SMALL BEGINNINGS

Xmas @ the Camp, Eltham 18th December 2011

No. 358

There have been so many messages through the ages about Christmas. Thousands of School plays with kids dressing up as Mary and Joseph, shepherds, Angels and the three wise men. Im sure there have been billions of Christmas cards and millions of Carols sung in both hemispheres over the years. The question I want to ask is, Do we understand what they are really trying to say, or is it just a warm and fuzzy feeling? Have you looked closely at what is being said? Have you really listened? Im sure if we really did understand what was being said it would change our lives forever. Its just like the hymn Amazing Grace that is sung at nearly every funeral around the world. Many folk there dont darken a Church door yet they sing this hymn over and over again and most likely think that Amazing Grace is some wonderful womans name. Im sure that if we really understood what this Christmas message was all about it would solve many of the problems in our lives. Lets look at this classic portion of Christmas scripture.
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. 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, Davids ancient home. He travelled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiance, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7

We see here that Jesus official appearance on the world stage wasnt as we would expect and this is why many didnt believe that it really was the Son of God. He was born amongst smelly animals, dirty shepherds, hay, insects, dung and mould. There was no Mr Muscle, Handy Andy or Spray and walk away to be seen anywhere. It definetly wouldnt pass a hygiene inspection. If a Royal baby was born in the world today it would be first on the news and in every glossy magazine around the world including the Australian Womans Weekly. Im sure it would also be tweeted and have its own Facebook Page with heaps of photos of the babe in nice clean clothes. Jesus appearance on the World stage was very humble and under-stated, not like someone as glitzy as Lady Gaga who would have lights, backdrops, singers, dancers, costumes and a million dollar budget. The only thing similar about them both is that at times they would both be half naked. Jesus had no pomp and ceremony, just humble surroundings with cows, sheep and a donkey. There are 2 verses that come to mind.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15

Jesus came as a baby and not as a man; even Adam had a better start in life than he did as Jesus had to wait 30 years until he got to be Adams age. Adam skipped pimples, baby teeth, nappies, and the terrible teens with all those hormone changes. Jesus may have started small as the second Adam but his end was not in shame like Adam, but in glory. This modest way of doing things really worked and he ended up being the Saviour of the world. On another occasion Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, which again wasnt the normal way for royalty to travel, even in those days. Royalty would have ridden in on a white stallion or been carried on a glorious litter by slaves.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

When we were in Zimbabwe, the Prime Minister Robert Mugabe went everywhere in a Mercedes Benz that was bullet proofed, with many other identical cars in cavalcade, so that no one knew which one he was in in case he got shot at, and he also travelled very fast. If the Pope came to your town he too would be in cased in his bullet proof Pope Mobile, but Jesus the King of Kings came in on a donkey. There was no pomp and ceremony with Jesus as He came slowly into

Jerusalem, it was not the usual way of doing things but it worked. The Bible says that we mustnt despise small things, for small things can become big things if handled right.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." Zechariah 4:10

Despise not the baby things, the small things, the humble things and the donkey type things. They may not be how the world would do things but it works. God uses the despised things, the simple things the humble things to confound the wise.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27

The world needed help so God sent a baby to save her. Now who would have thought of that? You may need help today, you may be crying out to God and saying, Save me! You may want a big deliverance or something spectacular like winning lotto, or an inheritance, or a new job, or Mr Right coming along or a sudden magical cure. Maybe your deliverance has already come in something small, just a baby thing. Maybe you need to change your thinking, change your attitude. Maybe God has given you a seed as the answer to your prayer already. It may be some words of wisdom that were spoken to you by someone quite insignificant. It may have been the bible verse on the calendar or in your daily reading this morning. The bible calls the word of God a seed.
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. I peter 1:23

Maybe you need to realise that its here already and look at it and do something about it. Maybe the answer was in one of the songs being sung this morning or on the chorus sheet in your hand. If you look after a baby and feed it, they will grow. We need to remember that God is more interested in our character development than He is with our instant deliverance. He wants to develop our patience, and love by caring for a baby thing and making it grow. If we change our thought life and start developing a better attitude it will change our world. Fortune tellers may be able to give you an answer but they have no concern for your moral wellbeing or character, but not so with God. It was a little boys lunch that fed 5000 and a small boy with a small stone that killed Goliath. This Christmas ask Jesus for help. It may just be a simple small prayer with just a little faith but God can multiply that prayer into something big. It was a little prayer that Nehemiah prayed when the King asked him an important question. He didnt say, hang on a minute, let me go away and fast about it. He had to pray on the spot. That simple prayer brought about the return of the Jews to Jerusalem in preparation for the birth of the Messiah.
The king said to me, What is it you want? Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it. Nehemiah 2:4-5

Nehemiah didnt have time to fast or go into long intercession, his prayer was just a quickie and he had to give an answer on the spot. A lot of our prayers are powerful even though they are small. It doesnt need to be a 12 hour operation or a 3 hour concert with a $500 ticket. God has a great future for us. A future filled with peace, fulfilment and wonderful plans but it may be starting with a small thing. Let Jesus and His thoughts be born in your heart this Christmas. God the Father has sent you His seed. Dont be like the Inn Keeper who said there was no room in the inn. Make room in your heart for Jesus this Christmas season.
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase. Job 8:7
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