NATIVITY: GODS DECLARATION OF HIS FAITHFULNESS | Isaiah 9:6-7

SCRIPTURES: "Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

OBJECTIVES:

1.    To perceive the surpassing grace and mercy that God has for us in that out of His own self, God freely gave the redemption price for man's sins;

2.    To determine man's appropriate response towards this gift.

INTRODUCTION:

➢    The "Nativity" or commonly known the world over as Christmas, is a holy and joyful celebration in recognition of the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ almost two thousand eighteen years ago.

➢    However, in the process of time, this high moment of supposed holy celebration was misrepresented with the incorporation of symbols that took away the true meaning of the occasion.  Santa Clauses,  gift giving, Christmas trees, Lanterns and the colorful Christmas lights took the highlight of this momentous celebration, reducing its value amongst many Christian into just a "season" of the year.

PERVERSION LEADING INTO MEANINGLESS TRADITION.

➢    If you know the song entitled, "We are the reason", it gives us a glimpse of the true meaning of Christmas.  But at the beginning of the song, we would notice what the world system projected in the minds of little children concerning the meaning of Christmas, and that is receiving their gifts.  "As little children we would dream of Christmas morn And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find.."

➢    And that is why, it created into the young minds that Christmas means receiving gifts and enjoying good foods.  I would say this was everyone's experience while we were at a very young age. 

➢    Hence, as the child grows, there is a sense of expectation being developed in their minds that as the year comes to its last quarter, and the month ends with a "BER", Christmas is in the air, and it creates an atmosphere of joy and surprises, knowing that gifts awaits, and what could it be this time?

➢    This was exploited by creative business geniuses, the malls and restaurants and gift experts and they created huge business opportunities out of the occasion.  That is the reason spending rose to an all time high during Christmas season, and every earning person on the face of the earth prepares and expects spending especially those who have plenty of god children or "inaanak".  Most people are saving a huge part of their earnings for this season. 

WHAT THIS SEASON REALLY MEANS TO US:

➢    Then comes the line in the song which says, "But we never realized a baby born one blessed night Gave us the greatest gift of our lives..."   This part breaks the familiar - the receiving of little gifts of temporal value and begins to unveil the true gift of eternal significance.  The greatest gift of our lives is God Himself, incarnate as human like you and me, to take our place and gave His own life for the redemption price for our sins, that we may be saved from damnation awaiting fallen man.

➢    The next line says, "We are the reason that he gave His life. We are the reason that He suffered and died. To a world that was lost He gave all He could give.  To show us the reason to live"

➢    The real meaning of Christmas celebration therefore is remembering our fallen nature, our fateful destiny, and the need for a Savior.  The real meaning of Christmas celebration is reminding us of our lostness and helplessness, that without Jesus Christ in our hearts we would eternally suffer!  The real meaning of Christmas celebration is reminding us of God's great mercy and compassion for lost humanity!

RANSOMED AND REDEEMED FOREVER:

➢    The Bridge of the song goes like this: "I finally found the reason for living,  It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him. In all that I do, every word that I say, I’ll be giving my all just for Him, for Him..."

➢    Have you really found the reason for living?  Have you indeed given your all just for Him who paid the ransom for us?  When He paid the "ransom" price, it indicated that we were pawned and kidnapped.  Yes indeed, we were in the hands of darkness all our lives with no hope or future, destined to be lost forever in eternal flame.

➢    Perhaps we do not really understand what it feels to be literally kidnapped by bad guys.  But you can just imagine this tragedy: in constant fear, with the feeling of being separated from your loved ones, alone, hand-tied, mouth-gagged, lying in a dark room, sweating with tears, chest in pain, uncontrolled sobbing because you cannot cry aloud.  Gun pointed at you and perhaps occasionally beaten by the hoodlums while negotiation for the ransom is being done.  But when the ransom price was paid for your release, all fears gone, free indeed!

➢    Well, the blood that Jesus Christ shed was the ransom price that He paid to rescue us from the grip of darkness.  But the negotiation for our ransom did take a painstaking process on the part of our Redeemer.  It took hours of agony, with the loss of blood, slow death, all pains then death.

➢    You are free!  Free from the bondage of curses and sin to live a sanctified life.  Out of darkness, you became a light!  A light for others who are still held hostage by darkness needing illumination through your light.  Yes, that's what you are!  When you give your all to Him, you live as a light in the dark to reach for others who are still being held hostage by the enemy.  People in the dark are waiting for you and me, they need the light of God through you.

MAN'S APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO GOD'S GREATEST GIFT.

1.    "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given". God willingly gave us the greatest gift - His own Son, Jesus Christ, as an altar sacrifice.   OUR RESPONSE: Are we willing to give God our very own life? He owns it, after all!  He just wanted us to willingly and fully surrender it to Him.  If we make Him Savior of our soul, make Him Lord as well by truly loving Him and fulfilling His Great Commission.  He wants to radically use us in this critical moments when the world is in deep spiritual slumber.

2.    "And the government will be upon His shoulder."  This imply His rule and reign over people.  This means implementation of His Lordship.  In Kingdom principle, lordship means ownership.  God owns us, we are His people, His subjects.  OUR RESPONSE: Be willingly governed by the King, and be prepared to govern with Him.  That means you are being prepared as a Leader for His Kingdom reign.  This is our life's priority! 

3.    "And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Wow! What a description of Who Jesus Christ really is!  Jesus Christ has got it all!  Undeniably, Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God becoming human like you and me, to become a substitute for all to be free!  OUR RESPONSE: Many people do not know Him yet.  Spread the news!  Don't be silent.  Evil triumph because good men kept silence.  The Good News is good news for everyone, and God needs good people like you to proclaim it!

4.    "Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end..."   This means anyone who stands with His team will never be a loser.  His government shall increase and shall stand till eternity comes.  OUR RESPONSE: Would you stand with His army?  He needs fighting Army because the war for the lost is raging.  People will remain victims of the enemy's cruel slavery unless we move and do our part. 

CONCLUSION AND CHALLENGE:

God's greatest gift poses a great challenge for each one of us.  God does not want this gift to be ignored or set aside.  He needs people like you and me to share this gift to people around us.  People whom Jesus Christ suffered and died for.