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This message was preached by Colin D'cruz at Word of Grace Church on December 10th, 2017. To listen/download the audio please click here. To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here. Last week we looked at Luke 1 and looked at how the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus came about. Today we will look at Luke 2: 1-21 “1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Those days is talking about, the days, when after 400 years of silence was broken when an angel of God spoke to Zechariah. 6 months later, the angel spoke to Mary, prophesying to both a child- one being the forerunner and one where she is conceived by the Holy Spirit. Caesar and Augustus are not names, but titles- his real name was Gaius Octavios. Our faith in Jesus is not rooted in mythology but in history. Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman empire for 45 years. Pax romana- peace of Rome- was in his reign. There was prosperity and peace in Rome during this time. Why is Luke telling us this? 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child In Micah he prophesied that the Messiah will come out of Bethlehem. The other prophetic word is that he would be of the lineage of David. But they were living in Nazareth. So God moved the ruler’s heart to conduct a census. According to the census, they had to go to their hometown, which was Bethlehem. What can we learn from this? All the international political events can confound us, but above and beyond all these decisions, is our God who is sovereign and he will always have his way. The kings’ hearts are in his hands. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Firstborn – in Jewish culture, the rights and inheritance went to the Firstborn. The Bible tells us that Jesus had other half- brothers and sisters. The Catholics believe otherwise. Jesus had other brothers and sister- Joseph and Mary had normal relations after the birth of Jesus. Manger- It is a feeding trough for animals. It is not something people usually have in homes. Babies do not belong in a manger. Parents choose a nice room and good place to put our babies. Mary and Joseph were poor. There was no place even in an Inn. The king of the Universe chose to be born in humble surroundings. Are we willing for the sake of the gospel to sacrifice? Jesus voluntarily took up the place of a poor person, a humiliating way to be born. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Shepherds were looked down upon in that society. In their law, shepherds’ testimony was not taken into account. God chose to reveal the wonder of his birth to the nobodies in society. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This statement has so much truth in it. The long awaited Messiah for whom they were pining, a Saviour was born. Christ means the anointed one. Lord is used to refer to God. He is the answer to the Jewish nation. But it is for all people. The extent of Jesus’ influence is all people. It is good news of great joy. That great joy is when someone receives salvation. Christmas is Merry for us because our sins are forgiven. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” How did they know that that was the baby? The angels gave them this indication. 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” What a choir that must have been!! Amazing heavenly worship taking place there. God chose the foolish things on earth to shame the wise. We are amongst those nobodies to whom God has revealed the birth of His son. 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” What an amazing thing that the angels finished singing, and went back to heaven! The Shepherds couldn’t figure out this thing that has happened. 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. Now Mary and Joseph had God speak to both of them regarding this baby. But for months, they did not have any other sign or confirmation. Sometimes, we too can wonder if God has really said something. But now, after the baby is born, for the first time they have a confirmation from the shepherds. Then they tell Mary and Joseph that angels told them about this baby. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. We have heard the good news of the Saviour. Like the shepherds, we need to make it known. This needs to become a lifestyle. Evangelism is a lifestyle. We need to fill our hearts with worship at the miracle of the birth and salvation of God. Can we be a people who treasure this news and respond with a lifestyle of Worship and Evangelism? Let’s pray. Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again), Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.
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Suaimhneas Bíodh a fhios agat go bhfuil Dia i láthair ionat ar bhealach an-dlúth ar an nóiméad seo, go bhfuil sé i láthair i do chroí, agus i láthair in san áit a bhfuil tú ag guí anois. Déan go réidh ar feadh cúpla nóiméad agus cuir bail chompordach ort féin. Dún do shúile agus samhlaigh an imní agus an chruóg uile atá ort ag gabháil ar gcúl. De réir mar a aireos tú an suaimhneas ionat féin, bíodh a fhios agat go bhfuil Dia i láthair ionat ar bhealach an-dlúth ar an nóiméad seo, go bhfuil sé i láthair i do chroí, agus i láthair in san áit a bhfuil tú ag guí anois. Scriptiúr Agus bhí aoirí sa taobh tíre céanna, amuigh faoin spéir, ag faireacháin oíche i mbun a dtréada. Agus sheas aingeal an Tiarna láimh leo, agus shoilsigh glóir an Tiarna ina dtimpeall, agus bhí uamhan agus eagla mhór orthu. Agus dúirt an t-aingeal leo: “Ná bíodh eagla oraibh: óir féach, tá dea-scéala agam daoibh a chuirfidh áthas mór ar an bpobal uile: rugadh Slánaitheoir daoibh inniu – is é Críost an Tiarna é – i gcathair Dháiví. Agus is comhartha daoibh é seo: gheobhaidh sibh naíonán i gcrios ceangail agus é ina luí i mainséar.” Agus bhí go tobann, mar aon leis an aingeal, cuallacht de shlua na bhflaitheas ag moladh Dé agus ag rá: “Glóir do Dhia in uachtar neimhe, agus síocháin ar talamh don mhuintir ar a bhfuil a ghnaoi!” Agus nuair a d’imigh na haingil uathu sna flaithis, dúirt na haoirí le chéile: “Téimis anonn go Beithil, agus feicimis an ní seo a tharla a d’inis an Tiarna dúinn.” Agus d’imigh go deifreach, agus fuair siad Muire agus Iósaef, agus an naíonán ina luí sa mhainséar. Agus ar a fheiceáil dóibh, d’inis siad an ní a dúradh leo mar gheall ar an leanbh seo. Agus cách a chuala, b’ionadh leo na nithe a dúirt na haoirí leo. Agus thaiscigh Muire ina cuimhne na nithe seo uile, ag machnamh orthu ina croí. Agus chuaigh na haoirí ar ais ag glóiriú agus ag moladh Dé faoinar chuala siad agus a bhfaca siad, de réir mar a bhí ráite leo. Déan marana Bíodh an grá thar cuimse a léiríos Dia dúinne trí bhreith agus trí shaol Íosa ina údar iontais dúinn - D’inis na h-aingil, teachtairí neamhaí Dé, d’inis siad scéal iontach do na h-aoirí, go dtiocfadh siad ar leanbh fir ina luí i mainséar, leanbh ar Meisias agus Tiarna, Dia agus Slánaitheoir é! Ghlac na h-aoirí le mistéir seo an ghrá, scéal theacht an Té a shlánaíos. Go fiú na gcaorach, d’airigh siad-san an scéal freisin! Chorraigh an domhan uile le teann áthais an oíche úd i mBeithil. Mar sin féin, b’fhada gur thuig an domhan go mba dhea-scéal don chine daoine uile breith Íosa. Is scéal áthais don domhan an soiscéal – teachtaireacht ghrá, dár ngairm chun na síochána agus na córa, agus chun comóradh na diagachta inár saol. Is é áthas an tsoiscéil an t-áthas is doimhne. Cuimsíonn sé gach uile áthas eile ionas gur aon an t-áthas diaga agus an t-áthas daonna. - Is le teann creidimh a d’imigh na h-aoirí leis an méid a d’inis an Tiarna dóibh trí na h-aingil a chloisteáil níos tréine agus ní hea le bheith ag speiceáil. Bíonn teachtaireacht dúinne freisin gach uile bhliain ón Tiarna. Is éard é an Nollaig cuairt Chríost orainne go háirithe. Is í a dhlúth-láithreacht an chéad bhronntanas Nollag dúinne. Scaití, bíonn muid chomh gnóthach sin nach léir dúinn sin. B’fhéidir an Nollaig seo go dtig le gach uile dhuine againn cuairt a thabhairt ar ‘Bheithil’ dár gcuid féin – áit a bhfuil ciall ar leith ann dúinne, am lán le creideamh i dteannta carad, Paidrín Páirteach nó Coróin Mhuire ag baile, marana shuaimhneach. Is i mBeithilí den sórt seo a thig linn teachtaireacht an Tiarna dúinne i mbliana a chloisteáil. - Uair annamh a labhraíos Muire sa Soiscéal. Bíonn sí i mbun marana go minic. Ós rud gurb í máthair Dé í, tá neart údair aice le marana agus smaoineamh a dhéanamh. Téann sí i mbun marana in am an áthais agus in am an bhróin, agus bíonn sí i láthair Dé i gcónaí. Is í a chuid seisean gaoise a cuid sise gaoise. Gurab í ár gcuid féin gaoise freisin an Nollaig seo í. Go minic is údar marana agus ionaidh grá duine eile dúinne. Bíodh an grá thar cuimse a léiríos Dia dúinne trí bhreith agus trí shaol Íosa ina údar iontais dúinn. Labhair le Dia Ar ár son-na rinne Dia duine de féin, leanbh nua-bheirthe ina luí i mainséar. Déan do mharana ar feadh cúpla nóiméad ar mhéid an mhistéir seo. - Breathnaigh i bhfad ar an spéir agus feicfidh tú aingil agus cloisfidh tú a nglór! Is í an chruthaíocht céad fhocal Dé. Meabhraíonn a dath agus a h-áilleacht áilleacht Dé dúinn. Meabhraíonn a stoirmeacha agus a spéirlingí agus haraicíní nach muid-ne atá i gceannas agus gurb é domhan Dé é. ‘Tá gach uile ní foirgthe le glóir Dé’. - Rinneadh feoil den Fhocal, lán le beatha agus le ciall agus ba é sin dara focal Dé - páiste le Dia ar ár nós féin. Cuireadh an focal cumhachtach seo in iúl trí thost leainbhín bhig. Ar ár son-na rinne Dia duine de féin, leanbh nua-bheirthe ina luí i mainséar. Tig linn go leor a chloisteáil sa tost, macallaí i bhfuaim an chiúnais. Déan do mharana ar feadh cúpla nóiméad ar mhéid an mhistéir seo. - Ní raibh stádas ar bith in sa saol ag na h-aoirí bochta. Ní mórán measa a bhí ag daoine orthu. Níl a fhios againn céard a dúirt siad le Muire, ach cibé ar bith céard é féin, ní dhearna sí dearmad riamh air. Is údar misnigh dúinn focal thall is abhus – focal grá, focal comhairle, focal guí. Cuimhnigh ar am ar labhair duine a raibh grá agat dó d’ainm – siod é focal an Tiarna!