Earth's Response to Heaven's Gift

Pastor C. Carroll
2009-12-22

(1) Merry Christmas to each and every one of you

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. For Christ our Savior is born. I don’t know how you feel about it, but this is some of the best news that any of us could have ever received. Because the truth is I was sinking deep in sin, struggling, flailing because I was desperately lost but Jesus came to my rescue, He came to save me and I’m so thankful about it. But the angels declare that Jesus is come, the savior is here. And I discovered that there was a definite response to the Birth of our Savior. So I want to talk from the subject, Earth’s Response to Heaven’s Gift.

(2) Don't let Christmas pass without appreciating its significance

If we are not careful and thoughtful, another Christmas will have come and gone and we will have missed its significance. If we are not careful, we will not have appreciated the most important gift that we could ever receive. When Jesus came to the earth, there was a definite response to His arrival and I want to look at those responses for just a few minutes… There was Proclamation, Presentation, Examination and Celebration. And given the magnitude of this event these actions were more than appropriate.

(3) Proclamation

The Earth's first response to His arrival was proclamation.

His whole arrival was preceded by a series of proclamations. That He would come was proclaimed and promised over 700 years before by the prophet Micah in the 5th chapter and also Isaiah 9:6, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder. And he shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus conception was proclaimed by angels to His earthly mother and father even before they knew what was going on with them. Yes, the coming of Jesus was announced by proclamation.

(4) Presentation

The Earth's second response was presentation.

Jesus the Son of God had been proclaimed and now He was present. And just like any proud parents the Savior was presented to the world whom He would later give His life to save. Now we present people, places and things that we want others to see. And Jesus was definitely something to see! His birth and His arrival was proclaimed and now God had done what He had said He would do. Upon His birth, His presentation was presented in Luke 2:10-12, Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." Now there have been a lot of presentations down through history, but I doubt there has ever been a presentation like this one who would have such importance.

(5) Examination

The Earth's third response to His arrival was examination.

Then there was Jesus' examination. When He was born, everyone heard the news. It was told near and far, and many who heard the news came to make their own examination. They had to see this miracle for themselves. So they traveled far and wide to see the virgin's child. You know how it is, someone you know sees a good movie and you have to see it for yourself if what they said is true, you have to check it out for yourself. That's just what God is hoping. He is hoping that you and I would examine the story of the virgin birth for ourselves, He wants us to find a reason to believe. God is so sure that if we examine the evidence that we'll come away believing too. See the Shepherds examined. So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." Wise men examined. Matthew 2:1-2, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

And ladies and gentlemen we ought to examine. See, for us, examination is one of the most important steps because that can help seal our belief. In other words it can help us know what we know…

(6) Celebration!

See after heaven's Proclamation and Earth's Presentation and Our examination, there is only one thing left to do. That is its time for Celebration!

See, we celebrate Good News… we celebrate Great Gifts… we celebrate Joyous Events… we celebrate in various ways. Some brought gifts, some worshipped, some praised and there was even some who hated in their hearts but celebrated in public. But everyone did something… If we are not careful, we'll be like the child with the socks…

 And that brings us to Us, what will you do?