bible tells us in verse six of chapter 9. Three things about the sovereign Lord God Almighty number one he tells us a child is born. Number two. He tells us a son is given, and number three, he tells us that a king is going to redo nothing will be upon his shoulder, not by any mistake whatsoever.

God's word tells us that Christmas makes sense number one because of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you notice there in verse six. For unto us a child is born.

Isn't it amazing that this points to the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't this amazing that Jesus began life. We all began. Mother being subject to human predicaments. Please forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message with Dr. Donald just a moment, but it is amazing to think that the Lord would choose to send his son, our Savior, to be fully divine and fully God and fully human. At the same time we think about it it's how Jesus can some ways know what we've experienced. He understands both the highs and the lows and just the other day, Dr. Don was talking about how many people we been praying for that experience this Christmas holiday both as some of the best moments but also some of the most difficult moments know that you're not alone. God's promise never to leave you or forsake you and we hear as well 24 hours a day.

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Now let's dive back in today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton.

It means that if Jesus was born, my friends means that he understand what it means that we and what it means when you try to print this when you face surgery when your love has died, and your lovely understands what it means when you have no money. He understands what it means when you find yourself totally overwhelmed by all predicaments of life, Jesus the child was born, but he doesn't believe they he says a son is given, you see, when the Bible talks about the giving of the son of God, my friends, he steps from the realm of Jesus humanity and he transcends all human understanding into the very pre-existent deity of Almighty God and what is the word of God telling us that her son is given he is saying to us, don't you ever forget when you try to make sense out of Christmas that yes this child is born, but don't you ever forget the preexistent deity of Almighty God that this child was and is and always will be God himself. What a profound God's word takes the baby Christ child right out of the hands of human understanding and he places the baby with whom we identify so readily and he puts them into his right perspective in the heart of the sovereignty of God, and he sees to listen, this is my beloved son in whom I am will please and I have given him because I love the world so much. I am giving my son in order that he might die in order that you might have any adds to that he see his king is going to rule. He says the government will be on his show.

I just think of the burden of government. I can't imagine what it must be like to be the president of the United States. I can't even begin to imagine the load that must come upon a man like that the decisions that have to be made across the world. The presidency of the United States was carrying with it.

You know that every decision you make. Over half the population of America's nocturne agreement. You never again to please everybody.

Everybody's going to be up in arms. And the Bible says listen listen folks, the kingly rule of the one who was born in a manger that this God is sovereign, the government will be upon his shoulders. In other words, beloved friends, he will reign and how does he reign he reigns in our hearts and in our lives. That's the real sense of Christmas you say when it is Jesus reign he reigns in my heart I had someone say to me this week. Pasta why does your church take gifts to needy children in our community. I sent to them because Jesus rise in our heart. Why do we need $5000 for somebody that doesn't even speak our language because Jesus Christ proves and rains in our hearts. That's why you don't ever have to worry about going to a born-again believer and asking them to give back to God. You know why because Christ rules.

That's why you can live God, the source sovereign, but there is one final factor makes so much sense out of Christmas because of the Savior. If you look at Isaiah chapter 9 verse six and seven. There is a profound thought that occurred to me you know when I was born, nobody knew very much about me fact, hardly anybody about, and contrary to public opinion. Nobody knew much about you. And here was that anybody you will begin to grow. We grow and we grow and grow and as we grow we begin to accumulate the characteristics and the accolades that come as a result of our contribution to the world and the society into our families.

Not so with Jesus.

Jesus didn't have to accumulate anything. He was crowned the king before he was even born. And you know what the Bible says about the king.

The Bible tells us four things. He's wonderful, counselor. He's mighty God. He's asking father hears the prayers of peace this Christmas make seems he's the wonderful counselor means there's no confusion as part of God's concern. He's the one we need to go to people today go to astrologers and palm readers cracks charlatans read all kinds of horoscopes. He said wait a minute I'm counselor on the wonderful counselor. He says listen, I'm the mighty God.

I have brought coherence out of chaos in me. There is no chaos.

Jesus was the one who called time out of eternity.

He was the one who fashioned the universe from nothing. That's what the Bible seems he's wonderful, counselor.

He's mighty God is powerful, but he's an everlasting father is Dominion goes on forever and forever. They will be no end. As far as he's concerned, what is the Bible say the Bible say praise the end from the beginning, according to Isaiah chapter 46 and Christine, he declares the end from the beginning. The beginning he's already the everlasting father, I love that one is the Prince of peace, Joy to the world does Christmas really makes things he's the Prince of peace do not. That means it means that because he was born. There is no confusion there is no chaos there is no complexity there is no conflict as far as Jesus Christ is concerned, he is the Prince of peace.

We need the peace of Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace.

Listening to Dr. Don Wilton today teaching and preaching. Perhaps the Lord is surgery hard to realize that you have an need for this Prince of peace again. As you've heard Dr. Wilton teach and preach from the pulpit. I pray you to open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart of life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that. Why don't you pray this prayer, I know love and I know that the Lord Jesus prayed God on it on my feet today, I repent of my sins, I confess my sins and I invite you into my life by faith in Jesus name I pray. If you pray that pray that Mimi the first want to welcome you to the family of this is wonderful. I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying how very important this is for me so we can hope to connect to the right place begin this wonderful and in just a moment. I'm in a come back. Perhaps you displayed along with to give your life to Jesus Christ for maybe rededicate your life to draw a line sensing from this day forward were making a fresh commitment to Jesus, the way we would love to let you know. Dr. Bell would love to pray for you if you let us know who you are. Let us pray for you also Dr. Wilton has some free resources he want you to have to help you grow in your faith. Our phone numbers 8668. Contact us and let us in these resources to you and let us pray for you. That's 866899673 like to would love to connect with you on our website as well@tbwonline.org that's TE W online.org while you're on the website you'll see the wonderful devotion for 2022. Called heaven.

Life in the resurrection. Plus the book Dr. Wilton wrote about this time as being the pastor of Dr. Billy Graham so many great resources. You will also see a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with even more people years Dr. John with the details God has done things again this year through the encouraging. Do you know that over telling us what this ministry means to this life and so many are coming to know Jesus has just given to challenge this ministry asking as he is asking this is an additional thousand dollars.

This ministry by December 31 so that would go out across the London someone came up to me and said thank you for the encouraging of us participate even at 2 to 3 to 4 dollars each. God will help us reach this goal. Yes, we can financially improve ministry The Encouraging Word: 8668998668999673 or you can give on our website, TE, W online.org that's all online.org.

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