03/01/2016 1 CHRISTMAS IS... ADORATION & EXHILARATION Scripture Reading Luke 1:46-55

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CHRISTMAS IS . . . ADORATION & EXHILARATION

Scripture Reading Luke 1:46-55

The Christmas Story

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1. What is Christmas?

A Celebration Food – A Feast Day Holiday … or Holy Day? Music – Carolling Shopping and Presents

The Christmas Story

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2. The Beginning of the End

Something sinisterKing Herod the Great’s massacre of the babies at Bethlehem Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt The Magi “departed into their own country another way”(Matt. 2:12) through the dangerous and hostile desert

The Christmas Story

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3. Many wonderful things

Two birth miracles – John the Baptist and Jesus The STAR “the East” (Matt 2:2) and the Wise Men (Magi) The Shepherds The Heavenly Hosts Mary, Elizabeth, Zacharias, Simeon, Anna

The Christmas Story

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4. Focus on Adoration

Exuberance – outbursts of joy (exhilaration) Silence Contemplation Prophecies fulfilled

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

Hail … Mary – Lk 1:28, 40 Zacharia and Mary – Lk 1:29 Mary’s favour with God and Jesus’ greatness – Lk 1:30-33

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY (continued)

Mary’s response - “How shall this be?” – Lk 1:34 She became pregnant – Lk 1:35 She was reassured – Lk 1:36-37 Her response was simple & sublime – Lk 1:38 She left “in haste” – Lk 1:39 & Matt 1:18-25

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY (continued) Elizabeth’s baby – Lk 1:40-41

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY (continued) Elizabeth’s Song – Lk 1:42-45

She recognized Mary’s babyShe displayed an amazing understanding of Mary’s babyElizabeth speaking on behalf of her baby?Blessings on Mary

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY (continued) Mary’s baby

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY (continued) Mary’s Song - The “Magnificat” (Lk 1:46-55)First Stanza - MARYSecond Stanza - ADORATIONThird Stanza - PITYFourth Stanza - GRATITUDE

The Christmas Message

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1. MARY (continued) Our ResponseJoy in what we can understandJoy also in what we cannot understandThe Greatness and Sovereignty of God in our life.Humility

The Christmas Message

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2. THE WISE MEN (MAGI)

The Christmas Message

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2. THE WISE MEN (MAGI)

The Christmas Message

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2. THE WISE MEN (MAGI)

The Christmas Message

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2. THE WISE MEN (MAGI)

The Christmas Message

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2. THE WISE MEN (MAGI)

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS “abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night (Lk 2:8)

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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3. SHEPHERDS

The Christmas Message

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4. SIMEON, a godly man in Jerusalem “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace” (Lk 2:29) He was an elderly man from Jerusalem. He was alone – his wife, if he had any, was no longer. He was a righteous and devout person. He had a close relationship with God.

The Christmas Message

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4. SIMEON (continued) Twice it is mentioned that the Holy Spirit re- vealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.He was waiting patiently, probably for a very long time, for that moment to happen. The Holy Spirit guided him to identify that of all the couples who were bringing their children to be circumcised, the child that Joseph and Mary were carrying was that the child.

The Christmas Message

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4. SIMEON (continued) How did he recognise the baby Jesus? Let’s understand what happened in the Temple at Jerusalem.

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Court of the Women – 233 sq ft, room for 6,000 worshippers.

Court of the Gentiles

There is a barrier warning non-Jews not to cross over into the Holy Place

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Solomon’s Porch. Jesus years later taught and preached here. 21/04/2331

Mary and JosephDespite their royal ancestry from the line of King David and also despite the expensive presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men, Mary and Joseph were poor – they offered two young pigeons for sacrifice at the circumcision of the Baby Jesus.

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Mary and JosephBoth Mary and Joseph, like Mary’s cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zacharias (Lk 1:59), were godly persons who faithfully obeyed and practised the regulations pertaining to various aspects of their lives (See Lev. 12:1-3, 6-8).

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The Christmas Message

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4. SIMEON (continued)

Lk 2:25-32

The Christmas Message

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CLOSING THOUGHTS How is our worship of Jesus at Christmas? Exuberant worship Silent Worship Contemplation with prayer and praise