CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2010

Christmas Service

According to Biblical scholars, the period between Malachi and Matthew is called the interim period or the dark period in which there remained a great silence remained before the birth of Jesus. People who lived in that period thought if God had rejected them and probably would not speak with them anymore.  There was a great expectation among them as to why Christ was not born as prophesied in Isaiah.

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

People had many questions in their mind regarding the birth of Christ and as foretold, Christ fulfilled this prophecy of Isaiah after 400 years.  So, Jesus broke this silence through His birth in this world and even today He breaks silence in our lives through His birth in our minds amidst all confusions, queries, and dejected situations.

Jesus is the answer for all our confusions and problems.  Many Biblical characters went through similar situations and there was lot of questions in their life, but they eventually got an answer. Let us now see them one by one…

1. Fear of Mary - Luke 1:29, 30, 34

"And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be." Luke 1:29

What manner of salutation this should be? This was the question that arose in Mary who was a virgin.  She was meditating as to how this might happen.  Likewise, we might have many unanswered questions in our life. As Mary got Grace from God due to her Godly fear, we will also get His Grace which is sufficient to bring us out of our troubled situations.

Some might even say that a big silence persists in their life… But God says, 'Do not fear… My grace is with you in order to uphold you. Even in our lacking situations, God’s Grace will be great and He is going to bless us abundantly.

Prayer:  Lord, be gracious unto me in my troubled situations as you were with Mary. You are the answer to all my problems and please bless me abundantly. In Jesus Name. Amen.

2. Expectation of Rebecca

"And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD." Gen 25:22

Pregnant ladies in India would have a great expectation as they are not told of the sex of their baby, but in foreign countries this is not the case.  They would take scan and would eventually know the sex of the baby.

Rebecca was also having the same expectation.  But she did not enquire any man but God alone.  Similarly, we need to be like Rebecca in enquiring the Lord of our life's situations. God will answer those very clearly and in a precise way.  He reveals the forthcoming events when we diligently ask Him.  Rebecca was expecting her future and God answered her very clearly about her babies.  Today, He is going to reveal our future and answer our prayers if we earnestly seek Him.

Prayer: Lord, please reveal my future. I have many expectations in my life and I know You are the one who will fulfill all those and I come unto You.  Please answer my questions…. I diligently seek You and confess that You are the only prayer answering God. In Jesus name. Amen.

3. David’s expectation

"And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" II Sam 12:2

David fasted and cried out with a question in his mind? Would God be gracious unto me? But God gave answer to his cry… He answered him by giving a son in  Solomon… Likewise, God is going to give answer to all our cries… Whether we cry or not, whether we expect or not, He knows the agony we go through and certainly He fulfills His plan in our lives.

The palm lines of every human being is unique. So too, God’s plan is unique for every one of us. God has come to this world as an answer for our prayers.

Prayer: Lord, Please fulfill all your plans concerning my life. It is not my wish or my enemies or the wish of Satan, but it will be your plan which You will fulfill in my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

4. World’s expectation

"And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?"...And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Acts 2:7, 12

In early days, the people who saw the works of the Lord in the churches, wondered “What is going to happen if this goes like this?

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. Acts 2:43.

According to this verse, many are going to fear seeing our growth.  Miracles are going to happen in our lives and people will realize that Jesus still lives.  People will also realize that He is the only Lord and Saviour through whom we can see mighty miracles in our lives. He is going to lift us from the pit and make us to sit with Kings. He is going to enlarge our territories and fear will grip our neighbors who would see our amazing growth.

Prayer: Lord, please do your wonders and signs in my life that people around me might know that You are Jesus, the saviour of my Life.  Please lift me up so that people might see Christ in me and glorify and fear you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

5. Nathaneal’s expectation

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.  John 1:48, 49, 50. Jesus revealed the life of Nathanael in and out.  Likewise, many may ask how the Pastor is talking about my life clearly when I have come for the first time to the service. It is the Holy Spirit who has got the whole record of our history. God said to Nathanael, You will see greater things. We are going to see greater things in our life if we have faith. The Lord is not the one who gives us normal blessings, but an extraordinary one. Because our God is a great God and He does great things; We cannot even imagine the great things He has kept in store for us. It is impossible for people, but to God all things are possible. We hear this as this is not an accident, but this is God’s will for us.

Prayer: Lord, I firmly believe that You are a great God and You have great plans for me. Lord, You know everything about me. Help me to see greater things in my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

6. Nicodemus' expectation

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and  of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? John 3:5, 9

This shows the ignorance of Nicodemus. We cannot understand the deeds of God with our knowledge. He answered Nicodemus aptly. Probably, some might be new to the church and hearing this message. God says thus, If you are not born again of water and Holy Spirit, you cannot enter heaven. You need to accept Jesus  wholeheartedly and act accordingly. He has commanded us and warned us of this.  We can be a great or an intellectual men, but God warns us, Heaven’s door will only be opened if we take baptism (Greek. To immerse or to submerge) and grow in the spirit.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for letting me know the importance of water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Help me to grow more from this level in the spirit. Reveal Yourself in me. In Jesus Name. Amen.