Services/Sermon in ElkRiver 24.12.2019

In the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, let's begin our Christmas Eve service and opening prayer and thanksgiving. Let Christmas come to rich and poor, its brilliant light unfold and with the wealth of God allure to heaven's streets of gold. I long for thee, I wait for thee, O Lord, I need thy charity. May rich and poor alike abide in peace at Christmastide.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you this Christmas Eve. And as that verse from the songwriter says, we ask that you would be present here this evening with us through your Spirit. Lord, allow the peace of Christmas to dwell in each and every one of us.

Dear Father, we remember those here at Christmastime that maybe have a lonely place of watching also. In the busyness and a season that involves much with family, there are those that maybe at this time feel alone. Allow the peace of Christmas to reach them also.

Father, in this time of joy and celebration, there are those who yet sorrow. With the trials of the light, maybe with the loss of a dear one or a close one. Allow also for them the joy and the peace of Christmas.

As we gather here this evening, dear Father, we ask for your service blessing. Give that which is needed for each and every one of us this evening. And we enclose these and all our unspoken petitions in the prayer which your Son taught unto us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The gospel text which is set aside for Christmas Eve is the first portion of the familiar Christmas gospel. I'm sure there's been opportunity to pause around the Christmas gospel already in your maybe homes or different gatherings during the Christmas season. And it's a familiar portion, and I would dare to venture probably one of the most familiar portions of God's word throughout the world.

So we will read in Jesus' name this evening the first 14 verses from the second chapter of Luke's gospel.

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 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.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Amen.

Before we pause for a moment around this familiar gospel text, I wish to thank you, dear brothers and sisters, for the gift of the poinsettia plant that we received here at the beginning of the Christmas season. It is good, and it has felt good that we were remembered in this way.

And also, many of you prepared this year and sent those Christmas greetings and cards. And I want to also thank you for those greetings. At this point, they're hanging on one of the walls in our hallways there. And when we pass by, we can see those Christmas greetings there. And it brings much joy.

And on behalf of myself and Mary and our family, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

This familiar gospel text, which Luke has recorded, recounts of that time when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was born into this world. And this was what the prophets had foretold those many, many years before.

Prophet Isaiah had written, spoken in his time in this way, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice. From henceforth, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Through eyes of faith, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah was able to see that day and very accurately describe those happenings which would come to be. And this was the promise that was already given at the beginning there in the garden when Adam and Eve fell into sin.

God came with that promise, that message of comfort and assurance that one day he would send a Savior into the world for their sins and for the sin of the entire world.

And over the past month and past few weeks, we've marked the Advent season leading up to this time when we are again able to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our text begins that there had been a decree that had gone from the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus that the Roman Empire of the world would be taxed. And along with this went, there was a census that would be taken so the population, the citizens could be counted.

And it required that everyone would travel to their own city for this census to take place.

And so it was that Joseph with his espoused wife Mary made that journey from their home there in Nazareth to the city of David called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David.

The name Bethlehem means the house of bread. And herein we see also this picture of God's kingdom where even yet today the living word of God, the bread which the Old Testament travelers especially those on the wilderness journey referred to as that manna that they received from heaven, that same living bread is spoken in God's kingdom.

God's living word through his spirit yet sounds forth in the world today and it so that it sounded forth and it was revealed there only in one place there on the Christmas Eve. It wasn't in the entire city but it was there in that stable in that lowly manger where the Christ child was laid after his birth.

And so it is today also that God's kingdom here on earth is that kingdom where we have that good fortune dear brothers and sisters to travel today. I'm sure there's many, many churches we may be even in coming today drove past churches where they will also have their Christmas Eve services.

But God's kingdom and his word is found in one place here on earth, there where his children are gathered through the Holy Spirit.

And Luther writes in this way how that unless one is able to find God's kingdom, his children here on earth, one is not able to find the Lord and Savior of this kingdom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So Joseph along with Mary had traveled there to Bethlehem for this taxing and census that was to take place and it so happened that while she was there that time came when the baby was to be born.

And it tells us that she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

On the past Sunday, the fourth Advent Sunday, we recalled how the angel appeared there to Mary and Joseph with this message of this miraculous birth that was to take place and how they were to be God's workers in this way.

And this was probably even known there. It may be that David or Joseph even there in Bethlehem that was in some way his home area, the house and lineage of David. It may be that he had family there in that city of Bethlehem.

But our text tells that there was no room for them. There was no room either in the inns or those places that hosted people travelers to the city.

And part of this I'm sure was due because due to the big crowd of people that had come there for the census but also Mary and Joseph came carrying this portion that they were expecting a child.

In the eyes of the world around them, maybe even in the eyes of their own families, a child that was conceived and to be born out of wedlock which was a shameful thing in their time.

So it ended up being that they found a place of shelter that evening in a stable in that lowly place.

God so allowed it that the savior of the world would be born in such a lowly and humble manner in such a way that because of this even he was hidden from those wise those with much.

And as Jesus himself spoke and reminded later on in his life during his time of public ministry that he had come to heal the sick, those that were in need of a physician, not those that were well.

And even in this way his humble beginning was a depiction of this how he would serve those who were needy, the sick, the faulty, the poor and be able to heal them.

Our text continues then that in the hills there around Bethlehem the shepherds were there tending their flocks. They were abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.

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.

And the angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord.

This birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was first made known there in those cold and dark fields around Bethlehem where the shepherds were there tending their flocks.

The shepherds at that time were a lower class of people in many ways they were despised and not only did our savior come in a lowly and a humble fashion but the messengers were those that were disregarded and even despised by the society around them.

The humble and lowly shepherds received that message from the angel that message that told them first not to be fearful but then this message of great joy that unto you this day is born in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord.

These shepherds through faith had awaited for this day. They were part of those Old Testament travelers that had believed throughout time on the promise that one day God would send a savior into the world.

This savior which John writes in his gospel of in this way for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This was the promise that the shepherds had believed. It was the same promise that the prophets and the Old Testament travelers had believed upon and now this had happened.

The savior of all mankind was born there and the message was given then from the angel to the shepherds and the shepherds then with joy after receiving this message from the angels ran there went there to see their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When they were able to find the manger they found there as the angel had said a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

Through faith they saw more than a baby lying there. Through faith they were able to see that now that promise that they had believed upon had happened. God had sent his only begotten son into the world as the savior for all mankind.

When we think then of the inns that had no room for the baby I thought in considering this afternoon this service turn how it writes in one of our Christmas songs in this way if only in the manger of my afflicted heart by grace the baby Jesus would dwell and ne'er depart oh little child of Christmas the greatest gift of love oh guide my earthly pathway to heaven's home above.

Those inns there in Bethlehem didn't have room for the Savior. What does it remain for us dear brothers and sisters this evening that in our heart there is that manger that is there the manger that holds our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Is there yet room in our heart for the Savior that came into the world that Christmas day?

Through faith we believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born into this world as was written of and recorded for us in God's holy word and that one day he will again return and he will return in not this lowly and humble fashion but he will return as the judge and the king and will take his own there to the home in heaven.

And this message of God's kingdom is the same message that has been since the beginning of time. It is the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and it's the message of peace and joy.

And how dear brother and dear sister do we own this true peace and joy now at Christmas time and through all the days of our life.

It is through that age old gospel message that we can again and again believe that our sins our failings are all forgiven in the name and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is the message of Christmas and it's the message that sounds forth yet today from God's kingdom.

He is good that you also came this evening to the place where Jesus dwells here yet today among his own and you also have permission to believe all of your sins and the sin of unbelief forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood.

And for you my brother my sister young and old the message of Christmas is again a new message this evening as you find yourself uplift your heart again to believe all sins all doubts forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood.

And may you there as you gather in your homes experience and feel there among your family and those that you gather with the true peace and joy of Christmas that we own through faith.

When we remain believing in this way when we are able to close our eyes to this life we will then move from this time to that time of eternal Christmas there in our home in heaven.

It pays to simply remain believing in this way and I ask for myself this evening and I also believe my many sins and doubts forgiven I promise to believe along with you in Jesus name Amen.

Let's close with the Lord's benediction.

The Lord bless us and keep us.

The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.