Waiting for Christmas

Rev Gideon Lee

Luke 2:22-38

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Christmas is just around the corner and how many of you are excited about Christmas? It's the holidays and there's going to be good food and the children can't wait for Christmas because they get to open their presents.

But this morning what are you waiting for this Christmas? What are you hoping to achieve this Christmas?

I read that some children writes to Santa hoping to get the presents they long for. Maybe for us, Christmas is just another event or another celebration. Many people are depressed during the the festive period because they miss their loved ones who's not there. What does Christmas means to us?

Simeon was waiting for Jesus. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Also known as the comforter. During Simeon's time, Israel was under the rule of the Romans and he was looking for comfort. Maybe some of you here are looking for comfort.

This morning at Hokkien service, Sis Siew Kim was worship leading when news came that her mother fell down. She still served and went home immediately after her worship leading and Sis Grace prayed for her. Maybe we need comfort. Simeon was like that, living in difficult times and under a difficult king.

This morning I say to you, you will see the comfort of God. Simeon wanted the comfort. Look at verse 28.

Luke 2:28-32

28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

Under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit Simeon was summoned there and he took him in his arms. He took the child and began to prophesy.

What about the prophetess Anna? She was looking for the redemption of Israel. What does redemption means to you? What will you think of in redemption?

It talks about people in captivity and how we wait for someone to redeem us. Jesus redeemed us from sin. Look at what she said.

Luke 2:38

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

We all need comfort. Maybe some of us here needs forgiveness. We need to get our life right. Anna was waiting for forgiveness. What about you? Is it just another celebration? I hope not. We need to be marvelled. Or be in awe. Do you marvel at Christmas?

Sometimes we can become so jaded and forget how to marvel. Like how your children used to marvel at you when they were young. Then they grew up and they think they know more than their parents. And we are no longer their superman. And we like to say we eat more salt than they eat rice. We can come to that stage where we no longer marvel at what God did. One of the most important doctrine is Christmas, is that God became man, Emmanuel. God became man. The incarnation. That was what God did for us. God is with us.

On Christmas day, I still marvel at why Jesus came and what he did. Why should he come and be with us? Born in a manger. I marvel at what he did. Marvel at Christmas. Jesus came.

Joseph and Mary marvelled at who he is. Even the parents marvelled. They were parents who saw his birth yet they marvelled. I hope we all marvel at him.

Not just that but become a mover.

Luke 2:27-28

27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

I hope this morning all of us are movers. We need to have action. This Christmas the cells are having their Christmas event. If the Lord speaks to you to bring someone, invite someone. Be a mover. Dead people are still. Not just be marvelled but be a mover. Simeon was a mover. When the Holy Spirit directed him he came. He was a mover.

Don't just sit still this Christmas but be a mover.

Last but not least, be a messenger. We are alive to do something. When the wise men saw the star, they knew something special was happening. If they did not follow the star they would not have seen Jesus. We need to move this Christmas when the Lord challenges us. When we marvel at God it is easy to be a mover. Like the wise men. They brought gifts to worship him. Knowledge must always end with worship. We need to apply the knowledge that God gives you.

Be a messenger.

Luke 2:38

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

She gave a message to everyone there about Jesus. Out there the message of Christmas has been confusing enough. How many of you saw the Christmas decoration at Queensbay? There's Santa and sleigh and reindeer. That's not Christmas and not very Malaysian too. We only have rain and flood. Tell them the true meaning of Christmas.

Is there something special that you are waiting for this Christmas? Be marvelled and be moved. Then be a messenger.

There was once a rich man who has a passion for the arts. He has a huge collection of paintings. And he shared his passion with his son. They talked a lot about art everyday.

One day the war came and the son was drafted to be a soldier. Sadly a few weeks later he received a letter that his son was killed. He was so disheartened and disappointed. He fell into a depression and it was near Christmas.

He had a knock on his door and a young man was at the door. He told the man that his son died trying to save me. He said he had nothing to remember him so he drew a portrait of his son and he wanted to give the man. He saw the drawing of his son but he was not a good painter. But when he saw his son's portrait his heart lifted. He placed the portrait of his son above the fireplace. All his other paintings no longer attracted him. He just looked at his son's portrait.

When he died many collectors wanted to buy his many collection. When the auction came, all gathered to buy his paintings. The first picture was the picture of his son. Everyone was disappointed because it was amateur and not one of the good ones. But the auctioneer said the owner wanted the portrait of his son to be sold first. Everyone thought they would not be interested and waited for this to past so they can get to the good stuff.

But a man behind said he will buy it because he said he was a friend of the son in school. He said he didn't have much but can only offer 10 dollars for it. The auctioneer asked if there's any other bid but no one was interested. It was sold to the young man and the auctioneer said the auction is now over.

The others murmured and said where are all the other good stuff? And the auctioneer said the owner said this "He who has the son has everything else".

What Does it Mean to have God with Us?

Rev Gideon Lee

We are going to celebrate Christmas in a week's time and we know that is the day Christ came to be with us. Emmanuel, God with us. What does it actually mean?

The name Emmanuel only appeared 3 times in the Bible. Twice in Isaiah and once in Matthew.

Isaiah 7:10-14

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

That's the first time it's mentioned.

Isaiah 8:8

and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it,

passing through it and reaching up to the neck.

Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, Immanuel!”

That's the second time. Now let's look at Matthew.

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

What does it mean to have God with us? What does it mean to have Emmanuel?

There was a story about a submarine in the war that sank. The people in there were clinging on to every oxygen tank in the submarine. They were desperate and clinging to any hope. The captain sent out mayday and all were waiting or a rescue. After a while, hope starts to diminish after every hour.

If it's a boat you can still jump out and cling to anything that float but this was a submarine. Suddenly, as divers were looking for the submarine, the people in the submarine was knocking in Morse code hoping the divers can pinpoint where the submarine is. The Morse code was their hope. And from outside, they'll knock back with the code, there is hope.

That is the cry of humanity. We all want to have hope. Someone posted that he dreamt that the ringgit was soaring. We all hope. Is there hope? Maybe you are going through a trying time and you're asking the same question. Is there hope?

John Wesley passed away in 1971 and his last words was that God is with us. He was suffering in pain but he said that God is with us. And that is what we are celebrating in a week's time. God is with us.

This morning I want to ask three questions. Emmanuel was mentioned in three instances. The question is what does the word Emmanuel meant to Isaiah? Second, what does Emmanuel meant to Matthew? And lastly what does Emmanuel meant to you?

Isaiah was speaking to King Ahaz. He was a terrible king. He would sacrifice his own children to the gods. This was a mean and cruel king. At that time the Assyrians were increasing in power. Syria and Israel and Judah wanted to form a coalition so that they can fight the army of the Assyrians.

King Ahaz wavered and was undecided whether to join or not. Because of this Syria and Israel wanted to punish him and put another king on Judah. But King Ahaz, being cunning, he made a pack with the Assyrians. But the pack didn't last and the Assyrians turned on him.

So he was in a desperate situation when the prophet asked him to turn back to God. But King Ahaz in all his pride refused and use men instead. Because of that Judah suffered greatly.

Isaiah 7:13-14

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah announced to Ahab and told him he would have got a sign. And a name will be given even before the child was conceived. And that there will be peace in the land but the king refused.

In spite of King Ahaz failure, God did not withheld his son. God still sent his son on Christmas day. God is still faithful to bless and take care of you. Sometimes in our own stubbornness, God is still faithful. What Isaiah saw was God's faithfulness. He saw hope in the name Emmanuel. That there was still hope in God. Emmanuel, God with us. He is here with us. God's very presence is here to dwell amongst us.

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

This is the God we serve. Isaiah saw hope in God. That God will come true for them. How many of you know this song that we sing from Isaiah 7?

What about Matthew. What does Emmanuel means to him?

Matthew 1:23

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

For Matthew it was something like this. There was an artist that drew a winter scene. It was a dark and dreary house that looked lonely and empty. It was not a cheerful picture. Right in it was a snowstorm. You could see that it was not cheerful. Then the artists took a dab of yellow and he showed the fire that was in the house through the window. In all that dark and dreariness was a beam of light.

And in Jesus  was that beam of hope. That was what it was like to Matthew. For him it meant salvation in the midst of darkness. They were living under the yolk of the Roman empire under king Herod. Emmanuel meant that God came to offer salvation. But we know Jesus  came not to establish a physical Kingdom but a spiritual Kingdom. Many of them thought he was coming to establish a physical Kingdom but that was not why Jesus came. Matthew saw salvation from sin.

So what does Emmanuel means to you? Is it just a name or just another celebration? To me it means a God who cares. He could have just stayed in heaven but he came. What does this earth means to him? He came because he cares.

He is also a God who understands. He went through life like how we will. In all its pains and disappointments. There was not much said about his life when young. Some of the cheeky youths ask me did Jesus fall in love. He understands us. If he was a God that stays in the heavenlies and he say he cares for me, I would ask how would he know? But Jesus went through everything including betrayal. He understands our weaknesses as well. Yet he still came.

Emmanuel also means a God who loves me. By his demonstration on the cross. How would you know God loves you if I ask you this? The Bible tells us so and all of us have experienced it. He bothered to send his one and only son. He went and made himself like man that he can understands me.

He's also Emmanuel, a God who forgives me. I don't know how many times I've failed him but he still forgives. This Christmas has been the busiest for me but wherever I shared I always tell them that God forgives.

I was speaking in USM in their Christmas Celebration event and they had a hall of about 150 people and it was packed, organised by the Christian Fellowship of USM. At first I was not sure because of my timing but I went ahead to go preached.

I shared about Christmas and at the end of it I made an altar call. Sometimes in my heart I still say what happens if nobody comes out? But I still made an altar call. This is USM with thinking people who questions. When I made the call, there were four that came out for salvation and I was surprised. That was the last place I'd expect people to come out. They came out and were crying. God still forgives. He came to offer us the forgiveness of sin.

Doesn't matter how well they looked on the outside, everyone who does not know Jesus  is not complete. They came out and gave their lives. God is just awesome.

Emmanuel is also a God that has saved me. I've tasted of his goodness. He is a God that saves and offers each and everyone of us the gift of salvation. In God we have everything. He who has the son has everything.

What does Emmanuel means to you church? That you have to sort it out. That you'll have an answer. What does Emmanuel means to you? What does God with us means to you? What does Christmas means to you?

For Isaiah it was hope. For Matthew it was salvation. For you, what does Emmanuel means to you?

The Word Made Flesh

Sis Melinda Song

In the book Stewarding Christmas, author Scott Rodin pointed out that “the Incarnation is the greatest event in the history of the human race!”

As we approach Christmas I would like us to take a closer look at the Incarnation.

Text: John 1:1-3, 14, 18

A. WHAT IS THE INCARNATION?

Like the Trinity, the Incarnation is an essential doctrine of the Church. Like the Trinity, the word "Incarnation" does not occur in the Bible. It is a word which has been coined to express the idea of Jesus Christ coming to earth in human form.

It comes from the Latin words "in," which has the same meaning as our English word "in," and "carnis," which means "flesh." Flesh is the solid part of our being, the part that we can see and touch, in contrast to our mind, soul, and spirit.

The word is a Latin term that literally means "the act of being made flesh." This Latin term was used in John 1:14, which speaks of Jesus who "became flesh and dwelt among us."

Throughout human history, good men and women have been deified. In mythology, it is not uncommon for gods take on human form and walk among man. BUT there is nothing in fact or in fiction in the history of man which matches the mystery of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Humanly speaking, no one anticipated God’s coming as baby born in a humble manger. We would expect God to appear on earth like Mr Bean or Terminator-style. Even the Jews who were looking for the Messiah did not expect him to come in this way.

John 1:1-3, 14, NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Our God is a God who speaks. Christ was called “the Word,” “the Word of Life” and “the Word of God.” The LORD God who has spoken in times past has revealed Himself fully in the coming of His Son.

John declares Jesus as fully God in John 1:1-3.

 •    “In the beginning” - The virgin conception and birth in Bethlehem does not mark the beginning of the Son of God. Rather, it marks the eternal Son entering physically into our world and becoming one of us. Jesus was pre-existent before all things. He was “in the beginning with God” (v.2) and He created all things (v. 3). Compare with Genesis 1:1.

Jesus himself declared “before Abraham was, I am” (John 5:58)

•    “the Word was with God” - John affirms Jesus’ separate personality. An awareness of a diversity within the Godhead.

•    “the Word was God” – Jesus was fully God. “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)

John declares Jesus as fully human.

•    The Word became flesh (v.14)

Galatians 4:4-7, NKJV

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 

The Gnostics denied that Jesus was truly a human being. Yet the Apostle John verified “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14) by the fact that the eyewitnesses of Jesus had heard, seen and touched Him (1 John 1:1-3).

John even went so far as to assert that these heretical Gnostics were false prophets in the spirit of the antichrist when they denied that Jesus had “come in the flesh” (1 John 4:1-3).

B. UNDERSTANDING THE INCARNATION

Philippians 2:5-7, NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 

Jesus did not give up any of his divinity in the incarnation. Christ “was not now God minus some elements of his deity, but God plus all that he had made his own by taking manhood to himself.” (Packer). Thus, Jesus did not give up any of his divine attributes at the incarnation. He remained in full possession of all of them. For if he were to ever give up any of his divine attributes, he would cease being God.

Jesus veiled His glory as a sign of his humility. He voluntarily makes Himself of no reputation. He sets aside His high position and waives His divine prerogatives because He loves us. But while Christ surrenders His divine glory, he does not surrender His divine attributes.

The Incarnation teaches that the eternal Logos (Word), the second person of the Trinity, without diminishing His deity took to Himself a fully human nature. Specifically, this doctrine teaches that a full and undiminished divine nature, and a full and perfect human nature were inseparably united in the one historical and divine person of Jesus of Nazareth. 

C. MISUNDERSTANDING THE INCARNATION

Theologians have grappled with the mind-boggling concept of our Lord being both fully God and fully man at the same time. Millard Erickson identified the following 6 Christological heresies in his book Christian Theology (Baker, 1985):

Heresies Regarding Christ’s Deity

•     Heresies which deny the genuineness of Christ’s deity: Ebionism

Jesus was human but possessed of unusual gifts through God’s power that descended on him in a special way at his baptism.

•     Heresies which deny the completeness of Christ’s deity: Arianism

They believed that the Word was a created being, though the first and highest created being. He was a demigod, an intermediate being, not God (this is the theology of modern-day Jehovah’s Witnesses).

Heresies Regarding Christ’s Humanity

•     Heresies which deny the genuineness of Christ’s humanity: Docetism

Jesus was a hologram. He only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but really he was a pure spirit and so could not die.

•     Heresies which deny the completeness of Christ’s humanity: Apollinarianism

Jesus had a human body and soul, but a divine mind.

Heresies which divide Christ’s person: Nestorianism

Jesus was two “persons” – Jesus the human son of Mary and Jesus the divine Son of God - rendering him somewhat schizophrenic.

Heresies which confuse Christ’s natures: Eutychianism

Jesus’s nature was a hybrid of divine and human, and therefore a third, altogether new nature.

Jesus’ apostles were Jewish monotheists; nevertheless they were convinced that in Jesus Christ of Nazareth they had encountered none other than God in human flesh. 

The doctrine of the Incarnation is the result of the Christian church’s sustained and critical reflection upon the overwhelming Scriptural evidence that Jesus is indeed both God and man. 

D. THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

Like the Trinity, the incarnation is often considered to be logically incoherent.

1 Timothy 3:16, NKJV

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

How do we understand the mystery of the Incarnation itself?

Mystery is theology's label for any divine reality that we know is actual (because the Bible tells us so) while not knowing how it is possible (since it outstrips our minds). We know it by faith, taking God's Word for it, and see it as above (but not against) reason. The Trinity, God's sovereignty over human freedom, and our union with the risen Christ in new birth are examples. So is the incarnation of the Son of God.

Deuteronomy 29:29, NKJV

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

The things that are of God are far beyond the capabilities of our finite mind to comprehend, much less explain.  We have to leave room for the mysteries of God in order for God to be God.

E. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INCARNATION

1.    The Incarnation reveals the humility of our Servant King

Jesus is no typical king. Jesus didn’t come to be served. Instead, Jesus came to serve (Mark 10:45). His humility was on full display from the beginning to the end, from Bethlehem to Golgotha. Paul glories in the humility of Christ that “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).

2. The Incarnation fulfils prophecy

The incarnation was predicted in the Old Testament and in accordance with God’s eternal plan. Perhaps the clearest text predicting the Messiah would be both human and God is Isaiah 9:6: “To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah prophesied that a son is to be born with extraordinary names that point to his deity. And taken together they point to him being the God-man, Jesus Christ.

3.    The Incarnation is necessary for salvation   

The Son of God came in the flesh in order to be the Saviour of mankind. First, it was necessary to be born “under the law” (Galatians 4:4). All of us have failed to fulfill God’s Law. Christ came in the flesh, under the Law, to fulfill the Law on our behalf (Matthew 5:17; Galatians 4:5).

Secondly, the shedding of blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). A blood sacrifice, of course, requires a body of flesh and blood.

If Jesus were only divine, or like an angel, He would not be flesh and blood. Only because He took on human flesh could He be the sacrifice to atone for our sins (Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:38). 

An early church father, Gregory of Nazianzus, said, “That which was not assumed is not healed.” By that, he meant that had Jesus not taken on (assumed) human flesh, our sins would not be forgiven (healed). Because Jesus did take on human flesh, lived a sinless life (Heb. 4:15) and offered His sinless life on the cross of Calvary, He can provide forgiveness, atonement, salvation and eternal life for us (Rom. 5:1-21).

Without the Incarnation, Christ could not really die, and the cross is meaningless.

4.    The Incarnation shows the love of God for us

The Incarnation reveals a God who loves us so much that He came to earth and took on a human form on our behalf, ultimately to give up His life to pay for our sins and offer us eternal life with Him (John 3:16).

5.    The Incarnation reveals a God who is both transcendent and immanent

He is different from us, free of our frailties and, at the same time, like us, deeply aware of our struggles, attuned to our needs, in our skin.

A god who is only transcendent is incapable of loving us.  A god who is just like us may care, but is incapable of delivering us. A god who is both transcendent and immanent is the only kind of God who can help us: different enough to be capable of saving us — enough like us to understand our needs.  Both are necessary to the Christian message.

ILLUSTRATION: There was once a man who didn't believe in the Incarnation and was skeptical about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in her faith. He sometimes mocked her faith and her religious observances.

One snowy morning around Christmas time, she was taking the children to a church service. She pleaded with him to come, but he firmly refused. He ridiculed the idea of the incarnation of Christ and dismissed it as nonsense. "Why would God lower himself and become a human like us?! It's such a ridiculous story!" He said. So she and the children left to worship while he stayed home.

After they left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As he looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening.

Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window. Another thump. He looked through the window but couldn't see. So, he ventured outside. In the field near his house he saw a strange sight: a flock of geese! They had apparently been flying south to a warmer climate when they got caught in the snow storm. The snow had become too blinding and the wind too violent for the geese to fly or see their way. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They fluttered their wings and flew around the field in circles blindly and aimlessly.

The man had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, "The barn would be a great place for them to stay! It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm." He tried many things to get them to go into the barn. In frustration, he went over and tried to run after them and chase them toward the barn. They only got scared and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth, safety, and shelter.

Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "Why don't they follow me! Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm! How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them!" He thought for a moment and realized that they just won't follow a human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become like one of them! Then I could save them! They would follow me and I would lead them to safety."

Then he began to understand the Incarnation... We are like the geese -- blind, gone astray, perishing. God became like us so He could show us the way and make a way available to save us. That is the meaning of the Incarnation, he realized in his heart.

Jesus is Emmanuel — God with us.

•     It means that God is on our side. He is not a distant deity, judging us from heaven. He made himself weak and vulnerable. He is infinitely above us, but he came alongside us.

•     It means that God identifies with and understands us. The Creator entered into His own creation and participated in humanity along with the rest of us. Jesus experienced the challenges of growing up (Luke 2:42) and of being tempted (Matt. 4:1-11, Heb. 4:15). He knows what it means to be hungry (Matt. 4:2, 21:18; Mark 11:13; Luke 4:2) and thirsty (John 4:7, 19:28).

The author of Hebrews writes, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things. . . . For because he himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:14).

Hebrews 4:15 says, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are – yet was without sin."

E. THERE IS A MAN IN HEAVEN TODAY

One of the lesser-known biblical doctrines concerns Jesus as a man right now. Jesus did remain a man, is still a man today, and will remain a man for eternity. 

Many do not know that right now in heaven Jesus is a man though in a glorified body.  He forever joined our humanity to his divinity and for all eternity will be fully God and fully man.

1 Timothy 2:5, NKJV

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

In Philippians 3:20–21, Paul writes, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Jesus didn’t shed his human skin. He still has a body—a “glorious body,” a perfected human body, a body like we haven’t yet experienced but one day will experience when he transforms us.

F. CONCLUSION

It was a quiet Saturday morning on March 5, 1994 at the Salt Lake City Library as eighty people quietly watched a Tibetan sand-painting ceremony. Then suddenly, a bearded man carrying a handgun and a bomb leapt onto a table. 

"Don't anybody leave! Don't anyone go anywhere! I've got a bomb!" he shouted, waving his .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. 

Stunned and confused, people began screaming. 

The gunman, Clifford Draper, then began clearing the room. Hearing the commotion in the library room next door was Lt. Lloyd Prescott, who was teaching a class for police officers. As he stepped into the hallway he noticed a gunman herding 18 hostages into a room. With a flash of insight, Prescott, who was dressed in street clothes, joined the group as the nineteenth hostage. 

There was a five-hour standoff. Then the gunman began making preparations to execute one of the hostages. 

At this, Prescott sprang to his feet, identified himself and shouted, "Everybody hit the floor!" The plainclothes officer then fired five shots at the gunman and subdued him. 

One of the hostages was Michael Greer, who said, "I do believe Lloyd Prescott is a hero. Part of being a hero was his absolute humanity."

God dressed himself in street clothes of this world and joined us who are being held hostage to sin. On the cross, Jesus Christ defeated Satan and freed us from the power of sin. Are you grateful for Christ's becoming a man and dying for your sins? Today in prayer, praise Christ for His selfless, heroic act and freeing us from sin's power.

Jesus is our Emmanuel. He is God with us. Let us rejoice and know that He walks alongside us in all our circumstances.

Many thanks to Sis Melinda for her sermon notes.

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Walk with Faith

Pastor Peter Soratana

In Psalms 119:105, your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light on my path.

Nowadays we may not use torchlight. In Thailand we use street lamps and car light as we travel. There are lights all over the city and it's bright. Sometimes we rely so much on the lamp post that we did not realise our headlights are not working. Only in darkness do we realise the headlights are not working. Without the headlights we cannot move on.

The word of God is like that light. Many times we can still go on with our lives because we rely on the street lamps in the cities. When we are in the dark, then we realise we need the light from the word.

There was one time I needed to travel from Bangkok to a place that's dark in the mountains. It's the first time we went there. We started to question the villagers how to get there. They gave directions but the best is to stay overnight. But I needed to leave because I needed to preach the next day.

The way became darker and darker and we relied on the headlights. The road has lots of bends so we had to move slowly. Near midnight it was full of fog and we could not see. The headlights shined on the fog so we cannot see the way. So we used fog lights. The moment we on the fog light, the light became so bright we could see the way.

Apart from the word of God that we rely on, we also need a special word from God so that we can break through the fog. We cannot just rely on our knowledge but based on the word of God through the relationship we have with God. It's the word of God through our experience. Something we can pull from our heart and apply it.

We sometimes just open the Bible when in trouble to look for the word of God. And we can't find it. At the end of the sermon I will call on a person to share his testimony. I want to tell you problems exist not just to war against the Christians but also everyone. Health, relationship, finance, problems in school which attacks us. Problems come with sin. Because everyone sin and fall short of the glory of God. Those who fall in sin are slaves to the sin. And there's no way to escape the sin that strangles you.

A lot of people try to be a good person to escape from sin. Or try all kinds of things. Like accumulate a lot of money to break free from sin. Some people try by going to certain places or worship idols. Or be involved in charity to break free from sin. Everything that belongs to the slave belongs to the master. All the goodness the slave does belongs to the master. So all the good things the slave does cannot break free from the master. But there is a higher power and we need this higher power to buy you out.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

All of you have been bought from sin and all of you have been bought from the master. God uses his status as King of kings to buy you out. But nobody seems to realise that and still act like a slave. Some change from Buddhism to Christianity but still live as a slave. God has bought you with the high price in Jesus Christ. God bought you expecting nothing in return. So how should you respond? Just believe in what God has done for you. God has bought and paid for you so you are no longer a slave.

Sickness belongs to a slave. Fighting with one another belongs to a slave. We don't have to fight each other. God has enough gifts for everyone so no need to be jealous of anyone.

We often have enemies surrounding us. Like receiving a letter of termination. There are different sorts of problems but it's how we response to these problems. We may respond with worries. And do not know how to handle the problem. Or you go to a doctor and is told you have a problem and we believe what the doctors say. And believe what is happening to us. Or you read a letter and and is told your son's application to a school is rejected. We respond with shock. This is the response in the example of 1King 6. Or blame the servant of God. And refuse to accept our mistakes but blame others.

In 2 Chronicles King Jehoshaphat faced the same problem when surrounded by enemies. But King Jehoshaphat seek help from God. A different kind of response from two different kings.

I'd like to invite my wife Pinky. We have been together 9 years. God is alive and he's been dealing with our problems all these years. When Pinky was pregnant three months, the doctors told us all is well and it's a boy. 95%. So we decided to name our life child as Peniel, the face of God. Someone that God will use in future. At the 4th month we consulted the doctor again and we found something's wrong. The kidney of the baby is not working. The left side is bigger and the right side is smaller than normal. Both kidneys are not working. The doctor told us to abort and that he will pay for all the bills.

He wanted to send us to KL and to provide us accommodation apart from paying for the bill. Everything seemed like a blessing because all will be paid and we were told we can try again. But we trust in God. He promised that he will bless us and it will not come with sorrow. And the child is a blessing. God will take care of it and we believed. The doctor say he won't take care of us anymore and told us to consult another doctor. We believed that when we come for an ultrasound all will be normal. But the second doctor told us the same diagnosis as the first doctor.

Many people may respond and say this had to be true because both doctors said the same things. But not us. We consulted a third doctor at Island Hospital and God blessed us with someone who sponsored us. We hoped for a change but it was the same. Both kidneys not working. And the doctor said he will do the abortion. It seems right because we can do it here instead of KL. But no, we trusted in God. If we trust in God we will continue to walk with him. It's like driving the car without a headlight. We believe God will help us to turn the situation into good.

So we decided to consult the 4th doctor and we found a Christian doctor. We had to go to Butterworth and after the ultrasound, the same thing, both kidneys not working. But the doctor didn't say abort. He said we can trust God and not worry but to praise him.

We consulted the same doctor the 5th time which was the same result. We came to church and some people felt sympathy and some were negative like that we were not good servants of God. Must be the punishment of God. So some wanted us to return back to Thailand and they will take over the ministry. We still love them and forgive them. But what they told us was contradictory but we tell people about our child and all is good.

We felt pressurised by church members to move back to Thailand. But we had to be strong and appear cheerful as it will affect the health of the baby. But we didn't receive the love and support from the surrounding but we have God. Every morning we praise God and we put our hands on the child and prayed that through his stripes Peniel will have life and will be born strong. We spoke goodness on our child. We did not let the ultrasound play on our mind.

We believed that the child will be healthy and strong. If you believe you will see greater things. At 7 months during the usual check up, everything was still the same despite the prayers and trust. But our faith still remains and we believe in God that this blessing will not come with sorrow. We did not believe in what we see. We continued to put our hands on the child.

Some people will give up after 7 months because nothing have changed. But we continue to trust God because God will not fail. God will accomplish what he desires.

On the 8th month the doctor examined and there was a smile on the face of the doctor and he said God has changed the situation. The big kidney became normal and the smaller kidney became bigger and was working. And the doctor say 2 more weeks for delivery. Because the child is big at 3 kilos and is good to deliver on 8 and a half month.

When we arrived to church we were questioned again. If we still want to remain in this church and still want to deliver, they will not pay for anything. When delivery came we only had RM50. We went to BM and was clueless. Those called to the counter paid the deposit and went for delivery. We did not know there was a deposit needed. We just trusted God to provide.

When the nurse called and we went to the counter, she told us to go to the labour room without asking for a deposit. The nurse asked if we wanted 4 bedded or single. To save cost we asked for 4 bedded room but she said 4 bedded full so we had to take the single room with only RM50.

And she asked what milk we wanted and we had no idea. She showed us the most expensive milk. We only had RM50. In the room, a Thai lady asked us if we had money to pay for the bill we said we only have RM50. She said you'll be here 3 days so she said she'll loan us and transfer some money. But the Bible says we will not be a debtor so we said no. As the lady said she wanted to lend us the money a message came in to Pinky's phone and a church member sent a message to congratulate us, told me to take a good rest and the day we leave the hospital he will fetch us and take care of all the bills.

With the problems with our child we got a special Visa. We are often questioned why we come so often but with Peniel's problem we can come in and out without problems. Hallelujah.

The hand of God is not short nor his ear deaf that he cannot help you. There is two ways to choose. Choose the easier way of the world and walk traditionally and walk according to the majority or you want to choose to walk with Jesus. If you choose to walk with Jesus  you have to walk with faith. If you don't walk with faith it is not possible to please God. Let the word of God today encourage you. Through our testimony it's not that we are special. God does not choose special people but it's about how we choose to respond to God. We choose to be obedient and trust God. It's not just based on the knowledge of the word of God but on how we respond to him.