God's Work In His Son's Birth

Matthew 1.18-25 I love how God brought Jesus, His Son into the world! Almost off the radar! How does God work? Quietly, almost unnoticed at times. Simply, quietly.... Look at what has happened... The Advent Conspiracy Video Here in this little church... The 29 shoeboxes went out around the world The Haiti Express... Lifelong friends giving this week... So encouraging. I cannot tell you how that blesses me. We have not asked them. They have just given out of their hearts! Trip set for January 20th The Sunday Morning Message Last Week: France, Germany, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa, China, Estonia, India, The Netherlands Last Night With the Spanish Church... Incredible meeting. Next month Rudy will bring an immigration attorney. No doubt one of the most exciting things happening last night on the Island was right here. The Kingdom of God All quietly happening while the world turns, while our nation spends $500 Billion this month on Christmas gifts. Big things/Little Things God so often is at work and we don't realize it. Genesis 28.16 "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." We look for big display and fail to see God at work in the little things, the small things. I am convinced that in God's kingdom today there millions of small things happening that we do not know about, God's people living out His Word. Bible Studies, Short Term Mission Groups, Prayer Groups Don't ever under estimate the one on one with people: John 3 and 4 were about 2 people. The exchange between two is how much of God's work is done. Jesus does not see us as one of the multitude. Everyone He called He called personally and everyone He healed He healed one on one. The only massive thing He did was to feed the 5,000. He meets us face to face, where He can deal with us as individuals. I was in King Kullen this past week. One of the cashiers I know, Sue, told me as I went through the self serve lane (I love using that- reminds me of the days when I worked in the grocery store!), "I was walking home with groceries the other night (her car was being repaired) and this young man from your church stopped and gave me a ride. He saved me walking a mile. This is going on all over the world. No one noticed. Pastor Chuck Smith wrote, "Sadly, that numberless host of unseen Christians across the centuries who have subsisted and denied themselves on and off the mission field, living in scrupulous integrity- the George Mullers, Hudson Taylors, and C.T. Studds- does not even gain a flicker from the media spotlight. These great lives pass in quiet anonymity." This is the way God works. He works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. He works through people who know Him but are not known by many. He works behind the scenes weaving things together. He works through humble simple people. This is the story of Christmas! His Word being fulfilled. The Word becoming flesh. Jesus being born. He worked in this way in Jesus coming to earth. 1. God used a couple living in Nazareth to bring His Son Into The World. They were virtually unknown in Israel before this event. I love how God uses names. While the world may not know people, God knows. He knows us better than we know ourselves! From our time in the Psalms these past few months we have discovered: He knit us together in our mother's womb. He knows the thoughts we will have before the chemicals of our brains come together to form them. He knows us perfectly, better than we know ourselves. He knows the number of our days. God cares deeply about us. God used Mary a young woman pledged to be married to a carpenter from Nazareth in Galilee. Galilee was sort of the upstate New York. Jerusalem was sort of the New York City only infinitely more. The wise men came to Jerusalem. I want you to see the insignificance of this couple. Those are the people God uses. Remember when you were called... 1 Corinthians 1:26-29King James Version (KJV) 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in His presence. We would have never known about this couple if it were not for Jesus. Think of all the people you know because of Him! Then think about how He came. 2. No one took note of Jesus being born that night in Bethlehem. Think about it. God, coming into world He created. A few shepherds came. It took place in a terribly inconvenient time for Israel, a Roman Census. It was not like our censuses every ten years. Its main purpose was to remind the people that they were under Roman rule and so was their money. It was primarily a way for the Empire to let the people know they were under control of the Empire. People were complaining about this, the travel inflicted upon them and the taxes they had to pay. God entered this world virtually unnoticed. He came quietly amidst great profanity. He came as a baby. There are no mentions of a huge crowd because there simply were none! Radio City 6,000 people last week, each day over 20,000 people hear the account of Christmas from God's Word Rockefeller Center 1,000's for the tree lighting on Wednesday Night, millions across the nation Both places had Christmas Carols sung... The Harlem Gospel Choir Back to Bethlehem... Human Inconvenience is often part of His plan. How about this verse in Psalm 119.140? "Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and Your servant loves them." 3. After this glorious birth for the next 30 years apart from the journey to Egypt and the things that happened in the temple when He was 8 days old things settled into a routine life in Nazareth. Isn't this the carpenter's son? Matthew 13.55 He lived in Nazareth is virtual obscurity (as was said of His cousin John, the Baptist) until the time came for Him to appear publicly to Israel. Don't diminish the holiness of the routine of life. God is at work even in and through the routine. God never wastes time. Look at what God is doing or you will miss the joy He has for you! Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.... The Kingdom among us, The Kingdom coming Look for the LORD in the things people who do not know Him overlook... In the sunrise, in the sunset, the moon which He has set in place! Wise men look to the skies for His first appearing, they still do for He's coming again! Welcome to readers and hearers of The Sunday Morning Message today from Germany, France, Hong Kong, The Ukraine, South Africa, Albania, Brazil, The United Kingdom and from .Malaysia