1. Celebrate Jesus Take a break from the routine
Keep a special day, hold a feast
Praise = kneel, worship, sing, find new blessings

2. Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

3. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

4. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

5. My family roots are in Strawberry Point, Iowa
My family roots are in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Let’s say that my parents lived in California before I was born
Let’s also imagine that God’s plan was for me to be born in a barn in Strawberry Point and for my mother to make a bed for baby me in a horses feed bunk. All the rooms at the hotel and motels would have to taken, so that only a
Barn was available. My mother would have to travel by car from Calif., knowing that at any minute I might be born. Contractions begin in Cedar Rapids, 60 miles away. The hotel manager offers his barn across the railroad tracks

6. Quirinius, Governor of Syria (Damascus) “Yes, sir”
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from everlasting.
Caesar Augustus in Rome, “Take a census. We must have more revenue”
Quirinius, Governor of Syria (Damascus) “Yes, sir”

7. That a decree from Caesar in Rome could cause Mary to travel 80 miles to give birth on arrival in Bethlehem necessitated miracles of God’s knowledge, communication, timing, & promise keeping

8. Wood barns were unknown. Caves gave animals shelter
Born in a cave Buried in a cave

9. God the Creator, God the Word, God the Son, concealed His “Godness”, placed by the Spirit in Mary’s womb, took on humanity, died vicariously, & rose up
Wrapped in cloth strips at birth
Wrapped in cloth strips at death

10. Let’s follow the PROPHECY PATH from before creation until now
Garden of Eden
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity
Between you (Satan) and the woman,
And between your seed (Satan followers)and her Seed (the virgin’s Son, Jesus)

11. Abraham 1800 BC
Isaiah 600 BC
Gen. 12:3And in (through) you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6 Unto us a Son is given; And His name will be called, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

12. 30 AD
60 AD
John 14:8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Col. 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

13. All the angel armies of heaven came to earth to see and celebrate
All the angel armies of heaven came to earth to see and celebrate. But only a handful of people celebrated
Zacharias can’t believe
Elizabeth rejoiced
Mary accepted
John leaped in the womb
Joseph believed
Shepherds witnessed
Wise men travelled and worshipped
Herod was enraged
Priest, Sadducees, Pharisees, Sanhedrin, scribes, scholars, and the people of Jerusalem and Bethlehem made absolutely no effort to see or learn more. These did not believe

14. This is the GOOD NEWS that began in the Garden of Eden
This is the GOOD NEWS that began in the Garden of Eden. He came to crush Satan and sin’s power 2000 years ago. He has promised to return at any moment
In the air to “take up” His Bride. 1 Thess. 4:16-17
Back to earth to set up His Kingdom. Mt. 24:29; 25:31

15. God promised a Savior. He came and we are saved.
We have more reason to celebrate than all heaven’s angels and all the saints of ages past. 1 Peter 1:11-12
God promised a Savior. He came and we are saved.
God promised His presence in each of our lives as Jesus’ followers. He came and lives within.
God promised His return before the world is ravished by disasters and antichrist’s one world government Can it be much longer? Rev. 3:10

16. To celebrate Jesus means to believe in Jesus, to set aside a time to discover new reasons to sing praise to Him, and to renew our longing for His return