Merry Christmas!!

A Season of Joy

Image copyright 2011, David Kautt.

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, December 4, 2011

Luke 2:1-20, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
       “ Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

1 Peter 1:8-9, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”

One of the very first songs to be sung and played on the radio and in department stores this time of year, is the song entitled: Deck the Halls.  Many of you know the words by heart, and could even sing it now, having learned it and known it, from your childhood.  You remember, it goes something like this: “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la…” and so on.  It’s a cheery song, with a catchy tune, although, I’ve yet to find a dictionary with a definition for the words, fa la la la la, la la la la…  It also uses a phrase that caught my attention, that I want you to consider at the outset of our time in the Word of God this morning.  It’s the phrase, “Tis the season to be jolly.”  I looked it up, to make certain I understood what it means and found it interesting that this concept of a season to be jolly carries with it the ideas of cheerful festivity, and to be in good spirits.  It can imply that someone is having fun, enjoying some form of pleasurable excitement and may even indicate that he or she is slightly drunk - or, as we might say, ‘Tipsy’. 

Now, perhaps I’m making too much of this, seeing that this a secular song, although, I would remind you that it didn’t take too much prompting on my part for you to sing it in your minds, right?  In other words, our thinking about this time of the year has been shaped, at least partly, by a song that tells us that this is the time to enjoy in some form of pleasurable excitement, to be in good spirits, perhaps we have imbibed some form of alcohol.  But allow me to ask you, “for the Christ, is this time of year the time to be cheerful with a kind of transient or temporary festivity, a ‘jolly season’; or is it to be some other kind of season?

May I suggest to you that this season, this time of year we call the ‘Christmas season’, is not merely a ‘season to be jolly’, anybody can be tipsy anytime they want to be, anybody can pursue pleasure and excitement, anytime they want to do so.  No.  I’d like to suggest to you, that this season, the Christmas season is more, much, much more than a ‘season to be jolly’.  Rather, it is – for the Christian, the person who, through the ‘grid’ of this Book understands what this season is, for the Bible-guided Christian, this season is not a jolly season, but a joyful season, a season of joy. 

Peter, the apostolic writer of the words we find in the letter we call, “First Peter’, Peter filled with the Spirit, not with alcoholic ‘spirits’, describes the marvels and mysteries of what it means to be born again, what it truly means to be a Christian.  In 1 Peter 1:8, he refers to Christians, those who have received the gift of salvation and the new birth, the Christmas gift Jesus Christ came to bring, as rejoicing “with joy unspeakable and full of glory”.  Interestingly, he speaks of this joy, take a look at the text there in First Peter chapter one.  Peter speaks of this inexpressible and glorious joy, not in the context of some form of jolly excitement and passing pleasure.  But look.  He speaks of it in the context of pain, in a setting that has to do with hardship, difficulty and testing.

           

1 Peter 1:6-9, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

A season of joy, not a season to be jolly…  What does it mean?  What are we talking about when we say that “Christmas is a season of joy”? 

Well, first thing to note and to know, is what the angle of the Lord, the heavenly messenger said to the shepherds back there in Luke chapter two.  A heaven-sent messengers, shining with the radiant glory of God, when he appears in the middle of the night to shepherds quietly keeping watch over their flocks, or if he was to appear to church members at 11:45 on a Sunday morning, a heaven-sent messenger is and would have been a startling and awesome sight, an appearance that would have caused great fear for those men.  And we can understand that, can’t we?  But look at what the angel of the Lord says to these men: “Fear not… don’t be afraid.”  Why?  “Because I bring you good tidings - good news of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you – this day – in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 

The simple reason, the obvious reason – oh, my Loved Ones, the life-changing reason – this season is NOT simply a season to be jolly, but a season to be truly joyful, is because of the good news, because of the good tidings of GREAT joy.  Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord!

Do you see it, my friends?  Our joy, our rejoicing, as Christians it is not rooted in another drink.  It is not hinging on whether or not we get to take part in another pleasurable experience, and another and another and another!  No!  It is rooted in the Good News, in the gospel message of salvation and in the fact that Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah is Lord! 

A season of joy, one of the indicators that makes me think that this is what we should call this season is the presence, yes, of music, of singing!  Not the empty, ‘Fa la la la la, la la la la’ of ‘Deck the Halls’, but the substance of Mary’s Song, the magnificat, and of Zacharias’s song, and of Simeon’s song, the benedictus.  Look at each of these three songs with me for a moment or two, would you, please?

Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s song.  Do you remember the context, the circumstance behind this song?  Mary has just received the astonishing news that God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son.  She would be, this young Jewish virgin, would be His holy vessel, His instrument through which the Son of God, the Son of the Highest, would enter into this world as a man.  And, traveling to the home of her cousin Elizabeth, she hears Elizabeth’s Holy Spirit-inspired greeting: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  You, the mother of my Lord, has come to me!...”  All of these things in the background cause Mary to well up with these joy-filled words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”  The reason for Mary’s joy, is the Good News…  “The Lord has regarded the lowly estate of His maidservant.  The Lord has done mighty things for her.  The Lord has shown strength with His arm.  The Lord has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.  The Lord has filled the hungry with good things, but sent the rich away empty.  The Lord has helped His servant Israel, and remembered His mercy, His covenant faithfulness to His people!”  The Lord…  The Lord…  The Lord…  He is the reason for Mary’s joy! 

Then, there’s Zacharias’s song, Luke 1:67-79.  Who is Zacharias?  Do you remember?  He is the husband of Elizabeth, He is the surprised father, who though he never would be a father, of the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist.  Look at the joyful way in which he begins his song: “Blessed be [praises be] to the Lord God of Israel,” sounds like the Psalms, doesn’t it?  “For He has visited and redeemed His people!”  Good news.  “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David!”  Good news…  Just like He spoke through His holy prophets, the message is clear, and the news is very, very good indeed!  “We shall be saved, He’s going to save us from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us!”  Good news, He is, the Lord is, through this horn of salvation He is raising up for us, granting us deliverance from our enemies, and making a way for us to serve Him without fear, in the holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

It’s there, isn’t it?  For Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, it was there.  Not giddy gladness at good pleasures and excitements, but, deep, humble, grateful joy in the Lord, before the Giver of this Good News gift!

Or, take Simeon’s song, for an example.  Luke 2:22-35 provides us not only with the words of Simeon’s song, but with the context.  After a period of purification, required by the law of God following her pregnancy, and the delivery of the Christ Child, Mary and her husband, take little Jesus with them to Jerusalem, to the temple, to present Him to the Lord - what an awesome scene that must have been, for the Son of God, Mary’s children, Joseph’s keepsake, but God’s Only Begotten and Beloved Son, to be presented back to His Father in heaven!  And, then, for Simeon, this otherwise unknown Biblical character, this man Luke describes as “just and devout” was “waiting for the consolation of Israel”, led by the Holy Spirit, he steps up to this couple, holding their precious bundle, and then, he gets to take Jesus into his arms!  A season of joy, a season of life-changing, long-lasting joy, that’s what this was, and always would be for Simeon!  There with the Holy Son of God in his arms, this man who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had the opportunity to see the Lord’s Messiah, there he was, Simeon, holding the Christ of God in his own hands!  And, what does he do?  What would you have done if you had been Simeon? 

Luke 2:28 – He blesses God, He praises God and says, “Lord, now You can let me depart in peace, for my eyes – my eyes – have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” 

Do you see why I call this season a season of joy, not a season merely to be jolly?  The Son of God has come.  The consolation of Israel has come.  The light of revelation to the Gentiles has come.  And, that, my friends, is Good News, very, very, good news! 

So, what are we to do about it?  “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy…”  With your lips bless God, praise the Lord God of Israel, who has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for you.  With your arms, your arms, like Simeon, take up that precious Child and exclaim, “Now!  Now!  My eyes have seen it!  The salvation, the Savior You have prepared before the face of all peoples, the light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel”.  Take Him up in your arms, as your Savior, and allow Him to take you up, too – as His! 

Last of all, this season of joy, here’s what you are to do.  Luke 2:17 – like the shepherds, with your lives make widely known the saying which was told you concerning this precious Child! 

What Motivates Us To Please God?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church                    Sunday Morning, October 30, 2011

David P. Kautt

            1 Peter 1:13-2:12, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.   Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because

      “ All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.  The grass withers,
      and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.”
 

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.  Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

      “ Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

               and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

      “ The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”

  and

      “ A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

I appreciate your attentive response to the reading of that rather lengthy portion of Scripture.  It’s a passage that I would like to peruse with you this morning as we learn more about what it means to bring joy to our Father in Heaven. To refresh your memory from our study a couple of weeks ago, let’s return to a lingering question that a study like this brings into our minds.  That question is: what is it about God, what’s so great, so special about Him, that would prompt us to want to please Him and bring joy to Him?  I mean, fathers like I am, we have imperfections, don’t we, girls?  And, fathers like I am, we also have our glaring deficiencies!  But, listen – remember?  Not our Father in heaven!  No!  Praise God!  He is an impartial Father, a Father who doesn’t play favorites, a Father, as 1 Peter 1:17 puts it, who judges according to each one’s work with a judgment that is without partiality or prejudice! 

We have an impartial Father, and that is an incredible blessing because some of us have been the child who wasn’t favored, the son who wasn’t ‘Momma’s Boy’, the daughter who wasn’t ‘Daddy’s Girl’.  We have an impartial Father – what a blessing!  But also, remember?  What a sobering reminder that is, too!  Our heavenly Father, evaluates us, judges our lives, not on the basis of superficial externals, but on the basis of the real you and me!  He sees and knows what no earthly father sees and knows about us.  He is an impartial Father.

But, then, let’s also be reminded that our Father in heaven is a faithful Father.  A Father we can always depend on, a father who always keeps His word. 

1 Peter 1:22-25 – Take a look there one more time, will you?  Earthly Father, you want to know why they are imperfect?  Why they have all those glaring deficiencies?  It’s because they are corruptible, perishable, subject to death and decay!  It’s because they are like withering grass and fading, faltering flowers.  But not our Father in Heaven!  We are challenged to bring joy to Him – why?  Because He is faithful!  Because His Word, His promises endure forever! 

Thirdly, let’s not forget the fact that our Father in heaven, we are inspired, yes, even incited, to want to bring joy to His heart – why?  Because He is a gracious Father.  He is an utterly gracious and patient Father!  1 Peter 2:1-3, take a look again.  New born babes, that’s who we are, mess makers, who could bring out the grouch in God!  But listen, my fellow mess-makers!  God’s middle name isn’t ‘Oscar’.  There is no GROUCH in Him, only grace!  Only grace – that is – and holiness.  1 Peter 1:13-16, our Father in heaven, unlike any and every earthly father, is holy, separate, set apart!  There truly is no One else like Him!  No one else who wants to set us apart for the incredibly lofty purpose and mission of bringing Him pleasure!  Why would anyone, why would you and I want to bring joy to our Father in heaven? 

First reason, first answer to that question is simply this: because of what kind of Father He is!  His holiness, His impartiality, His faithfulness, and yes, His grace, all these unique qualities of our Father in heaven draws us to Him, spurs us toward pleasing Him! 

But, then, there’s a second reason why you and I are – or, ought to be – invited and even incited to bring God joy, and that is, because of what He has done for us, and what He has made of us.  I’m talking here, now, not just about the nature and character of God, but also about the nature and character of salvation.  Salvation: we talk a lot about that subject as Christians, don’t we?  But do we always understand what we’re saying?  Allow me to suggest to you two simple truths to keep in mind whenever the subject of salvation comes up.  Number one, when you and I are discussing the eternally important topic of salvation, first of all, we can’t help but discuss and describe the Giver of that gift, our Holy, Impartial, Gracious and Faithful Father.  He is the giver of that infinitely rich gift. 

But, then there is a second fact, a second simple truth pertaining to salvation that we also must learn about and understand.  You know what it is, don’t you?  Second simple truth about salvation: it is a gift: 2 Corinthians 9:15, it is our Heavenly Father’s indescribable and unspeakable gift to unworthy, undeserving sinners like you and me! 

The reason, the compelling reason for us to bring God pleasure, is just that!  He, our perfect, holy, faithful, impartial and, yes, unbelievably gracious Father, has given us a gift!   The gift.  Look at what the apostle Peter has to tell us about that gift.  It has everything to do with what God, our Father in heaven, has DONE for us, in Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 1:17-19, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

I looked at the calendar again this morning and noticed – oh, no – I have only 54 more shopping days left until Christmas.  But what’s so special about that day that makes me remember to count down those other 54 days?  The gifts, right?  The gifts.  I’ve got a question for you, folks.  How many of you remember every gift you received last Christmas?  How many of you are still using every one of them?  Why not?  Reality check time, isn’t it?  The reason we don’t remember, the reason we’re not still using those gifts, maybe even returned some of them for a refund, is why?  What does the text say?  Because even when it comes to gifts as seemingly valuable as silver and gold, all of the gifts that we give to each other at Christmas, what are they?  They are corruptible.  1 Peter 1:18 – Peter says that they are perishable!  But not the gift!  Not what God has done for us, given to us, in Jesus Christ! 

“Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here [on earth] in fear.”  1 Peter 1:17 – Live to bring God, your Heavenly Father, pleasure!  Why?  Because of the gift!  In Peter’s day, slaves, owned and overseen by human masters, they were bought and sold using perishable things like gold and silver to complete the transaction.  Oh, but listen.  Which of us has the resources, the bank account, IRA, 401-K, stock portfolio, big enough to purchase someone enslaved to sin?  Praise to the Giver, faithful, holy, impartial, gracious Giver!  And, yes, praise Him, for the gift!  The reason, the motivating reason behind Peter’s command to “conduct ourselves throughout the time of our earthly stay in fear”, the motivating reason behind the call to bring joy to God, is what?  The gift!  “You have not been redeemed by corruptible things like silver and gold”.  But, look!  Praise God, “you have been redeemed with – by means of – the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…” 

How many shopping days did we say we have left?  54?  I’m not propelled to please God, to bring God joy, because of any of those gifts!  But, I am propelled to do so because of that gift, given on the cross. 

Talking about perishable gifts and precious gifts.  Look again at verses 22 through 2 5 of 1 Peter chapter one. 

1 Peter 1:22-25, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because
      “ All flesh is as grass,
      And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
      The grass withers,
      And its flower falls away,
       But the word of the LORD endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

One of the most joyous things I get to participate in as a minister, with the families of this congregation, is the birth of little ones into your families. What a special occasion that is!  But, you know something?  Equally as special, but infinitely more painful for those very same families, is when I go with them to the cemetery to bury their children!  The paradox between joyful birth and sorrowful death is almost too painful to bear.  Except for two overarching realities.  Look again at the text.  Flesh and blood, we know this fact don’t we?  Flesh and blood, apart from, outside of, Jesus Christ’s gift, flesh and blood was born to die!  The Delivery Room is the first step toward the Embalming Room!  Oh, but listen.  In Jesus Christ, the gift, because of our holy, faithful, gracious Father, the Giver, guess what?  There is a second overarching reality, and that is this: in Jesus Christ, the dying, the dead, who have been born AGAIN, through the living, abiding, eternal Word of God, shall live again! 

The reason I am inspired, propelled to bring God pleasure, it’s the Gift.  Look at what the Giver has done for me!  Redeemed me with His Son’s precious blood.  Given new life, eternal life to me, through His living and abiding Word!  Why wouldn’t I want to bring Him joy?!  But, listen – quickly, because we must close.  Why wouldn’t I want to please God?  I am motivated, driven to bring joy to His heart, not only because of what he Has done for me, what He has given in Christ, but also, because of what He has made of me.

Last time we were together, I mentioned the painful fact that for at least some of us, in our families growing up, we weren’t ‘Daddy’s Girl’ or ‘Momma’s Boy’.  As far as our earthly parents were concerned we were kind of like what Peter describes all of us as being, when we are outside of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 2:10 – “Once we were not a people…”  To put it in simple terms, before God did for us what He has done for us, in Jesus Christ, we were nobodies, we were ‘zeroes’.  And, as he says in the second half of the verse, we were not the objects, the targets of God’s mercy.  Outside of Christ, that’s what we were.  Outside of Christ, that’s what every lost person is.  But, take a look at the wonderful verse that precedes verse 10, and read it in connection with verse 10. 

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Why would folks like you and me want to live our lives to please God?  Because of what He has done for us, yes!  But, also because of what He has made of us!  The ‘nobodies’ in Jesus Christ, become the chosen ones.  The ‘zeroes’, because of the Giver and the Gift, become a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, God’s own special people, His precious possessions, for what reason?  To accomplish what goal?  1 Peter 2:9: even pleasing God is no the ultimate goal.  What is?  Praising God.  Bringing glory to God.  “That you may proclaim the praises – literally, the excellencies and mighty mercies - of God, the gracious, holy, faithful Giver who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! 

Bringing joy to the heart of our heavenly Father.  We don’t do it, we don’t pursue that lofty goal in order to be saved, but because we have been saved, because God our gracious, faithful, holy Father in Heaven, has chosen to give all these things to us, in Jesus Christ His Son, His indescribable Gift to us. 

Immanuel: God With Us

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, December 5, 2010

Matthew 1:18-25, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”

At Christmas time, as I prepare the messages to bring to you each Lord’s Day, a lot of things go through my mind. What is it that God wants me to say to you at this time? What are the significant truths for our lives to be drawn out of the Scripture texts that tell us of Jesus’ birth? What unique and creative ways are there at my disposal to use in communicating the Christmas message? And even, what is there, about the birth of Jesus, that I can say, that hasn’t already been said or that you haven’t already heard? These and others questions are what I ask myself at this season of the year, as I make plans to preach on Sundays.

Now that I’ve sort of let you in on my thinking process, if you will, to tell you about what I’ve been considering as I got ready for this message. As I looked again at this passage here in Matthew chapter 1, and at the passages that record the events pertaining to Jesus’ birth found in Luke’s gospel and in John, I was once again intrigued and captured by the richness of meaning and significance wrapped up in that simple, but most wonderful of names – the name, ‘JESUS’ - and the numerous other descriptive names and titles given to Him as our Savior.

For example, think again with me: just what does His name, the name Jesus, mean? As the angel of the Lord, who appeared to Joseph in a dream, makes plain to him; this precious child born to Joseph’s espoused wife, Mary, was to be named ‘Jesus’ – why? Because He would ‘save His people from their sins.’

Jesus – Savior… What a tremendously significant name that is! And then, how about these that were given to Him? King of the Jews (the Magi, Matthew 2:2), the Shepherd of God’s people Israel (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:6), Christ the Lord (angel of the Lord to shepherds, Luke 2:11), God’s salvation (Simeon to Mary & Joseph, Luke 2:30), the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles, the Glory of God’s people Israel (Luke 2:32) and even, the Redemption of Jerusalem (Anna, Luke 2:38).

Jesus, Who is He? Jesus – what does that precious name mean? The One God sent to save His people from their sins… what a wondrous name that is! And how blessed we are to be able to speak it, how privileged we are, because He is our Savior, to wear it! The name, Jesus.

As I said a moment ago, my thoughts have focused on that marvelous name – Jesus – and the many other names and descriptive titles, that tell us so much about our Savior, and give us so many reasons to praise God for sending Him. Well, in light of that, I want you to take a few moments with me this morning, to contemplate the depth of meaning and importance of yet another name ascribed to the Son of God. And that’s the name we find given to Him here in verse 23, the name Immanuel. Immanuel.

As the gospel writer, Matthew, makes plain to us, in verses 22 and 23, this name is a name that was first given to the virgin-born Son of God by the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, way back in Isaiah chapter 7, verse 14. Indeed, Jesus was given this name by this Holy Spirit-inspired prophet nearly 800 years before He was born! Important stuff!

However, what I believe to be equally important, and perhaps, more significant to us as we meditate again on what Christmas is all about, is the MEANING of this Ancient name for Jesus. And what does this name, Immanuel, mean?

That’s right! It means God with us! God with us! Sometime back, I was looking through my kid’s Children’s Bible Handbook for some simple, easy to understand, explanations of some things I was investigating, when I landed on the brief description listed under the heading: God. Here’s what the Children’s Bible Handbook has to say, “God: who is He? He is… the awesome Creator of the world, the Maker of all there is. God, what is He like? God is a spirit, and He does not have a body of flesh and blood as we do…”

Now, I want you to think about this simple definition and description of God with me for a moment. God is a spirit, not flesh and blood body like ours. He’s a spirit, and therefore, to flesh and blood folks like you and me, what is He? He’s unseen, and, as far as our 5 senses are concerned, He’s also unknown! He’s unseen, and as such, He’s unknown to us. And yet, made, as we are, in His image, what do we do? We wonder, and maybe even despair, asking, “Can we ever KNOW God? Can we ever SEE Him? Can we ever hear Him, touch Him and even experience Him?”

And, guess what? Then the answer, God’s amazing answer to this extremely important series of questions comes our way. And, what is the answer? Who is the answer?

Immanuel! Immanuel! We CAN know God! In Immanuel, we CAN see God! In Immanuel, we CAN hear Him, touch Him, and even experience Him! How? Because God’s Holy Spirit caused the virgin Mary to conceive and bring forth a Son, the Son of God named Immanuel – God with us!

Now that name Immanuel and it’s translation, God with us… I want you to take a closer look at each of those 3 words for a minute, will you?

First, the word, ‘God’. What is this incredible name, Immanuel, tell us about the Babe of Bethlehem’s manger? First thing, right off the bat, it tells us that He is God!! He is God! Not a ‘god’, with a small ‘g’, as some of the cultures would have us believe, but God – God, the Son – the Second Person of the Trinity! Yes, Immanuel, He is God! Not an idol to be venerated during the Advent Season, but God! Immanuel, He is God. Not a tabernacle, a portable worship center to be moved from place to place. He is God! Not a temple, a supposedly permanent structure built for worship, but God, the God who pitched His tent, who tabernacled Himself, and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Immanuel, who is He? He is God. Not a great human prophet like Elijah, He is God. Not a great human priest like Aaron, no He is God. Not a great human king like David; He is God. Not even a great human warrior like Joshua, but God! Immanuel, He is God!

So, what difference does that make?

Ask the people who heard Him deliver that magnificent Sermon on the Mount… “Why, He speaks as One who has authority, and not as our Scribes. When He speaks we must listen and obey! Ask the centurion of Capernaum, whose servant lay at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering, what difference does it make that Jesus is God? “All He had to do was say the word. He simply said the word, ‘you servant is healed’, and he WAS healed!” What difference does it make that Jesus is God? Ask the disciples who thought their ship was sunk, literally, until He arose from His sleep and said, “Peace, be still!” What difference does it make that Jesus is God? Ask the blind men, sitting beside the Jericho road, whose request, “Lord, we want our sight,” would have flabbergasted you and me! Yes, what difference does it make that Jesus is God? Ask the priests, who saw the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom; ask Mary and Martha, who received their beloved brother back from the dead; and ask Thomas, that doubter, who didn’t believe until He saw His Savior’s nail-pierced hands and riven side…” Ask them! They’ll tell you what difference it makes that He is God!

Immanuel… who is He? He is God with us. Then what about that second word that translates the meaning of the name, Immanuel. The word, “with”. “With”!

You know it, don’t you? Christians like you and me, because we are seeking to be like our Lord, we offer to minister to one another, during those times of crisis in our lives, and what do we say to each other at those times? What kind of consolation do we offer to one another? We say things like… “I’m just a phone call away. I’m only down the street from you. I’m right next door to you. I’m WITH you! I’m here for you…”

Now, don’t get me wrong, we need to minister and be ready to minister to each other. And, it’s good to remind the one in need that we’re there to help. But really, now?! Have you ever called the preacher’s phone and gotten his voice mailbox? I bet you have! How many of you have ever stopped by your elders’ homes and found no one there? And, how many of you have ever wished, in the middle of the night, that you could run across town to talk to your brother or sister in Christ, but didn’t, because you knew he or she would be in bed asleep?!

You get where I’m going with this, I’m sure! With us, there are voice mailboxes, no answers to our door bell ringing, and times when we’re simply not available for each other. With Immanuel, there’s never a busy signal! With Immanuel, there will ALWAYS be Someone, the Great I-Am, on the other end of the line! And yes, praise God, with Immanuel, YOU can rest in peace knowing that He’s wide awake, and watching over you!

Immanuel… Immanuel! What a marvelous name! Immanuel, Who is He? He is God! Not a lifeless idol; not an ornate covenant box; not a good luck charm; not even the best Son of Adam you can think of; but God! He is God! The God who calms storms and feeds multitudes with a little boy’s sack lunch. The God Who gives sight to the blind eyes and breath to lifeless bodies. Immanuel, He is God. He is God. But, then – secondly, please remember that he is also WITH. Yes, with, not down the street, not across tow, nor even just a phone call away. But, Immanuel is WITH us. He is WITH us.

Then, third and finally, here’s the most unbelievable part of all about that precious name, Immanuel and what is means – the last word, just 2 letter, U-S. Us! God with us! Does the word ‘sinner’ seem to fit? How about this description, Ephesians 2:13, “Far away from God…”? Or, what about this one: all our righteousness is nothing but a bunch of filthy rags! Or, maybe you’re like Peter, the supposed expert when it comes to fishing, after Immanuel told him where to let down his nets. Remember his words, “Go AWAY from me, Lord! Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Or, perhaps, we look at the ‘spots’ of our rebellion, and the blemishes of our disobedience to God, and all we can think of is how we’re just like those 10 lepers were: unclean! Unclean! You know, everyone wants to get as far away as they can from me, from us.

But, then along comes Immanuel, and what does He say? What does He do? He says, “I didn’t come to all the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He says, “Come and go with me, and I’ll show you how to fish for men!” He reaches out to you and me, and TOUCHES us, even though we’re covered with the leprosy, the filth of sin. He becomes sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him! He sheds His own blood to bring us near to Him! Thus, through Immanuel, we can shout with the Psalmists: “God is with us! He is our Shepherd! God with us, He is our light and our salvation! God with us, He is our refuge and strength. And, God with us, He is the One who leads us to the rock that is higher than we are!”

Immanuel – God… with… us…! What a precious name! What an incredibly important name! Beloved, my question for you this morning is: do you KNOW Him by that name? Is He YOUR Immanuel?

I was jotting down some notes for this message, and I happened to write down the letters for the word ‘Christ’, in order to formulate a kind of acrostic statement about who He is. And here’s what I came up with:

Christ came

Here to

Redeem us… Our

Immanuel and

Savior, in whom we

Trust and have taken refuge!

Christ came Here to Redeem us, our Immanuel and Savior, in whom we Trust and have taken refuge.

Think again about the questions I asked just a moment ago. Do you know Jesus by that precious name Immanuel? Is He your Immanuel?

The answer to these two supremely important questions takes us back to my little acrostic, and that all-important last letter – the letter ‘T’. Is Jesus your Immanuel? He is, if you Trust Him. He is, if you have taken refuge in Him!

Immanuel, God with us. There’s not a better Christmas gift available ANYWHERE, than Immanuel! Receive the gift, will you? Put your truth in Him, taken refuge in Him! Let Him be your Immanuel!

Joy in the Risen Christ

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Resurrection Morning Sun-rise Service, April 4, 2010

Today we celebrate not just an event, but a person – our rise Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Before we go any further in our time of worship together this morning, allow me to sort of lay the ground work for what we're here to do today. As I said a moment ago, ultimately, we have come together at this unusual time to celebrate a PERSON, like no other person who has walked the face of the earth – the only begotten Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity - God, the Son, Jesus Christ, who became a man, lived a sinless life, died physically, literally a death to atone for our sins; was buried in a borrowed tomb, and then was raised by the power of God, never to die again, that we might be justified before God. As the song says, we serve a Risen Savior who is in the world TODAY. A Savior who is right here, at work right now by way of His Holy Spirit.

Beloved, we're not here to participate in an anniversary funeral service of a dead man! No! We're here to rejoice in the Living One – the One who is our Life (Co. 3:4).

As I was considering the significance of this Day for us as Christians, I settled on 3 words – 3 what I call Resurrection Day words – that I'd like for us to highlight throughout our morning together.

The first of those words – the one that perhaps come to mind the quickest is the word – the Resurrection Day word, JOY. I found it interesting – and little bit convicting – to rediscover the fact that, in Matthew's record of the events of that first Resurrection Day, the very first word out of Jesus' mouth as He appeared to the women who had come to the tomb to anoint His body – the very first thing Jesus said was, “REJOICE!” I know it's early, I know you're sleepy – so am I, hey! It was at least this early that first day of the week when those women went to that garden tomb, wondering who would roll the stone away for them. Listen! Jesus says, “It's time to wake up!” He is Risen! Rejoice! Rejoice!

Joy – Resurrection Joy – joy in a Person, our Risen Savior – that's our theme for our service this morning. You know, I'm not sure what was on the minds of those women that dark Sunday morning when they slowly made their way to the tomb of their Friend. And I'm not sure what Peter and John thought as they ran together to check out the story of an Empty Tomb delivered to them by Mary Magdalene. But, Luke does give us a glimpse into the mental anguish of at least two of Jesus' friends following His death, and prior to verification that He really was alive. Listen to how Luke records it for us in Luke 24, beginning at verse 17.

Luke 24:17-24 - “And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

Even though Cleopas and his friend were walking and talking with their Risen Savior, for that brief period of time, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And in that state of blindness, were they joyful? It doesn't seem so, does it? They were distressed, they were confused! They were sad! As Isaiah the prophet put it, they were wearing the ashes of mourning and were clothed with a spirit of heaviness! Now, my friends, we don't put ashes on our heads when we're sad. But we do wear black! And though we may not use the term “spirit of heaviness” to describe ourselves when we are forced to take part in a funeral because someone we know and loved has died. Nevertheless, that's how we feel! That phrase, “a spirit of heaviness” describes us! But listen! What happens when your eyes are opened?! What does God do in your life when you realize that the One you are walking with, talking with, about to eat with, is the One you thought was still DEAD?! Isaiah 61 – would you find that marvelous Old Testament passage with me, please? Isaiah 61 – a passage that Jesus read at the beginning of His ministry. A passage He said was fulfilled – in Him! Cleopas and his friend heard Jesus' blessing for the food, they watched Him as He broke the bread, then they saw Him – it's Jesus! And, then He disappeared! Isaiah 61 – I have an inkling that maybe, just maybe this passage came to their minds, as Jesus left them so suddenly. Read it with me, would you, please?

Isaiah 61:1-3 - “"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Joy – the oil of joy in the place of mourning – that's a Resurrection idea, isn't it? Joy – not the ashes of sadness, but the beauty, the beauty of Joy – Resurrection Joy. Do you have that joy?

At the beginning, I pointed out the fact that the first word from Jesus' mouth on Resurrection morning was the word, “Rejoice!: Now lets ask you to consider this – what's so important about being joyful?

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah reminds us that the joy of the Lord is our STRENGTH! The Apostle Paul urged the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord always! Furthermore, next to love and peace, joy is one of the crowning virtues of a Christian – one of the evidences of the Holy Spirit's activity in a person's life. In fact, the psalmist says that God actually sows it, He plants it into His people – pours it upon His people like rain. (Psalm 97:10-12) So let me ask you... Brother, sister – how's your joy meter this morning? Is the needle on your joy gauge point more toward the 'E' than the 'F'? The Risen One says, “Rejoice!” I want you to listen as I sing some of number 177.

“When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down

beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown

for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.”

“When I was sinking down, sinking down...” Are those the words, the melody, the theme of your life lately? I wonder what word Jesus, the Loving One, would say to you? “Rejoice!” “Rejoice...” In His presence there is fullness – not over by the 'E' on the joy meter – but fullness of joy. Yes, at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

“Rejoice!” One of the most important, and most powerful of Resurrection words. And a word that you and I need to hear! But listen – Job chapter 19, verses 25-27. Speaking of sinking down, have you ever hit rock bottom? Job had. His children, his possessions, even his health – all swept away from him so dramatically and so rapidly – thud! His life went, as he hit the bottom. Where's the joy? Is there such a thing, or am I only mistaken?

Job 19 – this man whose knees surely buckled at the tragedies that piled in on him – what did he say? What was his momentous declaration? “I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand at last on the earth!” “Rejoice!” Indeed, it is a Resurrection word, wouldn't you say? And, why is that? Well, for one thing, the Resurrected One said it, right? But, listen to me, there's something more, something that perhaps you and I need to hear and know, when we're sinking down, sinking down – when we hit rock bottom. And what is that?

Just this: if our Redeemer lives, if our Redeemer is ALIVE – then everything else, I mean everything else, is going to be okay, in the long run! Amen? Amen!

“Rejoice!” If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, what? Then let Jesus – the Living Redeemer – come into your heart!