#332 Christmas Miracles Series# 4, Candlelight

#332 Christmas Miracles Series# 4, Candlelight
By: Pastor D. Karl Thomas

Christmas is all about little things.
1. Little Places   2. Little People    3. Little Participation

Luke 2:1-20 NLT
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Little things.

“There will always be more people wanting to do ‘great’ things for God than there are people willing to do the little things. The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants.”    Rick Warren   

“So many of us are not big enough to become little enough to be used of God.”   Vance Havner

“It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.” J.R Tolkien

1. Little Places
Jesus — Little Town of Bethlehem
Moses — back side of desert
Gideon — wine press threshing
David — Field
Zacchaeus — Up a tree
Peter — Fishing

PICTURE OF CHURCH — 940 Gordon Ave Verdun

2. Little People
Tourist: “Any important people born here?”
Tour Guide: “Nope, Just babies”

3. Little Participation
Mary — “Let it be unto me…” Moses — Used shepherd stick
David — Used sling shot        Samson — Jawbone of donkey
Dorcas — Needle and thread

Edward Kimball        Albert McMakin            Tim Godfrey  

Edward Kimball shoe salesman who taught Sunday School in Chicago.
He lead a teenager in his class to Christ named D.L. Moody who became one of America’s greatest evangelists.
At one of D.L. Moody’s meetings in Chicago, J. Wilbur Chapman received JESUS … Evangelist
One of Chapman’s disciples a baseball player named Billy Sunday.
Billy Sunday preached a revival in Charlotte, N.C. in 1924.
Out of this revival came the Charlotte Businessmen’s Club (prayer group).
In 1934 the Charlotte Businessmen’s Club invited Mordecai Ham to conduct a citywide crusade in Charlotte. In that crusade Billy Graham was converted.
Through the crusades of Billy Graham countless lives have been changed.
Albert McMakin … said, “If you come Billy I will let you drive my Truck!!!”
Tim Godfrey was invited to a Billy Graham crusade by my cousin PAM
Tim and I worked together at NEDCO … Tim made his personal mission to see me serving God … Prayed for me everyday and sought creative ways to spend time with me … and tell me about my destiny. 

God fill you with Light and you are the torch bears of the Glory and Goodness of God.

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.” 

John 12:36  “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Matthew 5:14  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

What defines you determines you.
Identity is the most important power that determines our actions.
We will act according to our views of who we truly are—whether these views are accurate or not.
“We are the light of the world!”    When Light comes in contact with darkness … Light wins!!! 

John 1:4-5
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

3 Observations:
1. Light Confronts Darkness — darkness really has no say … he is here
2. Light Equals Life — No light No Life … Jesus is life!
3. Light Doesnʼt Hesitate — He never holds back.   He rushes into every dark place. 

As you hold your candle redeye Him who is the light of life.
As you hold you candle today embrace the fact that you really are a torch bearer!!!

332 Christmas Miracles Series# 4, Candlelight, PowerPoint Slides

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