12-06-09 AM - The Senses of Christmas: The Sight of Christmas

Click here to download: THE SIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

Pastor Joe Pickens

1. I SEE ANGELS WHO KNOW THEIR PURPOSE

Luke 2:8-14 (NLT)
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened,
10 but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!
11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!
12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” –

2. I SEE SHEPHERDS WHO HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Luke 2:15- 20
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
17 Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
18 All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished,
19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.
20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

3. I SEE A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS HIGHLY FAVORED

That's a paraphrase of what the angel told Mary. "Son of the highest, he'll sit on the throne of his father, David; he'll rule forever; he'll be called the Son of God."

4. I SEE A PEOPLE WHO ARE FILLED WITH HOPE

PROMISE: (To Abraham) "I will continue this everlasting covenant between us, generation after generation. It will continue between me and your offspring forever. And I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. – Genesis 17:7
FULFILLMENT: God gave the promise to Abraham and his child. And notice that it doesn't say the promise was to his children, as if it meant many descendants. But the promise was to his child—and that, of course, means Christ. – Galatians 3:16

PROMISE: The LORD swore to David a promise he will never take back: "I will place one of your descendants on your throne. – Psalms 132:11
"For the time is coming," says the LORD, "when I will place a righteous Branch on King David's throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this is his name: `The LORD Is Our Righteousness.' In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. – Jeremiah 23:5-6
FULFILLMENT: "And it is one of King David's descendants, Jesus, who is God's promised Savior of Israel!” – Acts 13:23
This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David's royal family line. – Romans 1:2-3

5. I SEE YOU REFLECTED IN THE EYES OF GOD

"This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul." – Luke 2:34-35

- Jesus said: “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." – Matthew 20:28

Lord help us to make this holiday about your presence rather than our presents

Happy Birthday Jesus.