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The Best Christmas Ever (Part 4):
My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation
Luke 2:25-35
Series Recap: - LOGO SLIDE 1
A) Christmas rat race – We are continuing our series this
week called The Best Christmas Ever. Many people think
that Christmas is about the lights, toys, gifts, shopping, and
parties.
B) Christmas means something more – But Christmas
means something more than Santa Clause, gift cards, big
red bows, and evergreen trees decorated with LED
lightbulbs. Christmas means so much more.
C) The Gifts of God - Instead of focusing on the Gifts we
give and receive at Christmas, this Christmas, let us focus
on the gifts that we need from our heavenly father. The
greater gifts that make all the difference and can give you
the best Christmas ever.
D) Joy & Rest and Peace – The first two weeks we talked
about joy and peace. Joy is a state of being which allows
happiness to be more easily chosen. We can choose to be
happy and joyful even when the world is falling down around
us. Peace and Rest are also found specifically in the gift of
Jesus Christ himself. There is no rest without Christ. He
has claimed that It Is Finished and we don't work for our
salvation, instead we rest in Him.
E) Belonging – Last week we looked at the gift of belonging.
What we have seen is that at the feet of the manager we all
have a common ground. Christ invites all to his side, and
desires all to be a part of the family of God.
I. Sermon Intro: - TITLE SLIDE 2
A) The Offer of Salvation – This week we are looking at
another one of the Lord's most wonderful Gifts that he has
bestowed upon us through his son Jesus Christ. The gift of His
Salvation. Now, we know that we have actually been looking at
this all along, because without salvation we cannot have Joy,
Rest, and Belonging. But this week I want us to look at it a little
more in depth.
B) A Gift You Must Accept – I want us to look at the Salvation
of Christ a little differently this morning. Imagine that the gift of
Salvation is in this box. Now there a few things you must do to
accept this free gift. First, you can't do anything to get it.
That's right, I'm not going to make you run around the property
and the first one back gets this. I'm just simply going to give it
out of the love of my heart. Secondly, you can't brag about
getting it as if you did something to earn it.... again... you are
doing nothing to earn this. And Thirdly, when I give it to you,
freely you must willingly accept it.
C) Clara Barton And Teddy Roosevelt -During the SpanishAmerican War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the
Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
came to her, wanted to buy food for his sick and wounded
Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was
perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to
pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he
could not buy the supplies, he was told, "Colonel, just ask for
it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt's face. Now he understood-the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply
ask and they would be given freely.
D) Another Aspect at Play Here: Sight – But there is another
aspect at play here. It's not just the receiving of the gift, but it is
the seeing of the gift. You see
SLIDE 3
many people get a glimpse of Christ, but they have to choose
whether that will be a fleeting glimpse that they can ignore or a
sight that they must stare at until it becomes the only thing they
can see.
said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the
fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
TITLE SLIDE 4
35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that
E) Lord Kenneth Clark - Lord Kenneth Clark, internationally
thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
know for his television series Civilization, lived and died
without faith in Jesus Christ. He admitted in his
autobiography that while visiting a beautiful church he had
SLIDE 8
what he believed to be an overwhelming religious
experience. "My whole being," Clark wrote, "was irradiated
H) Christmas is the message of seeing the SALVATION of the
by a kind of heavenly joy far more intense than anything I
Lord . Simeon had waited his whole life to get a glimpse of the
had known before." But the "gloom of grace," as he
Messiah, and eventually he saw the Lord's Salvation in the
described it, created a problem. If he allowed himself to be
baby Jesus.
influenced by it, he knew he would have to change, his
family might think he had lost his mind, and maybe that
II. Body: Today we are going to be looking at a couple of things that
intense joy would prove to be an illusion. So he concluded, "I happens when we see the Salvation of the Lord.
was too deeply embedded in the world to change course."
SLIDE 9
F) See Christ and Desire - Lord Kenneth Clark caught a
glimpse of Jesus but he decided to look away. Today, The
A. The HOLY SPIRIT opens our EYES to the Messiah (vs25challenge is not to just accept the Gift of Christ's Salvation...
30)
it is to see Him as the most captivating thing you've ever
seen... and then you won't just accept his gift, you'll desire it
a) Righteous and Devout (25)– Simeon was a
more than anything else in this world.
righteous man but that did not qualify him to see the
salvation of Christ. He wasn't special because of his
PASSAGE SLIDES 5, 6, 7
holiness...
G) Luke 2:25-35 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem,
whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and
devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by
the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had
seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the
temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to
do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took
him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord,
now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according
to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your
people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at
what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and
b) Leading of the Holy Spirit (25-27) – he was special
because of the leading of the Holy Spirit. He allowed the
Holy Spirit to lead him to something greater than himself.
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When you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to take the Lead, he
will show you sights you could never see on your own
c) The Holy Spirit is the only one who can lead you
to Christ (27) – You can't get there on your own. You
can't see with your own eyes.
d) The Salvation of Christ brings Peace (29)
SLIDE 11
B. FAITH opens our LIVES to the Messiah (vs31-35)
a) Salvation in Christ is for all who accept (vs3132) – Gentiles, Israelites, the presence of all people.
Remember, everyone is welcome at the manger and
Cross of Christ. A LIGHT fro revelation. Jesus reveals
the salvation of God! Look and live!
SLIDE 12
b) For the rise and fall of many (34) – You must
choose to accept the gift of Christ. You must choose
to stare at Him with your whole being. You have a
choice to make. Many opposed him and many will
continue to oppose him.. Are you one of those?
SLIDE 13
c) The sight of Christ reveals mens hearts (35) –
Your choice to oppose him or accept him reveals
where your heart is... Are you going to continue to try
to be your own master or are you going to submit to
Jesus as your Lord.
LOGO SLIDE 14
III. Conclusion – This can only have your Best Christmas Ever if
you accept the greatest gift ever given. This Christmas, will you
accept Christ and see him as your Salvation!