Luke 2:1-14

Christmas Is A Season of Wonders. The wonder of the birth of Jesus. The wonder of the beautiful music…angel music. The wonder of giving and receiving gifts…God gave and we received… The wonder of children with happy faces…as they realize that Christmas is about a baby who came to save them from their sins.

Some Lose The Wonder. Has this happened to you? Has the rush of the season cost you the wonder? A man of God who’s name was Gypsy Smith: “I have never lost the wonder of it all”

The Wonder of the Characters of Christmas

The “Fear Nots” of Christmas. A “fear not” for Zacharias (Lk. 1:13) But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. A “fear not” for Mary (Lk. 1:30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. A “fear not” for the shepherds (Lk. 2:10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Joseph Needed A “Fear Not”. Everything had been going well for him. He was engaged to the girl of his dreams. They were making plans for their future. Then he discovered Mary the girl of his dreams was with child. Suddenly his world came crashing down; he was afraid of the future

Some “Fear Nots” for When We Feel Like Joseph. A “Fear Not” for Times When We’ve Been Let Down. A “Fear Not” for Times When We Worry About Public Opinion. A “Fear Not” for Times Of Mental Anguish.

We Need to Return to Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear. We need a revival that restores first love and a passion for the lost. WE need a revival just as they needed it in Hosea’s day. The people needed to break up their fallow ground. 

What Is Fallow Ground? Fallow ground was once productive but now lies waste. Once there were abundant harvest  from this soil. Now there are but weeds and wilderness. 

What Dose Fallow Ground Produce? Fallow ground produces thorns and thistles.

How Can Fallow Ground Be Broken Up? Fallow ground can be broken up by the plow of God’s Word. My prayer is that if you have untilled Fallow Ground may todays message help show you how to break it up.

Heavenly Rewards: A Neglected Subject. We speak more of homes here than in heaven. We talk of security, nest eggs, and promotions but little of eternal rewards

Jesus tough us to lay up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

There must be participants in the race. We know there is a prize at the end of the race. The price of running to win the prize in this race is great. Paul said“I therefore run, not as uncertainty” There was no doubt about Paul’s intention to win the prize. He didn’t have time or energy to wast - neither do we.

The world searches madly for riches. People will sacrifice almost anything for wealth. The riches of this world are temporary. One minute you can have great wealth and the next on the verge of bankruptcy. This message will share God’s three key points:

One: The Riches of His Goodness

Two: The Riches of His Grace

Three: The Riches of His His Glory. Paul Preferred the Unsearchable Riches of Christ.

Christians Are Different… Once they were lost, but now they are found. You may ask yourself what Makes christians different? …They have found a new reason for living.

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:1-9 the reasons. In today’s message you will see three main reasons why they have found a new reason for living. One Their Treasures Are Eternal. Two Their Troubles Are Temporary. And three Their Trials Are Filled with the Purposes of God. We pray that you will be encouraged by this message.

Today’s message “Come and See” comes out of the text John 1:35-42. John makes a revealing statement “Behold the Lamb of God” (v.36). And what happens next is Two of John’s disciples leave, following the Lamb as we see in (v.37). We see Jesus Two curious disciples (v. 37-38) and then the Lord’s question: “What seek ye?”. The Lord’s Invitation to Us All: “Come and See”

When we come and see, we will Trust Him, When we come and see, You’ll want to stay with Him, and when you come and see,  You’ll want to show others the Way

In Romans 12:1-2 Paul explains why we should surrender all and how the missing ingredient in surrendering is “Commitment.”  When we don’t surrender all to God, it clearly shows a lack of commitment to marriage: broken homes …A lack of commitment to church: just Sunday morning Christians, and even a lack of commitment to evangelism: few believers witness today. Paul’s Call to Surrender All: Surrender your body, Surrender your mind, and Surrender your will the question after listening to todays message you should ask your self is:

How Strong Is My Commitment to Christ? 

And am I Willing to Surrender All to Him?

In 1 Kings 19:19-21 Elijah at the End of the Trial A mighty prophet of God neared the close of his ministry…He challenged wicked King Ahab, He prayed with such power that he stopped the rain for six months, He became the second man in space - after Enoch, He was so important that he met Moses and Jesus at the Transfiguration. Elijah was commissioned to choose Elisha as his successor.