December 10-11, 2005, Galatians 4:3-5

JOURNEY TOWARDS NARNIA!
"Always Winter and Never Christmas!"

*** Luke 2:1-7 "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." [NIV]

*** Galatians 4:3-5 "So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." [New International Version]

WE HAVE HOPE AT CHRISTMAS:

1. BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS EVIL IS DEFEATED!

EVIL WITH A CAPITAL D – THE DEVIL!

*** 2 Cor. 11:14 "But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light." [NLT]
*** Genesis 3:15 "From now on you and the woman will be enemies, as will your offspring and hers. You will strike his heel, but he will crush your head." [Living Bible]
*** 1 John 3:8 "When people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil." [NLT]
*** Romans 8:1 "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud." [Message]

JESUS IS ON THE MOVE AND I’VE BEEN SET FREE!

2. BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS DEATH IS HARMLESS!
*** Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears....The Lord has spoken!" [New Living Translation]
*** Hosea 13:14 "I want to free them from the power of the grave. I want to reclaim them from death. Death, I want to be a plague to you. Grave, I want to destroy you. I won't even think of changing my plans." [God's Word to the Nations]
*** 2 Tim. 1:10 "It has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light...." [NIV]
*** Hebrews 2:14 "Because God's children are human beings-made of flesh and blood-Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death." [NLT]
*** 1 Cor. 15:55-57 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!" [NLT]

JESUS IS ON THE MOVE AND I’M NOT AFRAID OF DEATH!

3. BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS SIN’S PRICE IS PAID!
*** 1 Tim. 1:15 "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...." [NIV]
*** 1 John 3:5 "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin." [NIV]
*** 1 Peter 2:24 "He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds!" [NLT]
*** Hebrews 10:5-7, 10 "When Christ came into the world, he said to God, "Sacrifices and offerings are not what you want, but you have given me my body. No, you are not pleased with animal sacrifices and offerings for sin." Then Christ said, "And so, my God, I have come to do what you want, as the Scriptures say." 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all." [Contemporary English Version]
*** Luke 2:8-11 "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." [NIV]

JESUS IS ON THE MOVE AND MY SIN IS PAID IN FULL!

4. BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS HELP HAS COME!
*** Isaiah 61:1-2 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come...." [NLT]
*** 2 Cor. 4:17 "Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine." [GW]
*** John 10:10b "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." [Message]

JESUS IS ON THE MOVE AND MY HOPE IS RESTORED!

"With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back."
2 Corinthians 3:12 (Message Bible)