What A Time To Be Born!!!

Matthew 2:1-3 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Luke 2:1-4 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Luke 2:5-7 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

We are given a number insights into the World and Local Political Situation that Jesus was born into. It was not pretty.

One of the things I pray you will see this morning is that God was ruling, overruling and working through the situation of Christ's birth. This is one of His Ways. He works in our lives in a similar way. So often we look for escapes, for solutions and He desires to bring us through it and actually accomplish His Will through the things that are against us.

We look at the less than perfect or adverse situations in our lives and ask God to improve the circumstances to change them, when often He rides out His purposes upon them! I love this verse: Galatians 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. The time and circumstances were just what God wanted.

We know about this Census.
Caesar Augustus: the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.

While the empire enjoyed peace under his rule it was an empire. Citizens had rights. Occupied territories such as Israel had little rights and they were subject to taxes which is part of what this census was all about for them. We also know now that it was used by the LORD to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so Jesus would be born there to fulfill the scriptures and God's purposes.

I have talked, texted and Skyped with family and friends over this Christmas Week. I have been with family and friends, to the the city, called friends, had friends call me, planning on going to watch the seals out in Hampton Beach. It has been good to see on Facebook the connections of families at this time of the year... It has been a pleasure.... but for Joseph and Mary especially this trip was a hardship. It was also God's will. 2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship...

That first Christmas was glorious and for Mary and Joseph it was difficult to say the least! And it was for the purpose of registering to pay taxes... or was it? The immediate often does not give the whole story. Take a few steps back, let some time pass and we see God's purposes and even if we still do not see them we have His peace. Often the very things against us are tools God uses to accomplish His purposes.
Fanny Crosby's view on her blindness:
"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."
If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour."

And what good can we say about that scoundrel Herod? Under the pretense of worshiping Christ he has a plan to kill Him. When he is outwitted by the Wise Men he goes on an infanticide rage and kills all the baby boys 2 years of age and under in Bethlehem and the vicinity. Horrible! Beyond words/ beyond comfort...
Matthew 2.13-18

The Birth of Jesus Christ came in God's Perfect Will, Timing and Way.

1. There are times when His Perfect Will Is Perplexing.
Terminal Disease
Losses
Governmental Edicts Mao separating all the Christians scattered....
Acts 8.1,4
Even hardships can be ordained of God! Jesus' death certainly was!
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days,and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

Stop trying to make your situation better. Embrace it for what it is! In doing so you will embrace God's will and His way through it. Jesus embraced the cross. We must embrace ours.
We have been influenced by the popular theology of America. It is not biblical.
Sometimes life is difficult. I spoke to dear friend who is going downhill this past week and he said so... but what awaits him in heaven.

2. There are times when His Timing makes no sense!
For Mary, of all times to have to travel, when she was within a week of given birth. My daughter gave birth to her youngest child, 12 days after my Dad died. She had to get special permission from her doctor to travel to her Poppa' funeral.

I remember when I held that little bundle in my arms, just hours old. The wide mixture of emotions of just having lost my Dad less than two weeks before and
holding my new grandson. It was perplexing. God's timing is not ours and sometimes we are perplexed by it.

How about when pain comes in bunches. How about when it is said, "How much more can he take?" Beware of the well meaning words, "No one is going to blame you..."

God's ordaining of our times are not always to our likings. "My times are in his hand..." David said.


3. There are times when His Way seems strange.
That was certainly true of Mary and Joseph fro the time of the annunciation and through the first few years of Jesus's life on earth.

When we have never passed this way before.

When someone you have helped and been there for turns on you.

When we are trying to do His will obstacles come.

When He asks us to stretch our faith in new ways.

I think many of our struggles are against our flesh and they should not be. Our flesh needs to be crucified. Our struggle is to be spiritual. It is in the spiritual realm. If Satan can defeat us in our flesh then we never get to the real battle where there is victory.

Jesus was born at the perfect time! It was far less than perfect by human standards but we do not measure things the way the world does or even our own feeble understanding. God help us today.