Let us pray! Lord
Jesus Christ, tonight we celebrate the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah who
spoke the Words given to him of Your birth.
For Your birth was a divine accomplishment in spite of the deceit of
mankind. May we sinful creatures in need
of our Savior welcome the fulfillment of time and tonight celebrate Your
entrance, not only into the World wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a
manger, but into our hearts. For You
came to save us from our sin and set us free on the Cross of Calvary for all of
us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this Christmas Eve night. AMEN.
Tonight we sing the songs of Christmas that herald the
birth of Jesus Christ. His birth was
long foretold from Isaiah’s prophecy and is a divine accomplishment in perfect
time. Here the beloved story we all know
so well.
Luke
2:1-20
1
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made
when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house
and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed
with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered. 7 And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night. 9 And,
lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore afraid.
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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the
angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger. 17 And when they had
seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this
child. 18 And all they that heard it
wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and
pondered them in her heart. 20 And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they
had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
We come tonight with the cares of the world on our
shoulders and in our hearts. There are
some of you here tonight who bear these burdens unnecessarily, because you
cannot let them go. Please know it is
for you and for all people that Jesus Christ came into this world to bear our
burdens that we carry.
Tonight lying in a manger, because there was no room
in the inn, Jesus Christ our Immanuel, knew what we bring as we kneel on bended
knee and worship Him. Jesus Christ
clearly says, ‘leave your burdens’, ‘leave your cares’, ‘leave the things
causing you trouble’ and welcome Me into your heart and let Me fill you with
peace. For this is the reason for this
season, Jesus Christ our Immanuel came down from heaven to enter into our
hearts. It is my personal prayer that each
of you as you celebrate and welcome our Immanuel tonight, will enter into a
deeper relationship with Him and know Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life,
Who came down to earth to set all of us free from sin, death and the
devil. For our Immanuel’s coming in
Bethlehem in a lowly manger was for all of mankind and especially all of us
saints gathered here at Emmanuel. AMEN.
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