Sermon Notes

THE KING HAS COME

…As Promised

We can get so caught up with the trappings of a holiday season that we miss the tangible reality of what we are really celebrating: the Savior King has come.

“Prone to wander Lord I feel it…prone to leave the God I love.”

The reality of a promise made thousands of years ago, with next to a zero percent chance of fulfillment, and yet it was fulfilled, demands our attention.

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

“When we are familiar with things, we tend to quit examining them. Often when we are familiar with things, we quit noticing them. When we are familiar with things, we tend not to celebrate them as we once did. Familiarity tends to rob us of our wonder. And here's what's important about this: what has captured the wonder of our hearts will control the way we live.” Paul David Tripp

1. GOD’S Promise to His People Then

A) A Promise Made to Satan

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

B) A Promise Made to Abraham

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

C) A Promise made to the Others

- Isaiah 7:14 - reveals how the Messiah would be born

- Micah 5:2 pinpoints the place of His birth

- Jeremiah 23:5 specified His ancestry

- Psalms 22, 41, 35 foretold His betrayal, His accusations by false witnesses, and His manner of death

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple…” Malachi 3:1

D) A Promise Made to Mary and Joseph

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:18-23

100,000,000,000,000,000

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

“The name Jesus means ‘Savior’ and comes from the Hebrew name, Joshua (‘Jehovah is salvation’). There were many Jewish boys with the name Joshua (or, in the Greek, Jesus); but Mary’s Boy was called ‘Jesus the Christ.’ The word Christ means ‘anointed’; it is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. He is ‘Jesus the Messiah.’ Jesus is His human name; Christ is His official title; and Immanuel describes who He is—'God with us.’ Jesus Christ is God!”– Warren Wiersbe

2. GOD’S Promise to His People Now

"If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:29

“Every sinner who comes to God in Christ, with all his needs, finds God coming to him in Christ, with all his promises.” John Piper

“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus. Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

- Charles Wesley; 1745