Christmas Party.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Alright, go ahead and have a seat.

[0:12] I saw in the foyer some of y’all were worried.

[0:17] Nothing to worry about. [0:20] Nobody’s gonna top me.

[0:24] You know, I’m frequently asked by some of our more traditional members, [0:31] you know, every once in a while it would be nice if you wore a suit.

[0:37] Merry Christmas. [0:39] You got what you wanted. [0:42] I’m in a suit today. [0:45] If this is your first time here, believe it or not, [0:48] my name’s Steve and I am one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:52] And as always, I’m thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you today.

[0:57] If you’re confused by the lovely attire that everyone’s wearing, specifically me, [1:04] this is our Christmas party and I am your host. [1:08] And I’m thankful to be able to spend time with all of you this morning. [1:13] And just from all of the pastors and all of the staff at Village Church, [1:18] we do want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. [1:23] By way of announcement, remember that our service this coming week will be on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m.

[1:31] We will not be gathering as normal next Sunday morning. [1:36] We’re gonna be spending time with our families and worshipping our Savior in our homes. [1:40] But we will be gathering together on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. [1:45] So please come out, please invite your friends and family, [1:48] as many of them will be looking for a place to gather on Christmas Eve. [1:53] And by God’s grace, we will and we will worship God together.

[1:56] We will have some traditional Christmas songs and then we will hear the story of Jesus. [2:01] But this morning, if you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Matthew chapter 1. [2:06] We’re gonna be in Matthew chapter 1 this morning talking about the birth of Jesus Christ. [2:12] We’re gonna be having a Christmas party. [2:12] It’s no Christmas party. [2:14] It would be complete without talking about that as followers of Jesus.

[2:20] We set this time of year aside to reflect on what in my opinion is the greatest miracle that has ever happened on earth. [2:30] That miracle being the moment that God, the creator of all that exists, [2:36] He who has no beginning, He who was never created, [2:39] He who has simply always been completely self-sufficient, completely all-powerful,

[2:46] chose in grace to come and be part of His creation, [2:52] to become one of us in order that He may save you and save me, [3:01] those who have rebelled against Him. [3:04] You know, Christmas is a time for a lot of things. [3:06] It’s a time to give, it’s a time to receive, [3:09] it’s a time for family, it’s a time for friends, it’s a time for fellowship,

[3:13] it’s a time to wear things that we would never wear any other time of the year, [3:19] it’s a time to eat a lot of food, [3:21] it’s a time of year that you realize the Christmas sweater that fit you so well last year. [3:28] Oh my goodness, not so much this year. [3:31] But for some people, it’s a time where you get that coveted day during the week off, [3:37] where almost, I know some of you will be serving the community on that day,

[3:42] but almost everyone gets a day off, a well-deserved, a well-needed day off. [3:48] It’s a time that you do something special for a special someone, [3:52] but for some people, it’s also a time of hard memories, [3:59] it’s a time of disappointment, [4:01] it’s a time of unwelcomed reminders of events that have taken place in your life [4:08] that you may wish had not taken place in your life.

[4:11] But my prayer is that over the next week that all of you are able to take part [4:17] in what is designed to be a season of happiness, [4:22] to be a season of joyous reflection, [4:24] a season where good memories are made with your friends and with your family. [4:29] Let that be your goal for this year, [4:32] but regardless of where life or where your feelings find you this coming week,

[4:38] my hope is that this morning I can remind you of what this season is set aside for, [4:44] for all of us as followers of Jesus to reflect upon. [4:48] I pray that you will not go through this coming week, [4:51] and really the weeks to come, [4:54] without reflecting on the birth of Jesus Christ into this world. [4:58] Christmas should be a time in which the most important aspect of our faith is focused on,

[5:04] or the most important aspect of our faith is communicated and marveled at [5:08] as followers of Jesus at a time in which we can find inspiration [5:12] to live the mission of Jesus all year, [5:15] where we can find that hope that we spend pursuing in our life, [5:21] that time in which we really yearn for the satisfaction of finding [5:26] what is my purpose in this life,

[5:30] of what is that thing that I’m looking for yet I cannot seem to find. [5:35] And so today I want to spend some time unpacking the reminders [5:38] that the birth of Jesus Christ should give us, [5:42] whether or not you believe in Him, [5:44] whether or not you have doubts about Him, [5:45] whether or not you currently find your place in a situation where you’re following Him.

[5:51] My prayer is that in this story, [5:52] I want you to remember that you will find reminders of who Jesus is [5:56] and just exactly what it is that He came to do. [6:01] So join me in Matthew chapter 1, I’m going to start reading in verse 18. [6:06] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. [6:10] When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph before they came together,

[6:15] she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [6:18] And her husband Joseph being a just man, [6:22] and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. [6:27] But as he considered these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, [6:32] saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife. [6:38] For that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

[6:42] She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. [6:45] For He will save His people from their sins. [6:49] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. [6:54] Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, [6:57] and they shall call His name Immanuel, which means God with us. [7:04] When Joseph woke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

[7:08] He took his wife. [7:11] But he knew her not until she had given birth to a son. [7:15] And he called His name Jesus. [7:19] Our Father, we come before you this morning thanking you

[7:25] that you in light of sin and in light of the rebellion that is in this world, [7:32] that you have chosen to redeem. [7:35] You have chosen to put the responsibility on yourself and the burden on your shoulders [7:43] to save sinners such as me. [7:47] And Father, I pray that today that we will be reminded of why we worship, [7:51] that we will be reminded of why we love you,

[7:53] and we will be reminded of why the birth of Jesus is so vital [7:57] to everything that we believe about who God is.

[8:03] Help us this morning. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. [8:07] Number one this morning, Jesus’ birth reminds us that God keeps His promises. [8:15] Jesus’ birth reminds us that God keeps His promises. [8:19] The story of Christmas begins months before the actual birth of Jesus. [8:25] The story begins with two normal young people chosen by God [8:30] to take part in the most extraordinary of circumstances.

[8:33] God intervenes as is His normal fashion in the lives of ordinary people [8:41] to accomplish His eternal plans. [8:45] In order to understand the struggle of what we’re dealing with here, [8:49] we must realize that this is a reminder that any good Jewish man would remember. [8:56] And that is that God promised in the book of Isaiah, [9:00] specifically in 714, which is reminded upon us in chapter 1, verse 23 of Matthew,

[9:06] that God was going to send an extraordinary sign to His people [9:11] through the birth of a virgin, something that is impossible,

[9:17] something that defies every thought of biology that we had then, [9:23] that we still have to this day, because in order to conceive a child, [9:28] there cannot be a virgin involved. [9:31] But God, in His great power, in His great wisdom, [9:35] He chose to give His people a sign that would give them evidence [9:40] that this child is no ordinary child.

[9:43] The only explanation of a virgin birth is the explanation that this is God Himself. [9:50] If it’s not a virgin birth, then it’s not God. [9:55] It says He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[10:02] And God has chosen to give us a magnificent sign [10:06] with what really is a fundamental of faith in Jesus Christ. [10:10] So if you miss this, then you miss the entire personhood of who Jesus is. [10:17] This is why we have a God who is unlike any other God [10:21] that is thought of or followed on this earth. [10:24] This is the uniqueness of Christianity,

[10:28] that we believe that God not only has a name, [10:32] God not only desires to be known, [10:34] but instead God has chosen to make Himself known in a way [10:38] that is completely significant to anything else, [10:41] and that is to come as the person of Jesus Christ. [10:45] So is our God different than other gods

[10:47] has been one of the great questions of our modern culture. [10:50] And the answer is yes. [10:53] To know the true God, you must know Jesus. [10:58] And to call Him by any other name [11:00] or to have any other thought of who God is [11:03] is completely contradictory to the story of Christianity,

[11:06] to the story of who God claims to be, [11:09] and to the story of how God made Himself revealed to all people at all times [11:15] through these most ordinary of people, [11:17] but through the most extraordinary of circumstances. [11:19] He wants us to know that He is a God who keeps His promises.

[11:25] In Isaiah 9 verse 6, He goes further to explain who this child would be. [11:31] And He says, For unto us a child is born, [11:34] to us a son is given, [11:37] the government shall be upon his shoulder, [11:40] his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, [11:44] everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[11:48] And so He wants us to realize that in this birth of Jesus Christ, [11:53] what is happening is something that’s completely unexpected to us. [11:57] We would never assume that the great Messiah, the great Son of God, [12:01] God Himself would come to this earth in any other way [12:05] than that of a conquering, mature King. [12:09] God totally flips the script and He does not come as one through flash.

[12:13] He does not come as one through power. [12:15] But instead, He comes as one who is the weakest among us, an infant.

[12:22] If you know anything about infants, they’re completely helpless.

[12:27] They’re in great need for someone to feed, for someone to care, [12:32] for someone to cultivate, for someone to feed them. [12:36] And this is how God chooses to come into this world. [12:40] But in doing that, He fulfills every promise that He has ever made [12:47] about how He would show Himself to this world. [12:51] God works His plan in real time, through real life.

[12:57] Anyone caught in the situation that Joseph is caught in would be absolutely baffled. [13:02] Joseph was going to try to spare Mary’s honor because who would believe her story? [13:07] Who would believe the story of a young woman who comes to a man [13:11] whom she’s engaged to be married to and say, [13:14] I’m pregnant, now this isn’t Maury Povich, [13:17] this is something that’s a completely unique set of circumstances,

[13:20] an angel actually appeared to me and I have not lost my virginity, [13:24] I’ve been saving myself for you, but I am pregnant.

[13:30] Now most dudes would just laugh, cry, get angry, and then hit the door.

[13:37] Joseph though, having honor, desires to put her away quietly. [13:42] The text says that he’s going to divorce her in a quiet way in order to spare her honor.

[13:50] But then God comes to him through the angel of the Lord and says, [13:55] Joseph, don’t do that. [13:57] This isn’t about sparing her honor, understand, this is about a work that I’m desiring to do. [14:02] And He reminds him of all of the promises. [14:04] He says, this is the work of the Holy Spirit of God in her life. [14:08] She is telling the truth.

[14:14] Joseph obeys.

[14:18] Typically when we pray for God to work through our lives, [14:21] as almost all of us do, I mean if you’re a follower of Jesus, [14:24] I think one of the prayers that you often have in your life is, [14:27] God, use me in the way that you want to use me. [14:30] God, use me to do great things for your name. [14:32] I pray that the gospel will go through my life.

[14:36] And we expect that when He does that, [14:38] that it will be something that will be flashy for us. [14:41] It will be something that will take a life that’s not convenient, [14:44] and it will make it actually more convenient. [14:46] It will take our lives from a place of pain and sadness and sorrow and shame, [14:51] and it will take us to the heights of fame.

[14:53] It will take us to a place of power, a place where we can wield real influence. [14:57] But even in the birth of Jesus Christ, [14:59] God gives us the message that that is not how He works. [15:04] Do you understand that after the angel appears to Mary, [15:08] there are nine more months.

[15:13] There’s morning sickness, there’s pain, there’s discomfort.

[15:19] Anyone that’s been pregnant knows what I’m talking about. [15:21] I haven’t. I’ve looked that way, but I’ve not been that way. [15:27] Some of you big boys know what I’m talking about.

[15:32] But add to what is an uncomfortable yet joyous occasion, [15:37] the shame of having the culture around you, [15:39] because the angel did not appear to her neighborhood.

[15:44] The angel didn’t appear to her synagogue. [15:47] The angel didn’t appear, the text doesn’t tell us, to anyone else really.

[15:54] So for nine months, she has to carry the shame and the scorn of infidelity. [15:57] She has to bear the shame and the scorn of being one who’s accused of fornication. [16:05] And Joseph has to walk the path of a man who everyone believes is probably too weak [16:10] to do what needs to be done under the law.

[16:16] Friends, we are so desirous of God to work in our life, [16:21] but oftentimes we miss what He’s actually doing. [16:25] Because God does not typically show up on the scene in the stories [16:30] of how He makes Himself known through His people [16:32] to do it in ways that make your life more convenient, [16:35] but rather He does it in ways that make our lives a bit inconvenient.

[16:40] And there’s no greater evidence of that than the story of Mary and Joseph. [16:44] As the birth of Jesus Christ unfolds, they walk through this pregnancy. [16:49] They walk through this shame together. [16:52] They walk through the government actually making their lives even harder [16:56] in order so that the God’s prophecy of where He would be born [17:00] would happen in the city of Bethlehem.

[17:03] And they go, and when they show up, the book of Luke tells us, [17:05] they can’t even find a room. [17:08] Imagine being Joseph. [17:10] Honey, we’ve got to stay in the stables tonight. [17:13] Oh, my water broke. Fantastic.

[17:18] I think we’ve got this picture of Mary and Joseph [17:20] that they’re not quite human or something, that Joseph is like, [17:24] I know exactly what to do.

[17:28] Now I think Joseph reacted exactly like I would react. [17:32] What in the world? [17:34] I didn’t think it could be even worse than sleeping in a stable. [17:37] Now I’ve got to deliver a baby in a stable.

[17:40] There’s no midwife. There’s no wet nurse. [17:42] There’s just two very young people who have faith [17:47] in the promises that God always keeps. [17:51] He says, this child will not be any ordinary child. [17:54] This child will be the fulfillment of every prophecy that has ever been made.

[18:01] It was a long, hard obedience in the right direction [18:04] when two people found themselves the recipients of a grace [18:09] that they didn’t expect and they probably weren’t even asking for. [18:14] And our inconvenience in this life, we need to look [18:18] for the hand of God working his will, [18:21] just as we do through the flashy of life.

[18:27] Number two this morning, Jesus’ birth reminds us that God seeks sinners.

[18:34] Look in chapter two, starting in verse one. [18:38] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea [18:41] in the days of Herod the king, [18:42] behold, wise men or magi from the east came to Jerusalem [18:48] saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews? [18:52] For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

[18:58] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.

[19:04] And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, [19:07] he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [19:10] And they told him in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet. [19:15] You, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. [19:20] For from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

[19:27] Now note some of the more peculiar instances in this passage. [19:32] God has made great promises to the people of Jerusalem, [19:35] the Israelites, the Jews, [19:37] and these people from the east, these Gentile, magi, [19:42] which understand what a magi was, [19:44] it’s someone that’s totally disconnected from the life of Israel.

[19:46] So my totally to the east in a foreign country, [19:50] a Gentile who is obsessed with astronomy and astrology. [19:56] So pagan worship. [19:58] These were not three kings, instead these were three priests of foreign pagan faiths.

[20:07] Clearly they know the Old Testament, they come, [20:11] and they think royalty has been born, the star is in the sky. [20:15] Look at Numbers, chapter 24 verse 17. [20:18] I believe they knew what they were looking at. [20:20] They knew the significance of the star because it says, [20:22] I see him but not now, I behold him but not near.

[20:25] A star shall come out of Jacob, a scepter shall rise out of Israel, [20:29] shall crush the forehead of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheph. [20:32] And this is a prophecy that we see that’s fulfilled through the people of Israel, [20:37] and it is yet also to come through the person of Jesus and the magi. [20:41] See a star in their astronomy and astrology, [20:43] and they say this is unlike any star that we’ve ever seen.

[20:47] What if, because it appears to be over where Israel would be, [20:52] what if this is the fulfillment of this Old Testament promise, let’s go there. [20:56] And they set out on a journey arriving some two years after the birth of Jesus. [21:02] Note they did not show up on that night. [21:05] They couldn’t hop on a plane.

[21:08] They didn’t hop in the car. [21:12] They hopped on a camel or a donkey or a horse. [21:15] And they set out on a long journey. [21:18] It took them two years. [21:21] And they said, well, this is so significant, surely he will be in the palace. [21:25] And that’s why they went to Jerusalem.

[21:27] That’s why they go to King Herod. [21:29] And they say, where is he? [21:32] And Herod is disturbed. [21:35] Mostly because he probably knew the prophecy, but he hadn’t noticed the star. [21:39] And then it says the people of Jerusalem as a whole were disturbed. [21:43] They weren’t thankful that possibly prophecy of the coming king was happening.

[21:49] But instead they were disturbed, number one, I believe, because they missed it. [21:52] And number two, because it caused them great fear that they hadn’t noticed it. [21:57] And so they come to Herod and they say, where is he? [22:00] And they look back to the book of Micah. [22:02] And Isaiah, he’s quoting Micah chapter 5 verse 2 there. [22:06] And he says, he’s in Bethlehem.

[22:07] That’s the prophecy. [22:10] But we should not be surprised that Gentiles are coming to find Jesus. [22:15] We should not be surprised that this was something that was for more than just Israel itself. [22:21] In Isaiah chapter 60, which if you want to know all about the prophecies of Jesus, [22:25] note the book of Isaiah because it is all about Jesus and its prophecies. [22:29] It says, and nations shall come to your life and kings to the brightness of your rising.

[22:35] Then in John chapter 12 verse 32, in Jesus’ adulthood during His ministry, [22:40] He says, and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself, [22:46] not just Israel, but I’m drawing the nations to myself. [22:52] And so what we need to understand about the Magi is significant [22:58] that God is not on a mission to save those who’ve been given every opportunity under the sun to know who He is. [23:07] Instead, God is on a mission to save those who know of Him and those who have never even heard of Him.

[23:15] Those who seem the most religious, those who seem the most righteous, those who seem to have it all together. [23:21] God is also after pagans. God is also after those who would worship false gods. [23:28] God is after the entire world to know Him. [23:31] And He interrupts the lives of these pagan men who don’t believe in Him by setting a star. [23:39] Obviously, it’s specifically for them.

[23:43] And He says, you come to Me. [23:46] God is seeking them more than they are seeking Him. [23:50] And that is how God works in His sovereignty to save sinners like you and I.

[23:56] We look at the wise men and we say, oh, those are Gentiles. [23:59] So am I.

[24:03] But God is working. God is drawing. [24:07] God is working His grace into the lives of those who would be excited about His arrival. [24:13] But He’s also working in the lives that those would say, who is He? [24:19] God desires to make His glory known through having grace on sinners, not just saints, because the fact is, none of us are saints.

[24:31] Every one of us is in need of a relationship with God that has been broken because of our sin.

[24:39] In Genesis chapter 3, we see this great divorce between God and man when man decides to sin against Him. [24:49] But then immediately after we fall into sin, God makes a promise that He will come to redeem. [24:57] He will come to destroy sin. [24:59] And what we see in Genesis chapter 3 is that in Genesis chapter 12 and chapter 15, He chooses to begin with just one man named Abraham. [25:05] And we see Him make a promise saying, through you, I will bless the nations.

[25:13] I’m going to raise up a great people from you and it will be for all the families of the earth, the book of Genesis tells us. [25:23] And what the wise men in Matthew chapter 2 revealed to us is that Jesus is the total fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

[25:36] Second Corinthians tells us in chapter 1 verse 20 that all of the promises of God find their yes in Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ alone. [25:48] So friend, if you are looking for hope in your life, if you are looking for hope for your neighbor, if you are looking for hope for the ends of the earth, you find it in Jesus and in Jesus alone. [26:04] But I’ll tell you even more that if you have lost hope in yourself or for yourself, if you have lost hope for someone that you love, [26:14] if you have lost hope for someone who is far from God and it doesn’t seem like they can get any further, I want you to look at the revelation that we find in these magi. [26:25] I want you to look at the revelation that we find in these pagan priests. That no one is out of reach of the sovereignty of God. [26:34] That he is on a mission to save and there is no one so sinful that God does not have mercy for.

[26:44] There is no one so out of touch with who God is that he will not reach down from his throne and reveal the person and work of Jesus to them so that they may come and be finally in worship of our great God and King.

[27:00] This is the God we follow. This is the God we love. This is the God who saves. [27:07] Let us never become so self-consumed that we forget that our God is on a mission to save the entire world from their sin. [27:18] Number three this morning. Jesus’ birth reminds us that Jesus is the greatest gift.

[27:29] Friends, look at verse seven, the following. [27:32] It says,

[28:03] Think about this, okay, so they’re following, they go to Jerusalem and they go to Herod and they say, where’s the baby? Where’s the child? Here’s what happened. [28:12] And then Herod sends them away and he says, oh, go to Bethlehem. And then magically the star appears again.

[28:22] Think about what great wonder of the sovereignty of our Lord we see where God is saying, I am not going to let them miss this. [28:30] And he shows grace upon grace upon grace upon grace. [28:35] And note when the Lord begins to draw you, what begins to happen is that you begin to understand what the joy of the Lord is. [28:43] It says that when they noticed that the star fell upon a certain place, they were filled with great joy.

[28:53] Verse 11, it says, And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped. [29:03] Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [29:08] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. [29:16] After all their seeking, after all their traveling, after all their hopes, after all their dreams, they found Jesus. [29:28] These pagan men who had been drawn by God Himself found the King.

[29:35] They had been traveling for more than two years probably just to see if the prophecies were true. [29:44] They found what they had been looking for their entire lives.

[29:50] You see, no one is following a false God. [29:53] No one is following a false hope. [29:55] No one is following any type of idol no matter what it is, no matter whether it’s in addiction, no matter whether it’s in money, no matter if it’s in fame or power or sex. [30:05] No one is doing these things because they think they have what they need. [30:11] We do these things because we think we need to go somewhere and get what we need because we do not have the satisfaction, we do not have the joy, we do not have the happiness that we want. [30:23] And that is what’s happening in this story with these wise men.

[30:26] They realize that there is something more out there that they need. [30:31] And so they go in search of it. [30:33] And my friend, I believe that there are at least some in here this morning who are searching. [30:39] You are trying to find it. [30:42] You want hope. [30:43] You want satisfaction.

[30:45] You want fulfillment. [30:46] And you go and you go and you seek and you seek and you do not seem to find.

[30:56] This morning understand that as the star appeared for the Magi, the Word of God is appearing to you right now. [31:08] Jesus Christ came for you. [31:12] He came with the message of true joy is only found in him. [31:19] He came with the message that true fulfillment and the worship that you are designed to give in your life is not for any of those things that you may be trying to consume in your life. [31:32] But that worship that you are designed by God to give will only find its completion in Jesus Christ. [31:42] These Magi who had been looking and looking, they come and what is their instant reaction?

[31:48] The moment they lay their eyes on Jesus, they fall on their faces in worship. [31:53] Because that is the only just response to God ultimately revealing himself to you. [32:01] I cannot think of any greater joy than in that moment being those men that are saying he does exist.

[32:10] He has come.

[32:14] Jesus saves.

[32:17] Even the most unexpected of people can find his grace and be changed forever.

[32:28] Believe that.

[32:30] Live your life with that type of hope for yourself and for everyone in your life. [32:39] Friends, live to treasure and give the treasure of Jesus. [32:43] The text tells us that the Magi brought three gifts, you know, the gold, the frankincense, the myrrh. [32:50] I don’t believe it was by accident that they brought gold and frankincense. [32:54] I believe that they knew what they were doing because in Isaiah 60, just a few verses after the rising of the king star, [33:01] we see in verse 6, it says,

[33:12] I believe that they were seeking to fulfill the gifts to royalty from God himself. [33:19] They believed that when they brought these gifts, they were bringing praises to the Lord. [33:24] And that is exactly what they found. [33:27] I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch exegetically to testify that this royalty of Israel was thought of to deserve the finer things in life. [33:37] And even in finding the child in a place that they did not expect to find the child.

[33:44] Text tells us that the moment that they laid their eyes on him, [33:47] I believe that the Holy Spirit of God took the scales of sin off of their eyes and regenerated them right there in that moment. [33:54] And they said, here is the king, here are the gifts. [33:57] They did not leave the gifts with Herod because they weren’t for Herod. [34:03] They were for the true king of Israel, Jesus Christ. [34:08] They intentionally, I believe, sought to be the fulfillment of the how of fulfilling the promise of God to bring these gifts.

[34:19] And by doing so, they became the fulfillment of prophecy. [34:25] Friends, we fulfill God’s promises about the future the same way. [34:30] We know that God will save people through the advancement of the good news, the praise of the Lord, [34:35] the gospel message of who Jesus is and what Jesus did on the cross to save us. [34:43] We must seek to be the tool by which God fulfills that promise through intentionally using our lives to go on His mission, [34:52] to tell people of Jesus and to send others on His mission to tell others of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[35:01] I hope this morning that you realize that the birth of Jesus is the most significant moment in the history of the world. [35:10] Every other moment hinges on that moment.

[35:17] And every moment of you moving forward from here today may hinge on this moment [35:27] of realizing that this is not just another baby. [35:30] This is not just another teacher. [35:31] This is not just another awesome, amazing birth, but rather this is the moment where God came to earth with a mission to save. [35:42] We realize that Jesus, though, was born to die.

[35:48] He was born to die for my sin. [35:50] He was born to die for your sin. [35:51] He was perfect, never sinned. [35:54] I can’t even imagine He made it through that first year, though, but He did. [36:01] Sinless perfection in Jesus. [36:04] Never disobeyed the law.

[36:07] Never sinned against anyone else. [36:11] And then in great grace, He then goes to the cross 30-some years later [36:21] to fully fulfill the promises to those three pagan priests.

[36:32] You see, Jesus saved those priests by going to the cross for their sin, [36:37] for their worship of false gods,

[36:42] for everything that they had ever done before they knew Him [36:44] and everything they would do after they met Him. [36:47] Jesus went to the cross and He died for their sins, and He died for Mary’s sins, [36:51] and He died for Joseph’s sins, He died for the shepherd’s sins, and He died for your sins. [36:59] Then three days later, another miracle, [37:02] this virgin-born perfect Savior rose from the dead

[37:06] so that you could have a new life.

[37:12] So this morning I ask you the question, [37:14] do you treasure the God who is Jesus? [37:19] If you know Him, are you making Him known? [37:24] How does your life reflect a treasuring of Jesus [37:28] the way that these wise men’s lives reflected a treasuring of Christ?

[37:35] This morning you may view your life as ordinary and insignificant.

[37:40] I promise you that no matter where your life is this morning, [37:44] no matter what you are going through, [37:46] no matter how you feel, your life is significant and Jesus proves it. [37:54] God uses the ordinary to accomplish eternal purpose. [37:59] If you live to seek and worship Jesus, [38:03] God will use that to accomplish His eternal plans for this world.

[38:11] And when you do that, you will see yourself [38:15] wanting others to know Him. [38:16] You will see yourself just as these wise men were as they went home. [38:20] They went home with a great message that the King has come, our God is here. [38:25] He went to a land of people who didn’t know Him. [38:28] Just as many people after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ went,

[38:33] started churches, started new works so that the world could know. [38:39] This morning I want you to understand that the birth of Jesus says [38:43] that your life exists to make Him known.

[38:50] Just for a moment, I want to watch a video on the screen [38:54] of some people right here at Village Church who purposed in their lives [38:57] to make Jesus known.

[39:16] Yinchuan, China is a city of about 2 million people in northwest China. [39:20] It’s in a very arid climate and sits on the Yellow River. [39:23] The majority of folks living in Yinchuan are Han Chinese people. [39:28] Over 90% of all Chinese people are Han Chinese, [39:31] but in Yinchuan it’s a little bit different because [39:34] over 30% of the population is actually Hui Muslim.

[39:38] The Hui Muslims are a totally different people group, [39:42] and therefore the look and feel of the city is also a little bit different too.

[39:50] Our team was comprised of myself, Anup and Adrienne Joseph and Christina Mercer. [39:56] Anup and Adrienne are newlyweds. [40:00] They’ve been married since this past January. [40:05] This was Christina’s first trip overseas. [40:07] I’ve been on several different missions trips to China, [40:12] including living there for about two and a half years.

[40:15] Well, Adrienne and I decided to go to China because Mike asked us about it [40:19] and told us about it and we thought about it, prayed about it, [40:23] and felt like God was calling us to China at this time [40:27] to see what way we could help him and to spread His Word and His Gospel. [40:33] My roommate went last year and she just couldn’t stop talking about [40:37] her experience and I’ve always wanted to go on a short-term mission trip,

[40:42] so I prayed about it and everything just worked out with my work schedule [40:47] and the finances to where I was able to take that time off and to go. [40:52] The purpose of our trip to China was to hopefully share the good news [40:56] with people who have never heard it before, [41:00] as well as encourage the local workers there too. [41:03] Yeah, we definitely had many opportunities to be able to share,

[41:09] share the full Gospel and pieces of the Gospel with a good handful of people. [41:16] I was able to go to a girls movie night with about 13 other girls [41:21] and we watched a love story comedy and afterwards we were able to discuss [41:27] what they were looking for in love and relationships [41:32] and by the end of the night we were able to share with them [41:37] that we wanted to study what the Bible actually says about love and God’s love.

[41:43] One of the things that we did while we were over there [41:44] was look for ways to bridge our English conversations toward the Gospel. [41:50] So we were always looking for natural ways to be able to bring up Christ. [41:57] Christina and I had the chance to meet up with one of the girls we met at an English corner [42:03] and so we met up with her at the mall and we got ice cream there [42:07] and sat down and as soon as we sat down at the table

[42:13] the first question that this girl asked me was, [42:18] what kind of things do you like to read?

[42:22] And my initial thought was, well I really don’t read that much. [42:27] I read the Bible and I read Christian books but that’s about all I read. [42:32] So I’m thinking, do I tell her this?

[42:36] I was thinking we would ease into a spiritual conversation [42:39] but here she just opened up the door for me. [42:42] So I was like, well I don’t really have anything else to say because that’s about all I read. [42:47] So I guess we’ll just jump right in. [42:50] So that’s what we did and I told her I liked to read the Bible [42:53] and from there I was able to share the whole Gospel with her between Christina and I.

[43:04] Anyone in Village Church who has prayed for the team, [43:08] who provided goods to be auctioned at Village Palooza, [43:11] who purchased the goods, who has supported the Laudamune Christmas offering, [43:16] all of these things have helped advance the Gospel in China.

[43:24] So Village Church, you really are making a difference through your prayers, [43:27] through your giving and hopefully through your going soon as well.

[43:37] As the band comes up, I want you to know that as a way to respond to this, [43:44] because it’s very easy for us to hear this and say, [43:47] yeah, I have a purpose, God has saved me, God wants to use me. [43:51] And then very quickly during lunch we kind of think about it a little less [43:56] and then as the afternoon goes on we think about it a little less. [43:59] But this morning you have a way to respond immediately to the fact that God is going on mission.

[44:07] We see Him go on mission to the men in the east to draw them to Himself [44:12] and after the resurrection of Jesus Christ He has told us to go. [44:17] He’s already out there, He’s already seeking to save the world. [44:21] Every year, the Sunday before Christmas, we do something a little significant [44:25] as our response to the sermon. [44:27] That is that we give to the Laudamune Christmas offering.

[44:31] This morning, I want you to understand that as we take up the offering as we do every week, [44:35] this one’s different. [44:37] Not a penny that’s given this morning stays inside of these walls. [44:42] Every penny, every dime, every dollar that’s given this morning goes to the Laudamune Christmas offering. [44:49] And what that is, is that is an offering that goes to completely, 100% support [44:55] the work of international missions through the International Mission Board

[44:58] so that men like the wise men can continue to come to faith in Jesus Christ. [45:04] So that we can go support missionaries internationally to help them engage their community [45:09] and help them engage their culture just as we did in this video [45:13] and just as we have done probably over a half dozen times at this point in our young age.

[45:20] So understand that if God is Jesus and Jesus is the King, [45:25] then He’s the King over every aspect of your life [45:27] and you need to use every part of your life to go and to send missionaries. [45:37] So this morning as the ushers come forward, [45:41] I’m going to ask you if you’re a part of Village Church [45:44] or even if you’re not a part of Village Church

[45:46] and you say, I want to send missionaries, [45:48] understand we’re not going to use any of this money here this morning, [45:51] we’re going to send it out. [45:53] I’m going to ask you to give generously this morning in these baskets [45:57] or on our website to the Laudamune Christmas offering. [46:03] Thank you.

[46:07] Thank you.