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December
14-15, 2002 JUST
WHAT YOU NEED AT CHRISTMAS!
Isaiah 9:6, Selected SOMEBODY WHO CAN CHANGE THINGS! $ MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE WANT IS… WHAT
WE NEED FOR CHRISTMAS! *** John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son….” *** Isaiah 9:6 “For a child is born to us, a
son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will
be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.” [New Living
Translation] HE IS
A MIGHT GOD AND SOMEBODY WHO CHANGES THINGS: 1. BY
BEING WHO HE IS! A. HE WAS THE MIGHTY GOD BEFORE
HIS BIRTH! *** Col. 1:16 “Christ himself is the Creator
who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things
we can't; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and
authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory.” [Living Bible] *** Hebrews 1:8, 10 “About the Son he says…,
"In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the
heavens are the work of your hands.”
[NIV] *** John 1:1-3, 14 “In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the
beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that
has been made. 14 The Word
became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” [New International Version] $ THE CREATOR BECAME CREATION! B. HE WAS THE MIGHTY GOD DURING
HIS EARTHLY LIFE! *** John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son and
has placed everything in his hands.” *** Mark 5:11-13 “Over on the hillside a large
herd of pigs was feeding. So the evil spirits begged Jesus, "Send us into
those pigs! " Jesus let them go, and they went out of the man and into the
pigs. The whole herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the steep bank into
the lake and drowned.” [CEV] *** Acts 2:22 “Now, listen to what I have to
say about Jesus…God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work
miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this.” [Contemporary English Version] *** Mark 1:27-28 “The people were all so
amazed that they asked, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority!
He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." News about him
spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” [NIV] C. HE IS THE MIGHTY GOD FOREVER
MORE! *** Rev. 11:15 “The seventh angel sounded his
trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the
world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign
for ever and ever." [NIV] 2. BY DOING
WHAT HE DOES! He specializes in: A. CHANGING HARD HEARTS
INTO HEALTHY HEARTS! *** Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new
heart--I will give you new and right desires--and put a new spirit within you.
I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love.” [Living] *** 2 Cor. 5:17 “What this means is that those
who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for
the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” [NLT] B. CHANGING CALAMITIES
INTO CELEBREATIONS! *** John 2:1-11 “Jesus' mother was a guest at
a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his
disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during
the festivities, so Jesus' mother spoke to him about the problem. "They
have no more wine," she told him.
"How does that concern you and me?" Jesus asked. "My time
has not yet come." But his mother
told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Six stone water pots
were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held
twenty to thirty gallons each. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars
with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim, he said, "Dip
some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So they followed his
instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine,
not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he
called the bridegroom over.
"Usually a host serves the best wine first," he said.
"Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less
expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!" This miraculous sign was Jesus' first display of his glory. And
his disciples believed in him.”
[NLT] *** Matthew 8:27 “ The disciples just sat
there, awed! "Who is this," they asked themselves, "that even
the winds and the sea obey him?" [Living] $ IF HE CAN MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING AND NOTHING
OUT OF SOMETHING – CAN HE TAKE CARE OF YOU! C. CHANGING THE FEARFUL
INTO THE FAITHFUL! *** John 20:26-28 “Eight days later, his
disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came
through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my
hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving.
Believe." Thomas said, "My
Master! My God!" [The Message] *** Philip. 4:13 “Christ gives me the strength
to face anything.” [CEV] D. CHANGING FUNERALS INTO
FIESTAS! *** Matthew 9:23-26 “When Jesus arrived at the
official's home, he noticed the noisy crowds and heard the funeral music. He
said, "Go away, for the girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the
crowd laughed at him. When the crowd was finally outside, Jesus went in and
took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!
The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.”
[NLT] *** Luke 7:12-16 “When the Lord saw her, his
heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and
touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," he said, "get
up." Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk to those around him! And
Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, "We have
seen the hand of God at work today."
[NLT] *** John 11:41-45 “So they rolled the stone
aside. Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out,
bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them,
"Unwrap him and let him go!" Many of the people who were with Mary
believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.” [NLT] *** John 14:1-6 “Don't be troubled. You trust
God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going
to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and
get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know where I am
going and how to get there."
"No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven't any
idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” [NLT] E. CHANGING SINNERS INTO SAINTS! *** 1 Tim. 1:15-17 “Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was
the worst sinner of all! But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy
on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did
this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. I pray that honor and glory will always be
given to the only God, who lives forever and is the invisible and eternal King!
Amen.” [CEV] $ GOD CAME TO MAN SO THAT MAN CAN COME TO
GOD! 3. BY INVITATION
ONLY! *** John 1:12-13 “To all who believed him and
accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn!
This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth
comes from God.” [NLT] $ LET GO
AND LET GOD! “But he said to me, "My grace is enough for
you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very
happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 [NCV] |