Hope for Christmas
“JOY.”
TEXT: Luke 2:10-12
2 BIRTHS
- THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
- THE BIRTH OF ICHABOD. I Sam. 4:19-22
- The mother decides to name the baby ICHABOD – meaning the Glory of God has departed.
DON’T EVER ALLOW YOUR PRESENT TO NAME YOUR FUTURE. It’s easy to get in a bad season, but you don’t have to let what is going on now be the Newscaster for your future.
- THE CHILD’S NAME WAS A STATEMENT ABOUT HER LIFE.
The mother decides to name her baby ICHABOD. When she names that child, she says, “The glory has departed from my life, it has departed from my marriage, it has departed from my family.”
- JESUS’S NAME IS A STATEMENT ABOUT OUR LIVES. (MATT. 1)
The prophet says His name shall be called Immanuel, for He shall save His people from their sins.
1. THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS IS JOY.
Is. 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
THE WORLD’S MESSAGE IS ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED.
Is. 9:7-“Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
2. WE NEED THE GLORY MENTALITY.
Luke 2:11-14
Be careful not to assume the doomsday mentality. I am concerned that the church can take on that Ichabod Spirit. Oh, the glory is no longer here. Where has the fire gone? Oh, nothing is happening anymore. Oh, where is God’s move? Ichabod, people get an Ichy spirit.
Phil. 2:6-8
Jesus said I volunteer to be demoted. I’ll go down. I’ll be born in a barnyard.
“They wrapped Him in swaddling cloths”. (Strips of cloth tied together like band-aids.
He was the Creator of the universe. He moved through the curtain of time and eternity and was born on earth. They ultimately took Him to the cross; they crucified him.