Bible Text: Luke 2:8-20 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Christmas Services | Introduction
The promise of Christmas
Christmas is all about the fulfillment of God’s promises to us
As humans – we often break our promises: poor memory, forgetfulness, lies
God is not like a man that He should lie
Reading 2 Cor 1:20
All the promises in God are ‘Yes and Amen’
God’s promises:
A virgin shall be with child
Immanuel
God became man
Bethlehem chosen to be the birth place of the Saviour – Micah 5:2
Considering the promises of God:
The Promise of a Saviour
The Promise of Emmanuel
The Promise of an Everlasting Kingdom
The Promise of a Saviour
Do you ever listen to old messages? – examples
Nothing compared to the promises God brought
Remember the promise from the angels to the shepherds
The promise of a Saviour
He has come for all people
Joseph was told the child’s name will be Jesus, for He would save His people from their sin
Our great difficultly over Christmas is the sin within
Christ came to free us from the tyranny of sin
We have a new life in Christ
Free from the dominion of sin
God no longer remembers our sin
God will be merciful
Whoever believes in Christ will not perish and will have everlasting life
Quote from Micah
The Promise of Emmanuel
Life can be a battle for the believer, but remember:
We are united with God
Quote from Corinthians
Although we face death – God is with us
Although we may go through turbulent times – God is with us
In our present and future life circumstances – God is with us
Quote from Carol Immanuel – ‘If God is for us, who/what can be against us’
Example of how God protected Mary, Joseph and Jesus
The Promise of an Everlasting Kingdom
Reading Luke 1:32
Our world has an ‘end date’
God’s world will endure forever
The words of Handel’s Messiah
Consider that there is a shaking of the nations – examples
The Christian need never fear
Quote from Carol
Christ is coming again to reign
Reading Isaiah 9:6-7
The comfort for the church is that Jesus Christ will reign forever and forever
The kingdoms of this world are temporary
Christ’s kingdom is unshakable
Closing Remarks