"The Perfect Gift: the True Light" By Bob Heirtzler December 15th,
2013
Thank you very much.
Those were some awesome songs. I
guess we all can say that we have many
memories about Christmas. Many
memories
about good times, bad times, sad times, the frustrating times, but,
that’s the
flesh side of things. The
spiritual side
is that there is a story, which I am going to attempt to share today,
if God
allows it to happen, because Christmas is pretty emotional in our
family. It’s a big
deal for us; we talk about Christmas
in the middle of summer, and we can’t wait for it to get there. A lot of families are like
that. So, I want to
say Merry Christmas to
everybody here. May
God bless you, and have
a very, very merry
Christmas. I know
that the politically correct greeting
is, “Happy Holidays,” but I am from the old school, and I will say,
“Merry
Christmas.” I was
in Starbucks in
I was listening to Music on the
radio. Christmas
music, they call
it. This is the
music that I hear: “Frosty
the Snowman,” “All I want for
Christmas is You, Babe,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Santa Baby,”
“Walking
In A Winter Wonder Land,” “Dreaming of a White Christmas,” and so on,
over and
over again with just different artists singing the same songs—Nothing
about the
birth of Christ. What
we used to hear on
the radio, not too long ago, was, we heard, “Joy to the World,” “Silent
Night,”
“O Holy Night,” “Away in a Manger,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O
Little Town
of Bethlehem,” “O, Come, All Ye Faithful,”… songs that pertained to
Jesus’ birth!
They have
taken that away on the
airwaves. Why would
they do something
like that? Any
suggestions out
there? Why would
they do something like
that? Political
correctness. We’re
afraid to offend somebody, yet they
offend us all the time, and what do we do about it?
We pray; we seek God.
We ask God to be a brighter light.
It’s easy to clock them in the head or something,
or backslap them the way Gibbs does with his people, but we pray that
we can be
that light. We
don’t worship Christmas
trees and lights, here, we use it as an advantage to share the Gospel
with
people.
We started off today with the song,
“O Holy Night.” That
song revelated to
my mind—I’ll get to that in a few minutes.
We heard already about the shepherds in the
Field–shepherds attending
their sheep! One
thing I learned about
the sheep: they
know their master voice;
they will not follow another voice that is speaking to them. We can learn a lot from the
sheep. We know
Jesus’ voice. We
also should know the other voice that
speaks to us, too, and how we verify who is speaking to us.
The other thing is, the shepherd attends
to the needs of the sheep; he feeds them, protects them, and looks for
the one
that has gone astray, as we read in the Gospel in one of the parables
(Matthew
18:12-14).
We also learn from this is that
Jesus is our Shepherd, and we are his Sheep!!
Mark
6:34
And
Jesus, when he came out, saw much
people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as
sheep
not having a shepherd:…
So,
what did He
do after that? Mark
6:34
…and
he began to teach them many things.
We go through life, here.
Our coworkers and friends might not
understand the Christmas story. That’s
why we’re there to share with them, by the life that we live, or the
words that
we share. Just our
presence, sometimes,
brings things. The angels appeared to the shepherds. The first song that I have here is: Hark The Herald Angels Sing (verse 3) Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!" “Born to give them second birth.” That hits me like baptism in Jesus’ name, right there. God gave us a chance to get salvation. You wonder why thy take that off the airwaves. That could cause people to seek.
The other part of that story was
abut the two people that were in the Silent Night (verse 3) Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth He was already Lord at His birth. He wasn’t voted into office, like the king at that time was. He was already the King. Already Lord, at They birth. And you wonder why they take that off the airwaves. Another one: We talk about the wise men, how that they came to the house where the child Jesus was! Did you catch that? they didn’t come to a manger; they came to a house. How long after the birth? I don’t know, but we do know that Herod put a hit out on anybody that was two years or younger. We read about that (Matthew 2:16), so up to two years, maybe? I don’t know. Isaiah
60:1-6 Arise,
shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon
thee. For, behold,
the darkness shall
cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall
arise upon
thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And
the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and
kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift
up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves
together, they
come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be
nursed
at thy side. Then
thou shalt see, and
flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the
abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the
Gentiles
shall come unto thee. The
multitude of
camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they
from
I heard in band practice this
morning—Andy was getting all fired up this morning—it took a lot for
those
kings to get there. They
didn’t just
pack up and go; they took an army of people with them, based on that
Scripture—they took a multitude of camels!
It took a lot—preparation—I mean, if you’re walking
around downtown We Three Kings of Orient Are (Verse 1) We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star (Verse 5) Glorious now behold Him arise King and God and Sacrifice Alleluia, Alleluia Earth to heav'n replies (Chorus) O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to Thy perfect light God was that perfect light for us. We’re talking about Christmas, we’re talking about the gift, we’re talking about that light. We as Christians, we celebrate the death, burial, resurrection, and the birth of Christ every day of our lives. We need to be at our best during this time because there’s a lot going on around us, there’s people that the only time they come to church is Christmas and Easter. That was me; I did the same thing. my dad and I and mom and kids, we went to church on Christmas and mostly on Easter. Then I thought about the Drummer Boy. I’ve got little history about the drummer boy—Parrish mentioned how that song ministered to him. Anything that we have can be used by God! for me, a fishing pole—Do you know how many doors have been opened for me and those that have gone fishing with me? A fishing pole opens up so many doors to share with people. It’s no different than Rob Severance going to McDonald’s and eating a Big Mac. I don’t know if he eats a Big Mac when he’s there, but, that’s just an example—there’s no difference than somebody going to the coffee shop, having a cup. It’s something that we can use to talk to people. I went to Bass Pro Shop yesterday, and I ran across Santa Claus. I looked at him, and I go, “I know I know you.” I think he’s one of the employees there. I think he is. I thought about getting a picture with him, posting it on FaceBook, and see what my family says, but, naaah. We can use anything to reach out to people. Here’s this drummer boy, with a drum. Oh, by the way, I was a drummer boy in a play once, back in the early 70’s. I remember walking down the aisle of the church there, beating the drum all the way, not knowing, wondering why I was chosen for this. I didn’t ask for it but I was volunteered. Back then, when you were volunteered by an adult, you listened, you didn’t talk back. You know? Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. So, regardless of what we’re going through, (I heard that this morning) we have to be happy where we’re at. God’s got us here, in the middle of this, for some reason. To be a light—we could be a light, with somebody else watching our lives. Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. So, Paul was talking about that he’s gone through a lot of things, ups and downs. One thing he said in verse 13: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. The drummer boy had a drum. That’s all he had. He used that, and that particular song ministered to our brother, who’s is visiting his family today. It ministered to him—a song—ministered to him. You know? As we keep going here, the song that ministered to e, that I’m going to talk about now, is, “What is the Gift/Light?” Back in December of 1978, I know most of you weren’t around, I watched this show every year when I was a kid. I started going through the same emotions as this show went through, too. The show was, “Charlie Brown’s Christmas.”
Charlie Brown: “I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel. I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards, and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.”
I realized that I was fit in the
same mold as that, too. I
know I’m not
alone in that. I
know a lot of us here,
or maybe you know some people that have, there was such a big build-up
for Christmas,
and the very next day, or an hour after we opened our gifts and had the
big
meal that day, it was over. You
know? There was no
substance. But, in
1979—my first Christmas as a Christian,
it was here at this church. I
remember
that day, clearly, that night. It
was a
gym like this not much bigger, it had a basketball court. I remember the sanctuary
had a basketball
hoop with a star of David in bright, blue lights!!
I sat about where, that guy in the back row,
where he’s sitting at, and I aid, “Okay, what’s all this about
Christmas?” They
had the whole sanctuary decorated—I
think it was the YMCA or the YWCA, I’m not sure, near the library of O Holy Night O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O holy night, O night divine! O night, O holy night, O night divine! I said, “Okay, I’ve heard this song before.” They went to the second verse: Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land. The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friends. Now it’s hitting home.. This hit home. He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, He knows exactly what we’re going through. It’s not strange to God. He knows our needs. Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. This next part reminded me of last week’s service. Chains he shall break,… When the youth did that thing last week, there was such a powerful, powerful healing. The kids probably don’t even know. They were just holding a chain and breaking it. I imagine some kids do know. As they’re growing up, and looking to us as examples. We’ve still got to be the examples to the young people across the hallway. The chains that were broken. (Back to 1979) Now I’m malting down. Now my hands are in the air—praising God like crazy now, because, after all those years of not knowing who He was, He was coming to me, now. At the end of that song, I was weeping, I was at the altar with my hands raised, I was praying, “God, I truly started to understand Your birth, and why You came and walked among us.” I knew I had a lot more to learn, a lot more to read about. Man, I was reading about the birth like crazy after that. More, more, more. You know? Amen? …for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim! Then we heard Parrish talk about Black Friday. I started thinking about it. I herd it three times, so I thought maybe I should look into it. They say that Jesus Died on a Friday! I wasn’t there, so I’m not sure what day it was, but they’re saying it was a Friday. Hebrews 10:9-11 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: I remember running to the pastor of the town there all the time, telling him all f the things that I had done wrong, and he said, “You’re forgiven,” not knowing that I walked out with them still on me. God didn’t forgive me; God didn’t wash me in His blood at that time. I remember it was an emotional time, but it would only last for a few days, and then I would get right back into trouble again. Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; John the Baptist said this: John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. He knew His mission, why He was there: to give us the gift of salvation. Hebrews 10:13-17 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. He came to sacrifice, that through baptism in Jesus’ name, we put the blood of Christ on, and our sins are remembered no more. What an awesome gift that God’s given us. Correct? Hebrews 10:18-19 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, They said there was three hours of darkness on that day (if it was a Friday)! Two thousand years later, the saving power of Jesus is still alive and well today. The best saving power you can get on a Black Friday!!! You know? What He did for us that day, it doesn’t cost us anything at all. What is the Gift and Light to us? Anybody want to answer that?&n |