24-1222a Transcript

Preacher: Jim Lokenbauer

(2:28) Good morning, everybody. (2:31) So, if you notice, today’s readings had to do with gifts. (2:36) The Father, close to the end of 2024, and another Christmas season is upon us.

(2:44) Christmas was upon us, by the way. (2:48) Because our modern style Christmas season is a protracted event. (2:55) The day after Thanksgiving, typically to the new year.

(3:01) It’s not always like that. (3:04) The new invention of America during the 1660s, 70s, population in Massachusetts. (3:20) It led to wanton behavior and excess.

(3:27) People at that time. (3:30) German immigrants came from Europe. (3:33) They brought with them their Christmas traditions.

(3:38) Christmas trees and these images, along with popular literature from authors like Moore, who wrote Sleepy Hollow. (3:49) Rip Van Winkle also wrote a series of dealing with Christmas that was quite popular back then. (4:00) It was the night before Christmas.

(4:05) Washington Irving, one who actually wrote Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. (4:11) But he, too, wrote Christmas stories. (4:13) And, of course, Charles Dickens, his great work, A Christmas Carol.

(4:18) So all of these things helped rekindle the celebration of Christmas. (4:24) Because Britain was disliked. (4:30) The commercial side started taking off, where it was more important than the meaning of Christmas.

(4:41) With clever marketing, Coca-Cola incorporated Santa Claus into a lot of their advertisements. (4:49) And Montgomery Ward, which was a department store that was our Sears at the time. (4:57) But they’ve gone by the wayside, too.

(5:00) Anyhow, behind Robert May’s children’s book, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (5:10) Strictly as a marketing scheme to lure people into their store. (5:16) Copies of that away.

(5:19) Constantly reminded from Thanksgiving how many shopping days are left. (5:26) Christmas. (5:29) That the focus of the holidays had been mainly on the sale of goods.

(5:34) True gift of the Savior. (5:37) In a backseat to Santa Claus. (5:42) The public’s attention back on the real meaning of the days.

(5:49) A time when we can reflect upon when God sent his Son, our Savior. (5:55) Born of a virgin. (6:00) And lived a perfect life.

(6:02) And becoming God’s perfect atoning sacrifice. (6:09) A cross in our place. (6:12) And then rising from the dead three days later.

(6:16) One thing for certain is that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. (6:23) That was a Catholic invention. (6:27) But to lure those pagans in Europe who worshipped the winter solstice religion.

(6:37) He was born. (6:38) We are not told in the Bible, so it doesn’t matter. (6:43) Because his birth was recorded for us in God’s Word with great detail.

(6:49) It’s a good and proper thing for us to remember. (6:54) His perfect gift to mankind. (6:59) It’s important for God to let us know about the circumstances of Jesus' birth.

(7:06) As much as it was to inform us of the details of his death. (7:11) Burial and resurrection. (7:16) Christianity are built on the facts that Jesus, (7:21) by a virgin, (7:25) Son of God, and he lived a sinless life on that cross.

(7:33) The resurrection rose from the dead. (7:38) In a nutshell. (7:40) Facts should be shouted from the mountaintops and often.

(7:45) Not just once a year. (7:49) Celebrate those days as special days? (7:52) No. (7:52) Absolutely not.

(7:55) The fact that Jesus came into the world and that he rose from the dead. (8:00) We should be careful not to go beyond what is written and authorized by the Bible. (8:08) The lies and misinformation attached to those Catholic holidays.

(8:16) Command or example in God’s Word to incorporate any of these holidays into our worship. (8:25) We have no Christmas play, no passion play. (8:29) No Christmas specials or mass of any kind.

(8:36) Christmas and Easter. (8:39) Catholic inventions. (8:42) Into our common vocabulary.

(8:48) And used until centuries after the church began. (8:54) Became the dominant religion from the dark ages on. (8:59) By force.

(9:02) Physicians and crusades. (9:04) They became the dominant. (9:07) Time.

(9:09) Things. (9:11) Christ’s name. (9:13) Tending to be Christians.

(9:17) Christ-like behavior. (9:20) Holiday names over the centuries have become common. (9:24) And are used generically when talking about the birth of Jesus or on the day he rose from the dead.

(9:32) Christmas and Easter are like calling a tissue Kleenex. (9:37) We all know what is meant if you use the word Kleenex. (9:40) But it’s actually only correct if you’re using the brand Kleenex as a tissue.

(9:45) Likewise, by calling the birth of Christ Christmas, we all know what is meant. (9:50) But it’s actually only correct if you’re referring to the Catholic religious mass on December 25th. (9:58) Can we wish each other Merry Christmas? (10:01) Of course we can.

(10:03) We know what is meant. (10:04) It means Happy Birthday, Jesus. (10:06) Thank you, God, for your great gift.

(10:09) So if you want to celebrate these special days at home and with family and friends, (10:14) we have the liberty in Christ to do that. (10:17) To remember and honor the birth and resurrection of Jesus is a good thing. (10:23) I look at it like this.

(10:24) In Paul’s day, he talked about people preaching Jesus with improper motives, (10:31) even out of false pretense, to which he said in Philippians 1.18, (10:37) What does it matter? (10:39) Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. (10:45) I rejoice in this, yes, and I will rejoice. (10:49) And so should we.

(10:51) So long as Christ is the topic of conversation, we should be fanning those flames. (10:58) So what happened over a millennia ago by the Catholics in an effort to bring European pagans (11:05) into their religion to know Christ, even though it was done with false pretense, (11:11) Christ was still introduced to them, and some were saved through those efforts. (11:17) It’s the same with these religious holidays today.

(11:21) I say if it makes people talk about our Savior, great. (11:25) And if visitors come in on those holidays expecting to hear the message, preach it. (11:32) Just be sure to preach the truth to them.

(11:35) And the secular holiday of Christmas or Easter is here, and visitors come in (11:42) for perhaps their once-a-year trip to church and are hoping to hear an encouraging message (11:48) about Christ’s birth or Christ’s resurrection. (11:52) Give it to them, and God be praised. (11:56) Mankind is served, the seed is planted, and the gospel of God is spread, and God is glorified.

(12:03) Our attitude should be like Paul’s, who said, (12:06) I become all things to all people in order to save a few. (12:10) So it’s okay to say, Happy Easter or Merry Christmas. (12:16) Perhaps it will open up an opportunity to teach the truth to someone who needs to hear it.

(12:22) Concerning the great gift God gave to mankind, the birth of Jesus Christ, we’re given a lot of info. (12:30) God shows us the receipts, so to speak. (12:33) He recorded in the Bible Christ’s lineage from both parental lines, (12:40) proving both his kingship and his messiahship.

(12:44) The bloodline recorded in Matthew chapter 1 first states Jesus' title, Jesus the Messiah. (12:53) Then the two Bible characters that God made promises to, (12:59) those promises concerned the Messiah through whom the world would be blessed by Abraham, (13:10) and believe it or not, King David. (13:12) The promise was first made to Abraham, Genesis 22, 18, (13:17) and it says, All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, (13:22) because you have obeyed my voice.

(13:24) The Apostle Paul confirms that in Galatians 3.16. (13:30) Now, the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. (13:35) He doesn’t say descendants, but as of many, but as of one, to your offspring, which is Christ. (13:44) So the promises made to Abraham were about the Messiah, whom we know as Jesus.

(13:52) And to King David in 2 Samuel 7.16, he says, (14:00) Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. (14:05) Your throne will be established forever. (14:09) Daniel 2 prophesied about the Savior’s kingdom that was promised to David.

(14:15) In Daniel 7.13 and 14, it’s recorded, (14:19) I saw them in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky (14:25) one like the Son of Man, and he came even to the ancient of days, (14:31) and they brought him near before him. (14:34) Dominion was given to him in glory and a kingdom, (14:38) that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. (14:42) His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away.

(14:48) And his kingdom, that which will not be destroyed. (14:58) So the coming of the blessing to the world, the first coming of the Messiah, (15:02) and the coming of the king, whose kingdom would last forever, (15:06) when did this happen? (15:09) God sent his holy angel Gabriel to announce his plan of salvation to a young lady named Mary, (15:17) a virgin who would conceive and give birth to God’s child, (15:22) to the man she was betrothed to, Joseph, (15:26) who would be the stand-in father responsible for helping Jesus through adulthood. (15:33) We are told that God had the plan of salvation ready from before the beginning of creation.

(15:41) So our great God saw Mary ahead of time, had in mind of her, (15:47) and had plans for this young Israeli maiden, (15:50) and before time began foretold her role in the scheme of redemption, (15:57) hundreds of years before she was even born. (16:00) And Isaiah the prophet declared in Isaiah 7-14, (16:06) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. (16:10) A virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, (16:15) and will call him Immanuel.

(16:19) And Immanuel means God with us. (16:23) So the baby that would be born was going to be God in the flesh. (16:30) God told the prophet Micah to share with Israel where the baby would be born.

(16:39) And in Micah 5-2 it says, (16:41) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, (16:47) out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, (16:52) whose origins are from old, from ancient times. (16:57) So Isaiah confirms for us that the child to be born of the virgin would be God, (17:05) the ancient of days, and not just God alone, (17:08) but have the fullness of the Godhead in him, the fullness of the Trinity. (17:15) Listen to these words from Isaiah 9-6-7, (17:21) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, (17:25) and the government will be on his shoulders, (17:29) and he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(17:39) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (17:44) He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, (17:48) establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness (17:53) from that time on and forever. (17:56) The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

(18:00) So you see those promises made to Abraham and to David, (18:04) and through these prophecies is painting a picture of this child (18:09) who’s going to be born of the virgin, who would become our Savior, the Messiah. (18:19) He will be called Wonderful. What does that mean? (18:22) Where do we hear this? (18:23) Who made this claim in the Old Testament? (18:27) The story in the book of Judges about the birth of Samson, (18:32) we’re told in Judges 13-18, (18:37) the angel of the Lord, or the angel of Jehovah, (18:43) said to Manoah, who was the father of Samson, (18:46) Why do you ask about my name? (18:49) Yes, it is Wonderful.

(18:51) So the angel of the Lord, whom we’ve already established long ago (18:57) as being the second person of the Godhead, the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, (19:03) is saying that his name is Wonderful to Samson’s father. (19:10) Another name this child would be known by is found in John 14-16, (19:15) where it says, I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, (19:22) and he may be with you forever. (19:25) This child would be known as the Counselor, (19:29) a name normally associated with Holy Spirit.

(19:34) But if you notice, Jesus said another Counselor, (19:37) implying that he was the Counselor. (19:40) And so you see this, he knows ahead of time all his names. (19:47) And so in the way he explains it, (19:50) so the baby would be known as the Counselor.

(19:58) So Paul describes the oneness between Holy Spirit and Jesus and God. (20:04) Listen to Romans 8, 9-11. (20:07) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature.

(20:11) He’s talking to us. (20:13) But by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. (20:18) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

(20:23) But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin. (20:28) Yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (20:31) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, (20:35) he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies (20:41) through his Spirit who lives in you.

(20:45) Now, if that does not describe the oneness (20:48) and the interchangeability between the Holy Trinity, (20:53) Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, Holy Spirit, (20:57) I don’t know of any other verses that can make it clearer to us. (21:01) And this is ascribed by Isaiah to the baby that was going to be born of the virgin. (21:11) Another name associated with this child that Isaiah mentions is Mighty God.

(21:17) The child will be El Shaddai. (21:20) That’s Hebrew for God Almighty. (21:24) And Yahweh was speaking to Moses from the burning bush, (21:28) which was the angel of the Lord.

(21:33) Exodus 6.3 says, (21:36) And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, (21:41) but by my name Yahweh I was not yet known to them. (21:46) So an additional name, not mentioned by Isaiah but implied, (21:52) that can be associated with this child to be born, (21:56) in addition to God Almighty, is Yahweh. (21:58) How many times in the Gospel of John does Jesus say, (22:04) I am.

(22:05) That’s what Yahweh means. (22:08) I am that I am. (22:12) So the child in Isaiah’s prophecy would be called Everlasting Father.

(22:18) So do you see this child is going to have all of the elements of the Godhead in him. (22:25) John 14.9, Jesus answered, (22:28) Do you not know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? (22:33) Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. (22:38) How can you say, show us the Father? (22:42) Jesus was saying that he’s the Father.

(22:48) Whoa. (22:52) Let that sink in. (22:54) The oneness of the Holy Trinity, it’s a mystery.

(23:01) But God describes it to us in these bits and pieces. (23:06) We just have to put it all together. (23:09) And it’s going to be in this baby born of the Virgin.

(23:16) That baby was man, and that baby is God, or was God. (23:23) He’s grown up now. (23:28) To me, quite amazing.

(23:29) 1 Chronicles 13.36 says, (23:32) Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. (23:38) All the people said amen and praised Yahweh. (23:42) So the element of Everlasting Father is there in this child.

(23:47) Also in Isaiah 40.28, it said, (23:51) Haven’t you heard? (23:54) The everlasting God, Yahweh, the creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint. (24:00) He isn’t weary. (24:02) His understanding is unsearchable.

(24:05) And finally on this name, Isaiah 63.16, (24:10) For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel doesn’t acknowledge us. (24:17) You, Yahweh, are our Father, our Redeemer. (24:23) From everlasting is your name.

(24:25) And that’s this child who was born in Bethlehem. (24:30) That’s our Jesus. (24:34) The final name that Isaiah ascribes to this child to be born of the Virgin is Prince of Peace.

(24:41) In Joshua 5.13-15 we read, (24:49) And Joshua was by Jericho. (24:50) He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood in front of him with his sword drawn in his hand. (24:58) Joshua went to meet him and said to him, (25:01) Are you for us or for our enemies? (25:04) The man said, No.

(25:07) But I have come now as commander of Yahweh’s army. (25:12) Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped and asked him, (25:17) What does my Lord say to his servant? (25:20) The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, (25:25) Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy. (25:31) And Joshua did so.

(25:34) Deity visited Joshua. (25:38) Where God stands is holy ground. (25:41) This wasn’t an angel.

(25:44) This was one of the Godhead. (25:47) The prince of Yahweh’s army is one of the many faces. (25:53) God told Moses that he would be with his people through the ages.

(25:57) And it is none other than the second person of the Godhead, the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. (26:06) He is the prince of Yahweh’s armies. (26:10) And the prince of Yahweh’s armies gave a message to the prophet Haggai.

(26:15) In Haggai 2.9 it says, (26:17) The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says Yahweh of armies. (26:22) And in this place I will give peace, says Yahweh of armies. (26:28) The peace he is predicting to come to Israel and the world is spiritual peace.

(26:36) Peace between God and mankind. (26:40) Sin creates a roadblock between God and man. (26:46) And Jesus, the mediator, removed that roadblock and makes it possible to have peace between God and man again.

(26:58) That’s why he’s the prince of peace. (27:07) So the man of peace, prince of peace, is going to be that baby in the manger in Bethlehem. (27:17) 2 Thessalonians 3.16 says, (27:20) Now may the Lord of peace himself give you a peace at all times and all ways.

The Lord be with you all. (27:30) The Lord of peace. The prince of peace.

(27:33) Jesus brought peace between God and man. (27:39) Ezekiel 37.24-26 says, (27:42) My servant David will be king over them. (27:45) Of course, at this time David’s long been dead.

(27:49) He’s actually talking about Christ when he comes. (27:53) My servant will be king over them. They will all have one shepherd.

(27:59) Jesus said, I am the good shepherd. (28:01) They will also walk in my ordinances and observe my statutes and do them. (28:06) They will dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob, my servant, in which your fathers lived.

(28:12) They will dwell therein, they and their children, and their children’s children forever. (28:18) David, my servant, will be their prince forever. (28:22) Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them.

(28:26) It will be an everlasting covenant with them. (28:28) I will place them, multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forever. (28:39) Sin is hostility to God.

(28:41) Jesus came as the prince of peace to bring peace between God and man by removing the sin obstacle. (28:52) Acts 3, 13-15 is recorded. (28:58) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, (29:03) has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, (29:10) when he had determined to release him.

(29:12) But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you (29:19) and killed the Prince of Light, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. (29:28) So again, Jesus, being called our prince, is the prince of the covenant. (29:36) The covenant of peace, it was called.

(29:39) It brings peace between men and God. (29:44) Acts 5, 31, God exalted him with his right hand to be a prince and a savior, (29:50) to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. (29:54) This child will grow up to become a prince and a savior of the world.

(30:02) Let’s read about our Father in Heaven’s perfect gift to the world, (30:07) and we’re going to start at Luke 1, 26-38. (30:11) This is the story the Catholics call Christmas, but this is the story of the birth of our Savior. (30:22) That’s what we know it as, the birth of our Savior.

(30:26) In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, (30:32) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. (30:38) The virgin’s name was Mary. (30:40) The angel went to her and said, (30:43) Greetings, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you.

(30:47) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. (30:53) But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. (30:59) You will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

(31:05) He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. (31:09) The Lord God will give the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. (31:17) His kingdom will never end.

(31:21) How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin? (31:26) The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, (31:30) and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, (31:33) so the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. (31:39) Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, (31:44) and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. (31:48) Nothing is impossible with God.

(31:52) I am the Lord’s servant, Mary answered. (31:55) May it be to me as you have said. (31:59) And the angel left her.

(32:01) In Matthew 1, 18-25 it says, (32:05) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. (32:09) His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, (32:13) but before they came together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (32:19) Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man, (32:23) he did not want to expose her to public disgrace, (32:26) and he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

(32:31) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, (32:36) Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, (32:43) because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (32:47) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, (32:51) because he will save his people from their sins. (32:57) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet, (33:02) the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, (33:06) and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.

(33:12) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him, (33:17) and took Mary home as his wife. (33:19) He had no union with her until she gave birth to a son, (33:23) and she gave him the name Jesus. (33:28) Our time is up, but come back this evening for the rest of the story, (33:35) for Father’s Gift of the World Part 2. (33:37) So if you need prayers from the saints or need any kind of request, come forward.

(33:44) This is the invitation, and we’ll take care of you. (33:48) So come forward if you need, as we stand and sing.