It All Started in a Manger | Christmas 2023

It All Started in a Manger | Christmas 2023

  1. Christmas is the story of Christ or the Messiah’s entrance into the 3rd dimension! From heaven’s perspective it was an unbelievable spectacle
    1. ”Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬
    2. Think of it, God putting on flesh! And all of heaven witnesses the incarnation that is Christ!
  1. But! On earth’s side it was pretty chaotic
    1. Luke 1:26-38
    2. The angel’s news and the experience were out of this world but then reality hits
    3. Mary has to tell a Mother and a Father
    4. Tell Joseph
    5. After Joseph receives a dream and marries her, the persecution from the community
    6. Has to go to Bethlehem for a census – she’s pregnant and has the baby
    7. ”And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.“ Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬
    8. Death threat on their son’s life.
    9. Male children 2 years and younger were killed so they flee to Egypt
  1. So again, from heaven’s perspective this is glorious but on this earth look at the humility of this King. The King of the universe born in the humble surroundings of a barn
    1. ”For who has despised the day of small things Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬
    2. “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.“ Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬
    3. It’s just like God to start something big but it is concealed within a seed
  1. Christmas Messiah’s entrance was with a bang from angelic perspective because although they may not have known God’s plan they saw just how incredible and miraculous this incarnation was.
    1. Let’s just jump to the end of the Messiah’s time on earth and see His exit!
    2. ”Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done” Isaiah‬ ‭46‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬
  1. Christ’s ascension
    1. Resurrection
    2. Crucifixion
    3. Betrayal
    4. Hailed as King/Palm branches
    5. Miracles signs and wonders
    6. Baptism
    7. Talking with elders at 12 yrs old
    8. A baby in a manger
  1. Our lives at the end will be with a victorious shout of a resurrection just like Jesus! But it will start with a baby in a meek and lowly manger
    1. God plants His Seed in your heart and it’s just the beginning of a Merry Christmas
    2. It all started in a manger
    3. It all starts for us with the seed of God planted within our hearts
    4. ”I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬
  1. It all started in a manger and so it will also start in you clothed in humility, but do not underestimate what a marvelous thing it is that the Lord has done for you. It may look small and insignificant but so did our Savior’s birth!
    1. It all started in a manger

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