1. The Shepherd-King
The King is Born

2. Introduction Praises from Persia King Herod (the Great)
What makes a successful ruler?

3. Matthew 2:6
But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

4. Christmas is God’s Gift of the Shepherd-King
Rulers of this world are self- serving to a greater of lesser degree
The prophecy of Micah in dark days:

5. Micah 5
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,     though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me     one who will be ruler over Israel, …

6. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock     in the strength of the Lord,     in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

7. God chooses humble places as he chooses humble people.

8. Ezekiel 34
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 

9. Ezekiel 34
3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

10. Ezekiel 34
8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered … and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock … I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock.

11. Ezekiel 34
I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

12. Ezekiel 34
12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them …  15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord.

13. God’s Shepherd-King The shepherd who became the shepherd-king
The shepherd-king who needs a shepherd-king

14. Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

15. The Shepherd-King vs the World
Every ruler has to take something from the sheep -- it’s called taxes!

16. The Shepherd-King vs the World
When Jesus takes something from the sheep, it is because the sheep needs to surrender it

19. Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

20. The Shepherd-King in Action
Slavery
Infanticide
Poverty and Hunger
Value of women and children

21. There is a special favor for those who will belong to the Shepherd-King
Luke 2 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,     and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

22. How does God’s special favor take place?
Different ways at different times

23. Mark 6
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.

24. Luke 22
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

25. God shows his favor and provides for us in different ways at different times.

26. Practical examples Retirement planning and living by faith
Family planning and living my faith
Worship and work

27. The Shepherd-King and the Child
Lillian Trasher
( )

29. The Shepherd-King and the Child
George Müller ( )

31. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. (Proverbs 19:17)

32. The Offer of the Shepherd-King
Christmas is Jesus come as the Shepherd-King for the world – to right this world of many wrongs.
Christmas is Jesus come as the Shepherd-King in our life – to discover God’s favor.

33. The favored life “God not only orders our steps, he orders our stops.”
George Müller.

34. The favored life
“There was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren of friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.” George Müller

35. Jesus … the “ruler who will shepherd my people.”