Tabor Baptist Church

• What presents did you have at Christmas?
• Comparisons amongst people can be difficult - especially for those who don't have much
• Some feel overlooked at Christmas
• God never overlooks His children
• God has given the most precious present He could - His Son
• God is the God of the small people, the common people, the despised people
• God purposefully chose Bethlehem
• He did not chose Mount Zion
• It was a small city
• It was a prophecy in which Bethlehem was chosen
• Bethlehem in the Old Testament:
• Rachel gave birth in Bethlehem and died in childbirth
• Jacob called the son Benjamin
• Naomi was in sorrow but God turned her situation around
• She would bear a son who was the grandfather of King David
• King David
• A young shepherd boy who became a mighty King
• 2 Sam 7:12-13
• His Kingdom would be everlasting
• If you doubt the veracity of the Bible, just look at all the prophecies fulfilled in the Old Testament
• The decree went out from Quirinus and Mary & Joseph had to return to Bethlehem
• Jesus did rule over His people
• At Christmas we remember Jesus came from heaven, was born of a human, was placed into a vulnerable situation
• The Saviour of the world had been born
• If God chose such an ordinary place for Jesus to be born, would He despise your heart?
• God does not come to the proud but to the poor and humble in heart
• God comes to those who want Him and love Him
• God comes to those who recognise their sin

The Root

• Isa 11:1 - The Messiah will come and bring fruitfulness to this world
• God can bring life from the stump
• God can work in you to bring spiritual life
• This should be an encouragement to every Christian
• God is pleased to use little people
• God's power resides not in us but in Him
• We may feel small but if God is with us this is all that matters

The Return/Remnant

• God chose the shepherds, uneducated fisherman, tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners
• They returned to the Lord Jesus
• Have we returned to Jesus?
• Maybe this Christmas time will be when we return back to God

A Saviour Reigning (v4)

• We have a gentle shepherd who has a gentle reign
• He stands amongst His flock and feeds them
• May be you are feeling vulnerable and spiritually hungry - God will feed you and lift you up
• Jesus stands amongst us
• He is the majestic one
• Jesus rules this world with His truth and grace
• He is everlasting and His Kingdom will have no end
• Many people are worshipping Jesus today
• Jesus shall come again to judge the living and the dead
• Are you one of His subjects?
• Do you know Jesus - have you rejected Him or are you a good and faithful servant?