United Presbyterian Church
2360 Longwood Ave., Reedsport, OR 97467 (541) 271-3214. Pastor: (541) 218 7657Sunday Service:
10:30. Office and Pastor's Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 til 2:00; Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30.
Last updated: 12/28/2022
Chistmas, December 25, 2022
Sermon
Last week I spoke on dreams, one of which was when I
was young and running with a fishing pole and tackle box, when I came to a large
mud puddle which, when I went to jump, my foot slipped and I ended up on my
back, struck dumb by the realization that I had dreamt this the night
before—right down to the minutest detail.
It
scared me.
This morning we read where Joseph was going to dismiss
Mary quietly due to her pregnancy.
But, while sleeping he was told by an angel—in
a dream— that the baby was, indeed, by God.
Fortunately, Joseph believe the apparition in
his dream.
The world is so fortunate to have had this event.
Today our world is out of alignment with truth.
Nobody but a few Christians believe…and many of
them are skeptical.
And well they should be, after all, immaculate
conceptions were unheard of; as were miracle healers who are killed, but then
arise. This is harder to believe than what science fiction and fantasy writers
could ever dream up.
So, why should we believe?
Well, there’s a couple of different reasons.
One is the Old Testament itself—so many
predictions of His coming, the longest and most accurate of which is Isaiah 53.
The Old Testament is the Jewish Bible, which is
wonderful.
Why wonderful?
Because if it wasn’t for the fact that the
prophecies are in the Jewish Bible, people could say that we Christians made it
up.
But now they can’t say that because it’s Jewish, not
Christian—even though we do incorporate it into our own Bible studies.
Incorporate, not change.
The question should be, “Why was Jesus born?”
Why?
Because there are two realities or realms.
We live in the purely physical, but the true
reality is the spiritual.
The goal of the physical reality is to attain
the spirit reality, and not everybody can.
The difference between physical and spiritual realms
is this: the physical realm is temporary, whereas the spiritual realm is
eternal.
The teachings of Jesus are for those who are worthy
may become a part of eternity.
Jesus was sent here as a baby who was born of flesh in
order to be able to both reach and teach us how to live in order to attain the
Spiritual and eternal life.
With the out pouring of the Holy Spirit, those who
both believe and live the teachings, attain eternity—a realm devoid of sickness,
war and self-centeredness.
It is no wonder that the angels sang when He was born.
To live apart from the spiritual reality brings chaos,
which we’re seeing today—a time when everything is falling apart due to either
spiritual apathy—or following a false spirituality.
We’re in an era when people think that they
should not be deprived of anything they want to do.
An era of disgusting, revealing clothing
flaunted by movie stars with little or no morés.
The flat truth is that we were meant to live, work and
play ethically and morally.
Jesus was born so we might learn these things.
They’re all in the Gospel so we can live moral
lives that are connected to God via the Holy Spirit.
Today Jesus—who many believe is a fantasy—has been
replaced by Santa Claus—who is a fantasy.
The Christmas season is no longer a celebration
of the birth of Yeshua the Christ, but by the celebration of the truly unreal.
Let us get real and worship the holiest moment on planet earth—the Birth of Christ—teacher, revealer, Son of God.