The Great Day

The Great Day
Luke 2:11

Sermon by Jack Nazary
Ebenezer Baptist - 2003

A Saviour! Everything in this announcement of the angels gathers around that precious word!

Seven features are supplied:
1. Who He is - Christ the Lord
2. How He came - unto you is born a saviour
3. Where He was born - in city of David
4. When He was born - this day
5. Why He was born - a savior - sin, death, hell
6. Unto whom He came - unto you
7. What feeling - should be ours in reaction to the joyous tidings - Luke 2:10 "For" refers to verse 10; "fear not"; "fullness of joy"

Who it was who came? "Christ the Lord"
Long predicted Messiah
Long expected Messiah
God appointed, God anointed one "the Lord" Jehovah
That word "the Lord" would startle the shepherds beyond measure and it should in like manner effect you and me!

See how He came - "unto you is born...a savior"
How this sanctifies human motherhood!
How it honors motherhood! In contrast to non-christian religious and present day tendencies.
What dignity it confers on our race! For it links God Himself with it!
How it proves the real manhood of Christ!
If He was born then He is truly human as will as divine - think of it God the Son was humanly born - O' the mystery of it!

See where He was born - "the city of David"
what historical connections - Bethlehem had for those shepherds. It was there that Jacob's beloved Rachel died; where gentle Ruth became the wife of Boaz. It was the city of the mighty warrior Joab. But above all it was David's city, born there, there learned to sling his stones, play his harp, sing his psalms. and it was David's messiah, successor for whom all were waiting.

Remember when He was born "this day" - what joy to the shepherds, How condemning it is to us. This day was 2000 years ago, yet there are millions who have never heard.

We see why He was born - "unto you is born a saviour"
Would they have come with the same excitement to announce the birth of a ...philosopher, a statesman, a warrior, a reformer????
No, nothing could have brought such joy and gladness except the saviour from Sin, Death, and Hell!

Observe "unto whom He came" - "unto you"
Unto you - shepherds
Unto you - people of Israel
Unto you - human beings as distinct from angles

What feelings should be ours in reaction to the joyous tidings? "Fear not" - "Great Joy"

History Repeats Itself

History Repeats Itself

Sermon by Jack Nazary
Ebenzener Baptist - 2003

No room for Jesus in the inn.
No room for Him in the world today.
Some things are sure - when there is no room for Jesus:

I. When there is no room for Jesus - there is no righteousness for the sinner
a. May be self-righteousness as the Pharisee - "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." Luke 18:10-12

b. Must have Jesus to have God's righteousness. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." - Romans 10:4; "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. - I Corinthians 1:30.

c. Many will find out too late that self-righteousness is no good. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in they name have cast out devils? and in thous name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 7:21-23.

II. When there is no room for Jesus - there is no rejoicing in the soul - Jesus brings rejoicing!
a. The angel bears this out - "Bring good tidings of great joy" - Luke 2:8-13
b. The experience of Paul and Silas in jail bears this out - "prayed and sang praises unto God." - Acts 16:25
c. The Ethiopian Eunuch in the chariot bears this out - "went on his way rejoicing" Acts 8:39.

III. When there is no room for Jesus - There is no rapture by the saviour.
a. Notice what our saviour promises. "Let no your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." - John 14:1-3

b. No person will be raptured who has not been saved. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - I Thessalonians 4:16-17

c. Many will be left when He does rapture His own. "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." - Matthew 24:40-42

IV. When there is no room for Jesus - there will be no reward for faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 11 Corinthians 5:10 - "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

V. When there is no room for Jesus - there will be no relief from hell's suffering.
a. All who reject Him, will suffer - Luke 16:25-28 - "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."

b. All who believe (COMMIT) will be saved. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come and let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

c. Those who reject Christ will face God in Judgement for rejecting. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement." Hebrews 9:7.

Do you have room for Jesus today? Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart and be your Savior? Do you put Him first in your life? Is he your Lord? Do you have peace and joy at this Christmas season because of the gift of life from God the Father?