Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas
Luke 1:5-25
1. God’s Messengers Bring the Hope, Peace, Joy, Reconciliation, and Authority of God! (Luke 1:11-17; John 1:11-13, John 12:47-50)
John 1:11-13, He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
John 12:47-50, If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.
2. God’s Message is as Reliable as God Himself; Trust in the Lord! (Luke 1:18-25, Luke 1:34, Mark 9:21-24)
Luke 1:34, Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”
Mark 9:21-24, [Jesus asks about the demon possessed boy] “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said. “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”