Grace World Outreach Church
The Chaos Of Christmas
Pastor Donnie Lewis Home For The Holidays
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
https://graceworldag.online.church
Sunday 10:00 AM
Greetings from Grace World
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The Chaos of Christmas
Frankincense – The Deity of Jesus
It’s that Christmas Season and It is said to be the Most Joyful time of the year… But even during all the joy, and the seasonal sounds there are other sounds - sounds of anguish and grief suffering. Sounds of Chaos!
Mary and Joseph have come “Home for the Holiday’s” … Well, in their case - Home for the census… Probably looking to stay with relatives, and there was no room in the INN…
What should have been one of the best times of their life, was not convenient and in fact would have been pretty Chaotic… “There was no room in the Inn ... in the house” … So, to the stable they went.
Matthew 2: 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (ESV)
The 3 Gifts that the wisemen brought to Jesus
- Gold – The Kingship of Jesus
- Frankincense – The Deity of Jesus
- Myrrh – The Death of Jesus
And today, let’s look at the second gift…Frankincense
Frankincense has been used for centuries as medicinal relief for ailments for respiratory issues, to relieve congestion, as an expectorant and to aide in digestive issues. It also boosts energy and promotes rejuvenation and healing and it is referred to as the king of oils.
It boosts immunity and eases anxiety and depression and it's good for overall skin health, helps with arthritis, joint and gut inflammation. It can be used to fight cancer and ease symptoms of chemotherapy. The list goes on and on… Back in the day it was used like gold and money to buy things because of its many uses and rarity and value.
Frankincense also represents Jesus' deity.
In the Old Testament, frankincense was traditionally burned in the temple as an offering to God (Leviticus 2:2).
By bringing this gift, the Magi affirmed Jesus was not just an ordinary man; But that He was both fully man and fully God.
Colossians 2: 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ESV
Christmas invites chaos… None of us are exempt from that! But, His presence changes everything…
1. AT TIMES THINGS CAN BE CHAOTIC - BUT CHRIST CAME TO BEAR THE CHAOS WITH US!
John 16: 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ESV
He is saying… "I know that there is suffering in this world, and I've come to bear it with you."
Our God is not hiding away in the heavens. Jesus came to be with us, suffering with us, hurting with us and bleeding with us.
2. IN THE CHAOS THERE WILL BE UNCERTAINTY - BUT CHRIST CAME TO LEAD US THROUGH IT!
Mary and Joseph had been told by an angel that Jesus was to be the Savior, that He would save His people from their sins. But what was their responsibility? How were they to raise the Son of God? And what did the future hold for them? So much uncertainty…
And as Christians, we have the advantage of knowing that while we do not know what tomorrow holds, we do know Him who holds our tomorrows in His hands, and He wants us to let Him lead the way.
3. IN YOUR CHAOS - UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRESHNESS OF FRANKINCENSE IS RELEASED IN THE CRUSHING AND IN THE BURNING
Isaiah 53: 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. ESV
God, through Jesus Christ, has come to help us in times of suffering, to lead us in times of uncertainty, and to give us victory over chaos. And once again, today He offers Himself to us, and He waits for us to respond to His invitation.
Frankincense – The Deity of Jesus
It’s that Christmas Season and It is said to be the Most Joyful time of the year… But even during all the joy, and the seasonal sounds there are other sounds - sounds of anguish and grief suffering. Sounds of Chaos!
Mary and Joseph have come “Home for the Holiday’s” … Well, in their case - Home for the census… Probably looking to stay with relatives, and there was no room in the INN…
What should have been one of the best times of their life, was not convenient and in fact would have been pretty Chaotic… “There was no room in the Inn ... in the house” … So, to the stable they went.
Matthew 2: 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (ESV)
The 3 Gifts that the wisemen brought to Jesus
- Gold – The Kingship of Jesus
- Frankincense – The Deity of Jesus
- Myrrh – The Death of Jesus
And today, let’s look at the second gift…Frankincense
Frankincense has been used for centuries as medicinal relief for ailments for respiratory issues, to relieve congestion, as an expectorant and to aide in digestive issues. It also boosts energy and promotes rejuvenation and healing and it is referred to as the king of oils.
It boosts immunity and eases anxiety and depression and it's good for overall skin health, helps with arthritis, joint and gut inflammation. It can be used to fight cancer and ease symptoms of chemotherapy. The list goes on and on… Back in the day it was used like gold and money to buy things because of its many uses and rarity and value.
Frankincense also represents Jesus' deity.
In the Old Testament, frankincense was traditionally burned in the temple as an offering to God (Leviticus 2:2).
By bringing this gift, the Magi affirmed Jesus was not just an ordinary man; But that He was both fully man and fully God.
Colossians 2: 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ESV
Christmas invites chaos… None of us are exempt from that! But, His presence changes everything…
1. AT TIMES THINGS CAN BE CHAOTIC - BUT CHRIST CAME TO BEAR THE CHAOS WITH US!
John 16: 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ESV
He is saying… "I know that there is suffering in this world, and I've come to bear it with you."
Our God is not hiding away in the heavens. Jesus came to be with us, suffering with us, hurting with us and bleeding with us.
2. IN THE CHAOS THERE WILL BE UNCERTAINTY - BUT CHRIST CAME TO LEAD US THROUGH IT!
Mary and Joseph had been told by an angel that Jesus was to be the Savior, that He would save His people from their sins. But what was their responsibility? How were they to raise the Son of God? And what did the future hold for them? So much uncertainty…
And as Christians, we have the advantage of knowing that while we do not know what tomorrow holds, we do know Him who holds our tomorrows in His hands, and He wants us to let Him lead the way.
3. IN YOUR CHAOS - UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRESHNESS OF FRANKINCENSE IS RELEASED IN THE CRUSHING AND IN THE BURNING
Isaiah 53: 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. ESV
God, through Jesus Christ, has come to help us in times of suffering, to lead us in times of uncertainty, and to give us victory over chaos. And once again, today He offers Himself to us, and He waits for us to respond to His invitation.
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