Bishop E. Lane Davis
Sermon Notes
December 22, 2013
CHRISTMAS – 2013
JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME
People love a good time. Excitement builds as we anticipate parties and celebrations. Paul said in
Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Think about the excitement in heaven at the anticipation of Christ coming into the world. For thousands
of years the prophets had proclaimed His coming and now the fullness of the time had come. Angels sang
and rejoiced at His arrival. Shepherds were His first witnesses. Validation to the keeping of God’s
promise of a Messiah was given to an aged prophet named Simeon and prophetess called Anna.
Joy to the World…
It’s interesting that the world to which Messiah came was oblivious to His arrival and only a few even
understood its significance. While the Jews were looking for a king to come, they expected earthly
royalty and great pomp. Never did they expect His lowly estate and demeanor.
Jesus came to offer hope to a lost world. Joy would come to those who recognize Him as a solution to
their real problem– sin. Those who receive Him as Lord would be free from sin, guilt and the
accompanying condemnation and receive the promise of eternal life in His presence forever.
The Lord is Come…
While the promise of the coming of a conquering king is true, that prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.
God’s promise to send a Savior dealt first with the sin of man. What was needed was a sacrifice. Because
of His faithful obedience to the will of the Father, He became the perfect sacrifice. As a result God has
exalted Him to be Lord over all things in Heaven and earth – Philippians 2:9-11.
Jesus Earthly Role
Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest
of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him
1. Our Apostle
a) Apostle – one who is sent
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
b) Jesus describes His mission
Luke 9:56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them
Matt 5:17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to
fulfill.
Matt 9:13 For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance
Church of God Family Worship Center - 5841 East H Ave. - Kalamazoo, MI 49048 - 269-382-3502
Bishop E. Lane Davis
Sermon Notes
December 22, 2013
Matt 10:34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35
For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law’; 36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
John 9:39 For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those
who see may be made blind
John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 12:44 He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45And he who sees Me
sees Him who sent Me. 46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not
abide in darkness.
c) Our witness / example
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all
points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not
consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
2. Our High Priest
a) To offer sacrifice – Heb 9:11-15
b) To mediate / intercede
Heb 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of
God
Heb 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since
He always lives to make intercession for them.
An Expression of God’s Love
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when
we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and
raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
“Joy To The World…The Lord Is Come”
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the
poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.
Conclusion:
1. Like all parties and celebrations, the worst part is cleanup
Church of God Family Worship Center - 5841 East H Ave. - Kalamazoo, MI 49048 - 269-382-3502