We were the first to hold our annual Christmas celebration among the 5 Filipino CGs in CHC this year. Based on survey conducted, retro had the most votes and so we’ve gone retro as we celebrated Jesus!
BELOW IS A COPY OF MY SERMON… Glory to God!
May our friends keep coming back for more and more of You, Lord.
CG Christmas Message 2016
By GJ Gonzales, 3rd Dec 2016 (Christmas Party)
Thinking what to share.
Thought of the role of the star in the Christmas story. Can you imagine the nativity without the star in it? I COULDN’T! So it made me think there must be something special about it.
“There’s something special about the star.”
What do we know about the star of Bethlehem?
Matt 2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Quick background on the Magi
- wise men, astrologers and astronomers consulted by the rulers for guidance
- associated with the birth of important people
- The ancients believed that astronomical phenomena were connected to terrestrial events. Miracles were routinely associated with the birth of important people, including the Hebrew patriarchs, as well as Greek and Roman[38]
What’s the link between the star and King of the Jews? “Star Prophecy”
Numbers 24:17King James Version (KJV)
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
v3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
v5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”[a]
Herod was ‘troubled’
- not because of the appearance of the star, but because a king of the Jews had been born (Messiah, a fulfillment of the prophecies)
- the announcement of the birth of Jesus was not celebrated by all people
- different motives for seeking Christ, hidden agenda
v8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
#1 The star REVEALED Jesus as Savior
What happened next?
v9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
- The star was moving with them! Not now you see, now you don’t. “Kitakitz na lang dun ha!”
#2 The star LED them to Christ
So these wise men would be helplessly lost, if it were not for one thing – the star.
But what was it specifically that allowed them to see the star? It was THE LIGHT that came from the star.
The wise men could not see Jesus, they could only see the light from the star which led them to Jesus.
“Lightless Star” / “Non-Shining Star”
– They would have never found Christ. That light was all they had to lead them.
Many people around us are hopelessly lost.
- A void in their heart.
- They have tried everything. They have tried pleasure, relationships, money, career, but nothing can satisfy the longing of their heart.
- They have a pain nothing seems to heal.
They need the Lord Jesus Christ, only He can satisfy their soul. But as they grope in the darkness of sin they can’t see Christ. They don’t know who He is or what He can do. They need something to give off the light that will lead them to Jesus.
So where can the lost look for a light to bring them to Christ?
Matt 5:16 ” Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Engaged in the same work as the star of Bethlehem, we are to shine our light to bring men to Christ.
#colleagues
They begin to watch the life of this Christian colleague. Yes, the Christian has up and downs, but they see a consistency of joy and peace.
QUESTION: Is there a light in your life leading people to Christ? Is your light bright enough to be visible to all or has your light burned so low the lost would need a telescope to see it?
Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.
So what happened to the wise men?
v10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
- That experience of being pointed to Jesus changed their lives forever.
- Notice that they didn’t go back to Herod. They didn’t go back the same way they came.
- Because they have decided to follow Jesus, there’s no turning back.
- Imagine what joy people close to us would experience if only they could encounter Jesus personally?
Will you let your light shine? Will you be like the star of Bethlehem? Those lost in the darkness of sin need to see your light. It can bring them to Jesus.
ALTAR CALL
- Worship by singing “Beautiful Savior”
- Call for salvation:
- Hopelessly lost in darkness, purposeless
- Void heart, always seeking… let Jesus satisfy you
- In pain, let Jesus heal you
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me the way I am
I am a sinner in need of a Savior
Please come into my heart
Wash me clean and make me new
I want to live my life with a purpose
I want to live for You
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Continue prayer from salvation to rededication…
- Who wants to be like the Star of Bethlehem?
- Revealing Christ as Savior and King of kings
- Leading people to Christ
- Pray for God’s anointing and confidence so we may shine brightly for God
