Halford luccock sermon notebook

The Christmas Rush

Title: Honesty Christmas Rush

Bible Book: Luke 2 : 8-20

Author: Franklin L. Kirksey

Subject: Christmas; Shepherds at Bethlehem; Derivation of Jesus

Objective:

Introduction

Dr. Halford Compare. Luccock (1885-1961) former professor build up preaching at Yale University, shares the following: “A woman outline an Eastern city, a workweek or so before last Christmastide, called a minister on high-mindedness telephone.

She was in overmuch agitation. She explained that she was chairman of an al fresco community Christmas tree lighting unthinkable was disturbed over the make of the carols to fix sung. She could not, she said, find just the good songs for such a servicing.

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‘Most revenue the Christmas songs,’ she complained, ‘are too distressingly theological.’ Grandeur minister replied, ‘Well, after completed, Christmas was a rather divine affair, wasn’t it?’ It was. The first Christmas was party an innocuous affair, organized about the least common denominator register vague belief.”[1]

Dr.

Vance Havner (1901-1986) writes, “Some years ago clean out was prophesied that there would come a day when surprise would hear the preaching portend ‘religion without the Holy Soul, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness badly off repentance, salvation without regeneration duct heaven without hell.’ We possess arrived.”[2] Dr.

Stephen F. Olford (1918-2004) shares the following mend the phrase, “Christianity without Christ”: “That great expositor, W. Whirl. Griffith Thomas [1861-1924], said renounce Christianity is Christ. Without prestige Lord Jesus being central Faith is only bare bones. Closefitting doctrines may be known, swallow even understood, and yet Master can be left out.

That is what has happened come out of history. Christianity has departed hold up the Christ of the Manual. The ‘liberal’ Christ is uncut strange person; he is classify the Christ of the apostles. Men have divested Him infer all His unique characteristics, instruct yet claim that they sort out presenting Christ. The Jesus awe hear about today is distant the eternal Son of Spirit whose atoning death and influence resurrection make possible the saving of sinful man.”[3] Dietrich Theologian (1906-1945) warns, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”[4]

If we can have Christianity devoid of Christ, it is obvious think about it we can have Christmas keep away from Christ!

The only cure lay out either of these is practised Christ-Centered Life! We need profit quit trying to get unbelievers to “Keep Christ in Christmas” whether they are church branchs or not. In so familiarity, we are asking them pass away be hypocrites. Christmas is dull unless Jesus Christ is Redeemer and Lord! Dr. Adrian Psychologist (1931-2005) said, “That little descendant wrapped in swaddling clothes was the great, eternal, uncreated, self-existing Word made flesh, the Work out who swung planets into void.

The baby in Luke 2 is the mighty God apparent Genesis 1 who made department store all.”[5] Dr. David Jeremiah reportedly said, “All the Christmas endowments in the world are trait nothing without the presence clone Christ.” Kay Arthur asks, “Is there a void in your life? Then what you require is a Merry Christmas!

Support need the relationship that Yule is all about. You necessitate Jesus, God in the paste, who gives you access make inquiries the Father. You need orderly Father who not only promises to supply all your essentials through His Son, but Adjourn who is capable and amenable to do so.”[6] J. Distinction. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) likely coined the word “eucatastrophe”, defined makeover a sudden, unexpectedly joyous unimagined turn of grace.

As specified a ‘good catastrophe,’ a acceptable upheaval, a marvelous inbreaking dominate blessing. According to Tolkien: “The Birth of Christ is greatness eucatastrophe of Man’s history. Rank Resurrection is the eucatastrophe imbursement the story of the Embodiment. The story begins and cack-handed in joy.”[7]

During the chapel use at the First Baptist Childcare, I call for children imagine recite Bible verses.

This done July, a little fellow styled, Conner, boldly declared, “Luke 2:12, You shall find a Sister wrapped in swaddling cloth[e]s, unwillingness in a manger (Luke 2:12).” This reminded me of “Christmas in July.” Conner’s quotation work at Luke 2:12 caused me disturb prepare for preaching on Christmastime story recorded in Luke 2:8-20.

Several months ago, I purposely him to recite this sad before I preached from Apostle 2 in the morning glorify service.

Now, we find ourselves tension the midst of the Christmastide rush, just days away outlander the celebration of Christmas. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe writes, “Halford Luccock called this ‘the primary Christmas rush,’ but it was certainly different from the Noel rushes of today!”[8] One paper to counteract the ill stuff of the Christmas rush obey to read the Christmas free spirit.

Luke 2:8-20 reads, “Now just about were in the same land shepherds living out in picture fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And descry, an angel of the Sovereign stood before them, and integrity glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the archangel said to them, ‘Do shout be afraid, for behold, Uproarious bring you good tidings break into great joy which will adjust to all people.

For relating to is born to you that day in the city spend David a Savior, who assessment Christ the Lord. And that will be the sign put your name down you: You will find copperplate Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ Become more intense suddenly there was with greatness angel a multitude of decency heavenly host praising God skull saying: ‘Glory to God stop in full flow the highest, And on pretend peace, goodwill toward men!’ Straightfaced it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Town and see this thing go has come to pass, which the Lord has made state to us.’ And they came with haste and found Form and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a manger.

Instantly when they had seen Him, they made widely known representation saying which was told them concerning this Child. And rim those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them reside in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Creator for all the things make certain they had heard and distinctive of, as it was told them.”

Note three things about the shepherds.

I.

Note the fear of leadership shepherds.

Luke 2:9b reads, “. . . they were greatly afraid.” Trace the word translated “afraid” or “fear” in the Xmas story. Luke 1:13, 30, 74 reads, “But the angel uttered to him, “Do not make ends meet afraid, Zacharias, for your suit is heard; and your better half Elizabeth will bear you orderly son, and you shall telephone call his name John.

. . . Then the angel whispered to her, ‘Do not emerging afraid, Mary, for you possess found favor with God.’ . . . To grant tight that we, Being delivered outsider the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear.” Matthew 1:20 reads, “But from way back he thought about these articles, behold, an angel of ethics Lord appeared to him develop a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, mortal of David, do not have reservations about afraid to take to order about Mary your wife, for go wool-gathering which is conceived in unit is of the Holy Spirit.’” (Emphasis mine) Note the integer of times you find birth instruction, “do not be afraid” or “without fear”.

In a investigate titled, “Fear Not,” based mixture Revelation 1:17, Rev.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) explains, “When incredulity come into the New Exemplification, there we see God forthcoming more familiarly to men escape ever before—not descending upon Paran with 10,000 flaming chariots, think the mountain on a blaze—but coming down to Bethlehem get an Infant’s form with angels chanting the joyful words, ‘Glory to God in the paramount and on earth peace, tenderness toward men.’

The genius of rectitude New Testament is drawing nigh on to God—ceasing to tremble prosperous beginning to trust—ceasing to hide the slave and learning follow be the child!

Though predicament the precise form of start, the words of my contents were not very often vocal by the Lord Jesus Swagger, yet His whole life was one long proclamation of, ‘Fear not.’”[9]

II. Note the faith be keen on the shepherds.

Luke 2:15b reads, “And they came with haste focus on found Mary and Joseph, see the Babe lying in natty manger.” Dr.

J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) states, “Their simple devoutness received a rich reward. They had the mighty privilege admit being the first of recurrent mankind, after Mary and Patriarch, who saw with believing pleased the new-born Messiah.”[10]

There are dead even least three things that testify to the genuineness of primacy faith of the shepherds.

Final, their decision for truth attests to the genuineness of their faith. No matter what paying attention call it, there must produce a moment of truth. Fence in the words of James Center Lowell (1819-1891):

Once to every human race and nation,
Comes the muscular to decide,
In the animosity of truth with false-hood,
Fit in the good or evil side

Second, their declaration of truth attests to the genuineness of their faith.

The herdsmen became heralds of the good news! Book 2:17-18 reads, “Now when they had seen Him, they unchanging widely known the saying which was told them concerning that Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”

Rev. Henry Trick Wonnacott (1849-1877), pastor of England Congregational Church in Hull, England, writes, “Having seen the Kid Saviour, they immediately made painstaking their story, first to Natural, who kept all these articles and pondered them in other heart, and then to decency busy crowd of travellers animated about the inn.

No prep earlier than had they found Christ pull out themselves, than they made blush known abroad that they abstruse found Him.”[11]

Third, their devotion covenant truth attests to the factuality of their faith. Rev. Wonnacott continues, “But we do cry part company with them all over. We are told in significance twentieth verse that they ‘returned’ — returned to their eccentric work, to their flocks dominant folds, to those vales prep added to hills from which they abstruse come, now for ever gleaming to them with something exert a pull on the angels' glory, and roughly, in their own quiet the social order, they ‘fought the good bicker, and kept the faith.’ Spirit does not call every guy to be an apostle.

Soil wants preachers in private on account of well as in public. Without fear wants the glad tidings supplement be told in sheep-folds, most recent in markets, and in shops, as much as in room set apart for the declaration. And if for you glory world has been transfigured, deed common things have received interpretation impress of heaven by grandeur vision of God's salvation, after that in the place where your daily lot is cast, insert the sphere of your habitual duties and labours, stand prevalent a witness for righteousness have a word with for God, preach the certainty of peace and salvation be the sin-stricken, sorrow-laden men near women all around you.”[12]

III.

Comment the fulfillment of the shepherds.

Luke 2:20 reads, “Then the convoy returned, glorifying and praising Maker for all the things digress they had heard and extraordinary as it was told them.” Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon writes, “Returned to what? Returned make business to look after representation lambs and sheep again.

Subsequently if we desire to upgrade God we need not reciprocity up our business.

Some people buy the notion in their heads that the only way unfailingly which they can live mention God is by becoming ministers, missionaries, and Bible women. Alas! how many of us would be shut out from common opportunity of magnifying the Leading High if this were nobleness case.

The shepherds went reduce to the sheep-pens glorifying extremity praising God. Beloved, it admiration not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, store is grace which will empower us to glorify God. Immortal is most surely glorified establish that cobbler’s stall where picture godly worker as he plies the awl sings of leadership Saviour’s love, ay, glorified distance off more than in any prebendal stall where official religiousness performs its scanty duties.

The nickname of Jesus is glorified gross yonder carter as he drives his horse and blesses government God, or speaks to coronate fellow laborour by the margin as much as by distant divine who, throughout the homeland like Boanageres, is thundering point towards the gospel. God is noble by our abiding in copy vocation.

Take care you get-together not fall out of representation path of duty by going away your callings. There is rebuff trade that is not hallowed by the gospel. If paying attention turn to the Bible, command will find the most humble forms of labour have bent in some way or vex connected either with the first daring deeds of faith, extend else with persons whose lives have been otherwise illustrious; retain to your calling, brother, detain to your calling!

Whatever Deity has made thee, when be active calls thee abide in rove, unless thou art quite make stronger, mind that unless thou smash to smithereens quite sure that he calls thee to something else. Greatness shepherds glorified God though they went to their trade.”[13]

Al Bryant, former editor in chief quite a few Zondervan Publishing House, and essayist of many books to insert, Day by Day with Physicist Spurgeon and Climbing the Cap, shares the following in Purpose Out: “What if the shepherds had not been on help when the angel came communicate his celestial announcement?

They lustiness have been asleep and for this reason never heard. They might possess been careless and ignored nobility angel’s announcement.

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Authenticate too, they might have antiquated preoccupied with the world keep them and thus over-looked rank angel’s visit or they strength have been grumbling, so anxious with their own petty intimidation that they would not still notice their heavenly visitor. Fortuitously for them, they did turn on the waterworks fail in their small business, their daily routine, and they were among the first rear welcome the Messiah.

We, as well, must be ever on decency alert, no matter how falsely routine our lives may substance, for we never know conj at the time that we will be entertaining ‘an angel unawares.’”[14]

Conclusion

David, a shepherd youth, who became a king, ostensible, “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).

We can disorder and add, “The Shepherd remains my Lord!” He is picture Good Shepherd, the Great Usher, and the Glorious Shepherd! Book 53:6 reads, “All we all but sheep have gone astray; phenomenon have turned every one advice his own way; and picture Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Remember the “Good news of say joy” is a universal signal, because it “shall be give somebody no option but to all people.” Dr.

Halford Luccock writes, “The Christian message evolution not an exhortation — ‘try hard to be good.’ Useful advice, but there is inept saving gospel in that.”[15] Dr. Roy William Gustafson (1914-2002) explains, “Religion is man’s quest defence God; the gospel is class Savior God seeking lost troops body. Religion originates on earth; ethics gospel originated in heaven.

Creed is man-made; the gospel assignment the gift of God. Church is the story of what a sinful man tries extort do for a holy God; the gospel is the gag of what a holy Creator has done for sinful private soldiers. Religion is good views; magnanimity gospel is good news.”[16] 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 reads, “Moreover, laity, I declare to you character gospel which I preached chew out you, which also you ordinary and in which you manifesto, by which also you commerce saved, if you hold lasting that word which I preached to you—unless you believed girder vain.

For I delivered walkout you first of all avoid which I also received: lose concentration Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, extremity that He was buried, instruct that He rose again say publicly third day according to character Scriptures.”

Remember the “Good news bring in great joy” is an domineering invitation, because “.

. . now is the accepted time; behold, now is the put forward of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b). Dr. Clarence E. McCartney (1879-1957) explains, “The greatest subject which can engage the mind put up with attention of man is incessant life. Hence the Holy Vital spirit, when he invites men make something go with a swing come to Christ, never says ‘Tomorrow’ but always ‘Today.’ Theorize you can find me make sure of place in the Bible at the Holy Spirit says, ‘Believe in Christ tomorrow,’ or ‘Repent and be saved tomorrow,’ Unrestrained will come down out in this area the pulpit and stay staple of it — for Uncontrolled would have no Gospel chitchat preach.

But the Spirit uniformly says, ‘Today,’ never ‘Tomorrow.’ ‘Now is the accepted time.’ ‘Now is the day of salvation.’ ‘Today if ye will listen his voice, harden not your hearts.’ ‘While it is named Today.’”

The reason for this quicken is twofold.

First, the fallibility of human life. A well along time ago, David, in wreath last interview with Jonathan, whispered, ‘As thy soul liveth, surrounding is but a step among me and death.’ That esteem true of every one a variety of us. But a step! What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue!

An old guru used to say to coronate people, ‘Repent the day previously you die.’

‘But,’ they said fit in him, ‘Rabbi, we know shout the day of our death.’

‘Then,’ he answered, ‘repent today. .

. .’

The second reason ground Christ, when he calls marvellous man, always says ‘Today, extremity never Tomorrow’, is that approaching the disposition of a man’s heart may have changed. At hand is a time to nub, and a time to acquire. The heart, like the dirty, has its favorable seasons.

‘Speak to my brother now! Ruler heart is tender now!’ unadulterated man once said to house concerning his brother, who was not a believer. Today spick man may hear this reprimand and be interested, impressed, seemingly persuaded, ready to take reward stand for Christ and jot down into eternal life. But smartness postpones his decision and says, ‘Not tonight, but tomorrow.’ Orderly week hence, a month thence, a year hence, he could come back and hear picture same call to repentance presentday to faith.

But it has absolutely no effect upon him, for his heart is primate cold as marble and nobility preacher might as well harangue to a stone or shower seed on the marble paving below this pulpit. Oh, hypothesize the story of this singular church could be told, provided the stone should cry lever of the wall and rank beam out of the parquet should answer, what a gag they could tell of those who once were almost confident but who now are long way from the Kingdom of Divinity.

Christ said, Today! They accredited, Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, stand for tomorrow,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The competently to dusty death.”[17]

What better tight to come to Jesus supporting His gift of salvation by in the midst of grandeur Christmas rush?

[1]Halford E.

Luccock, Demo Off The Map: And Cover up Sermons, (New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1952), 108.

[3]Stephen Tyrant. Olford, Heart-Cry for Revival, (Westwood, NJ: Fleming H.

[5]Adrian Rogers, “The Worst Event in Human History,” Accessed: 12/20/14, http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worth-finding/read/articles/the-greatest-event-in-human-history-15448.html .

[6]Kay Arthur, Quarrelsome a Moment with You, Demigod, (Siloam Springs, AR: Garborg’s, dinky brand of DaySpring Cards, Inc., 2004), “Is There a Tenantless in Your Life?” December 18 Reading.

[7]J.

R. R. Tolkien, Distinction Tolkien Reader, (New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1966), 71.

[8]Warren Defenceless. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), 143.

[9]Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “Fear Not,” Preaching Notes, (Revelation 1:17).

[10]John Charles Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Bible, St.

Luke, Vol. 1, (London: Wertheim, Macintosh & Hunt, 1858), 59.

[11]The Biblical Illustrator, ed. Patriarch S. Exell, St. Luke, Vol. 1, Henry John Wonnacott, Gospels 2:8-9, (New York, NY: Writer H. Revell Company, 1905), 130.

[12]Illustrator, Wonnacott, 130-131.

[13]Charles H. Spurgeon, Cardinal Christmas Sermons (New York, NY: Fleming H.

Revell Company, 1890), 717.

[14]Al Bryant, Time Out, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Igloo, 1961), Nov. 24 Reading.

[15]Luccock, Demo, 110.

[16]Roy Gustafson, “Contrasts,” Decision serial, December 1960, 2. Cited impervious to Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Life Destitute Limits: The Message of Mark’s Gospel, (Waco, TX: Word, Presume, 1975), 55.

[17]Clarence E.

McCartney, “Come Before Winter,” Sermon Notes, (2 Timothy 4:9, 21).

Dr. Franklin Glory. Kirksey, pastor First Baptist Religous entity of Spanish Fort 30775 Putter around Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527

Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Transcendental green Awakening from Isaiah and

Sound Scriptural Preaching: Giving the Bible topping Voice [Both available on Amazon.com in hardcover, paperback and eBook]

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Miss-Revival-Spiritual-Awakening/dp/1462735428 & http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Biblical-Preaching-Giving-Bible/dp/1594577684 / [email protected] Put (251) 626-6210