So he came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. (19)So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (20)Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time."

Luke 3:16,18 Voice

John the Baptist:  I baptize you with water, but One is coming-One far more powerful than I, One whose sandals I am not worthy to untie-who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

(18)He preached with many other provocative figures of speech and so conveyed God's message to the people-the time had come to rethink everything.

Mark 1:4-6 Voice

[4] That messenger was John the Baptist, who appeared in the desert near the Jordan River preaching that people should be ritually cleansed through baptism with water as a sign of both their changed hearts and God's forgiveness of their sins. [5] People from across the countryside of Judea and from the city of Jerusalem came to him and confessed that they were deeply flawed and needed help, so he cleansed them with the waters of the Jordan. [6] John dressed as some of the Hebrew prophets had, in clothes made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist. He made his meals in the desert from locusts and wild honey.

3 THINGS THAT MAKE JOHN AN AMAZING MESSENGER

1.JOHN WAS A SELF FEEDER. 

2.ETERNAL PRIORITIES. 

3.SIMPLE MESSAGE- JESUS! 

John 1:29-32 Voice

[29] The morning after this conversation, John sees Jesus coming toward him. In eager astonishment, he shouts out: John the Baptist: Look! This man is more than He seems! He is the Lamb sent from God, the sacrifice to erase the sins of the world! [30] He is the One I have been saying will come after me, who existed long before me and is much greater than I am. [31] No one recognized Him-myself included. But I came baptizing with water so that He might be revealed to Israel. [32] As I watched, the Spirit came down like a dove from heaven and rested on Him.

If

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

- Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (“Immanuel" is not his name - it's his description).

Matthew 1:18-23 NIV

(“Jesus" is his name. “Immanuel" is his description). This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. (19) Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet He did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, f because he will save his people from their sins.” (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: (23)“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Luke 2:8-12 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 2:8-10 TPT

That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. (9) Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! (10) But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere!

Jesus Came For You

John 3:16-17 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

You’re Not Alone!

Matthew 1:23 NLT

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Psalm 68:6 NIV

God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Christmas Is Time To Celebrate And Be Thankful!

2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

- Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (“Immanuel" is not his name - it's his description).

Matthew 1:18-23 NIV

(“Jesus" is his name. “Immanuel" is his description). This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. (19) Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet He did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, f because he will save his people from their sins.” (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: (23)“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Luke 2:8-12 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 2:8-12 NIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

This Christmas story brings us 3 things

1.A beautiful family story

"Great joy” - mega joy

2.A dramatic poor persons/rich persons story of Inclusion

“for all the people” - "You’re in!"

3.An inconceivable love story from the heart of God

Don’t be afraid - There’s Good News

What is God like? He’s just so loving!

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8-11 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

ルカ 2:8-12 JCB

その夜、町はずれの野原では、羊飼いが数人、羊の番をしていました。 (9)そこへ突然、天使が現れ、主の栄光があたり一面をさっと照らしたのです。これを見た羊飼いたちは恐ろしさのあまり震え上がりました。(10)天使は言いました。「こわがることはありません。これまで聞いたこともない、すばらしい出来事を知らせてあげましょう。すべての人への喜びの知らせです。(11)今夜、ダビデの町（ベツレヘム）で救い主がお生まれになりました。この方こそ主キリストです。 (12)布にくるまれ、飼葉おけに寝かされている幼子、それが目じるしです。」

このクリスマスストーリーは3つのことをもたらす

1. 美しい家族のストーリー

大きな喜び

2.貧しい人とお金持ちの人を含んだドラマ

全ての人たちのため - あなたも！

3.神様の心からの素晴らしい愛のストーリー

恐れないで - 良い知らせがある

神様はどんな神様？神様は愛に溢れている！

ヨハネ3:16 JCB

実に神は、ひとり子をさえ惜しまず与えるほどに、この世界を愛してくださいました。それは、神の御子を信じる者が、だれ一人滅びず、永遠のいのちを得るためです。

ローマ 5:8-11 JCB

しかし、私たちがまだ罪人であった時、神はキリストを遣わしてくださいました。そのキリストが私たちのために死なれたことにより、神は私たちに大きな愛を示してくださったのです。 (9)キリストは、罪人のために血まで流してくださったのですから、私たちが無罪とされた今は、もっとすばらしいことをしてくださるに違いありません。今やキリストは、神の怒りから、私たちを完全に救い出してくださるのです。

(10)私たちが神の敵であった時でさえ、ひとり子の死によって、神のもとに連れ戻されたくらいですから、私たちが神の友となり、神が私たちのうちに生きておられる今は、どんなにかすばらしい祝福が備えられていることでしょう。 (11)私たちは、神との驚くべき新しい関係を心から喜んでいます。それはただ、主イエス・キリストが私たちの罪のために死んで成し遂げてくださったこと、すなわち、私たちを神の友としてくださったことのおかげなのです。