Sunday, December 22, 2019

Give Peace a Chance

Part Four

Luke 2:1-14 KJV (quote)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Isaiah 53:1-9 (MSG)

Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought GOD’s saving power would look like this? 2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum.  But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him.  7-9 He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off—and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.

All of this – yes all of this – is what Christmas is all about.

“I have come to seek and to save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10

You are lost. I am lost.

Jesus came to seek

Jesus came to save us.

The Greek word for save is “sōzō.” It means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.

Stop running and stop striving and stop doing and just let Jesus give you peace.  Peace that comes with knowing you don’t have to strive with God any longer.

You don’t have to live with that constant trying to prove yourself or please God. You are proof enough of His love and just because you are, you please Him. You don’t have to get it all right, straighten it all out, pay it all off.

Just come as you are.

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Worship Set

Joy To The World

 – Isaac Watts and G.F. Handel Arr. by Joel Mott

Verse 1

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let ev’ry heart, prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing

Verse 2

Joy to the world the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

Verse 3

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nation prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love

And wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders of His Love

Away In A Manger

 – Martin Luther, John Thomas McFarland, and James Ramsey Murray

Verse 1

Away in a manger no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

Verse 2

The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes

I love Thee Lord Jesus look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh

Verse 3

Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever and love me I pray

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care

And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there

Jingle Bells

 -James Pierpont

Verse

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh

O’er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on Bobtail ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight

 Chorus

Jingle bells jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh

Jingle bells jingle bells

Jingle