Lighthouse Christian Church
Christmas Day Service
"Come Let Us Adore Him!"
December 22, 2023
Key Verse: Matthew 2:11 - "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."
1. Almost 2,000 years ago, at the appointed time Jesus was born in fulfillment of very specific prophecies recorded in the Bible about his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection, his victory over sin and death and his supernatural ministry of reconciliation and redemption.
These prophecies are found throughout the Old Testament from the first book of Genesis to the last book of Malachi .
As recorded in Isaiah 7:14 - He would be born to a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit.
In Micah 5:2 the prophet declares that he will be born in the town of Bethlehem.
.Although he would grow up in Nazareth (Isaiah 9:1 and 11:1) God would call him out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1).
He would be born into the lineage of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13 and Isaiah 9:7) and he would be called "Immanuel," which means God with us.
2. Jesus wasn't born into a royal estate or under lavish conditions. He was born into humble circumstances but his birth was supernatural; it was miraculous.
As recorded in the gospels, he was born of the Virgin Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 1:26-38, we learn that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to inform her that she would conceive and give birth to the "Son of the Most High."
Mary responded in faith to embrace her assignment as God's special servant.
In Matthew 1:20-25, we read about another Angel who appeared in a dream to Joseph to inform him about the child and to encourage him to remain with Mary.
Joseph responded in faith and took Mary to be his bride. He named the baby Jesus and proceeded to raise him as his child.
Mary and Joseph are shining examples of how the Lord used humble servants to carry out his holy purposes.
Their faith in the Lord and their diligence in raising Jesus is a wonderful testimony about their precious family and the blessings of honoring the Lord and each other. Their obedience to God is a wonderful example to us and to all.
3. In Luke 2: 8-20, we learn that the birth of Jesus was announced by angels to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night.
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
After hearing the news, the shepherds went to Bethlehem to find the Christ child.
'The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:20)
4. In Matthew 2:11, we learn about the Magi, three Wise Men who came from the East following a Star. They came to find the baby, the one who was born King of the Jews.
"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
These wise and powerful rulers came from afar to worship this very special child.
The gift of gold was symbolic of Jesus' kingship. The frankincense was a tribute to his priesthood. And the myrrh was a burial spice that foretold his death on the cross.
These precious gifts were also God's provision to protect Jesus and his family as they headed to Eqypt to escape persecution.
5. Jesus is the greatest gift that God has ever given to us.
He is the anointed one, the one who was appointed to sacrifice his life for us.
He is the only one conceived of the Holy Spirit and the only one who ever led a perfect life.
He was the only one to give his life for our sake and was raised to life in triumph over sin and death and every manner of evil.
Jesus is the only one who sits at the right hand of the Father and is sovereign over the entire universe.
He is the only one who could and did bring eternal life to men and women.
To everyone who receives the free gift of God's unconditional love, he gives the right to be called sons and daughters of God.
Galatians 4:4-5 - "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
He is the way , the truth and the life." (John 14:6)
"He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the One who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Amen! (Revelation 1:8, Revelation 21:6)
6. On Christmas Day, while we exchange gifts with our loved ones, it's important to reflect on our greatest Christmas gift - the miraculous gift of Christ himself!
As with the shepherds and the Wise Men, on this holy day we too offer our gifts of praise and adoration to Jesus our Lord and Savior!
He alone is worthy of all praise and honor and glory!
"Come let us adore him - Christ the King!"