During the rule of Aurelious, it was illegal to be a Christian. During this time, Sanctus was under trial and during the questioning, his captors tried to determine from his faith…Sanctus only response was “I am a Christian.” Even as he was sentenced to be killed by wild animals.

What does it mean to be a Christian? Many people call them selves Christian, but do not follow Christ, or study the Bible. There is a lot of confusion in our culture as what it means to be a “good Christian.” Theology is constantly debated even within the church. Values of the world are starting to invade the church and change what it means to be a Christian.

You can believe anything you want and feel pretty confident that you are right….until you open the Bible. Examining the scriptures is key to understanding God. Without that, our own imaginations will never lead to truth. Truth is absolute. Just because someone believes that the way to heaven is by feeding the hungry or bowling the perct game, that is not true unless God has made it so. And the way to know what God says is true is in the Bible.

Paul means “small.” He is an old man, with much experience as an apostle when he writes to Titus. Titus was on the island of Crete, which was known for the dishonesty of its inhabitants.

Titus 1:1 – Paul calls himself a bond servant (“Dulas” or slave) of God. He was owned by God…with no rights of his own. This is a far cry to how most people in our day would define what it means to be a Christian. We tend to make church and our faith about US more than about God, which is idolatry. But was have been purchased at a great price (the crucifixion of Gods own son) out of slavery to sin, and into slavery to God.

In our country we stand on the thought of liberty. But liberty does not mean doing whatever you want….it is doing what you ought to do. That is the liberty produced when you become a slave of God.

We tend to make resolutions at the beginning of each year, and often we fail to stick to that vow each year. This year, in 2012, we should make a resolution to be in service to Christ.

Philippians 3:4-7

1) The future is not dictated by the past. It’s not about what you did 10 years ago. Paul had a strict Jewish background, heredity and education to boast of to his peers, but he put that all behind him to follow Christ, as it did not bring him salvation. He says later in Ephesians, that it’s not about your works, that we would boast. What are you doing now?

Philippians 3:7-14

2) The future is determined by what is done in the present. Paul counts all his noble background as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ. We know Christ by studying the Bible. That is how God speaks to us. Are you spending time in the Bible each day? Perhaps that would be a good New Years resolution.

Paul also says that he wants to know Christ through his suffering. Paul knew that when you pursue Christ I your life, it will it you into opposition with this world. You should stick out like a sore thumb at your school or place of work, if you live like your life is dedicated to Christ.

Today after church, many will be watching Athletic football players give their all on the field, while they sit at home on the couch eating junk food. Unfortunately, many churches find themselves in this same position – sitting on the sidelines when we should be in the game. Serving others, sharing Christ….making a difference for Christ in our sphere of influence.

Philippians 3:12-14

3) The future demands an eternal future perspective. We should strain to reach the goal set before us by our Creator. Are our eyes fixed on the eternal prize (our ultimate destination) or are we looking at the here and now?

Luke 2:13 a multitude of angels appear and say or sing Hallelujah! Glory to God in the highest.

Luke 1:68 – six months earlier, Zacharias sings poem/ chant, while holding his new son, John.

Luke 1:76 – you will be the prophet most high, to proclaim and prepare the way for the messiah. This is same concept as in those times cities would build a road for kings when they visit, as roads were not very good and carts would get stuck in the mud.

John announces what Malachi had foretold 400 years earlier.

John 1:10 – Jesus will come, but he will not be recognized. Ultimately he was crucified by the ones who he came to save, these same men who did not recognize him and also rejected his forerunner, John.

John 1:11 –  Most people did not receive him, despite prophesies that detailed how the messiah would come.

John 1:12 – Some did receive Him and became children of God.

Philippians 2:6

• This was the greatest demonstration of unconditional love ever
• Colossians 1 – creation
• Jesus is God – John 1:1
• Philippians 2:6 – Jesus gave up some privileges of Godhood to come to earth to be born humble conditions to live a difficult life and die for sinners.
• Verse 7 – Jesus empties himself, becoming a bond servant
• While Jesus was on the earth, he was fully man but also fully God, holding the universe together.
• Jesus (God) humbles himself, gives the ultimate sacrifice, to redeem us who he loves.

Luke 1:31

Mary is told by Gabriel that she will bear a son, he will be named Jesus, he will be great, the son of God. He will rule over Israel and all the earth.

Much like Zechariah, she was uncertain at this news, but Mary was not lacking in faith, like Zechariah was, but instead ignorant the physicality of how she could bare a son, and had not been with a man. Zechariah was a priest and therefore would have known that God has done this kind of thing before.

Luke 1:36 – the news of pregnancy will end the shame of Elizabeth, having wanted a child her whole life (being barren was considered a sign of sin), but the news for Mary will create shame on Mary in the community, for being pregnant outside of wedlock.  Gabriel tells Mary about her cousin Elizabeth being pregnant,  giving her a place to go when her reputation is shattered.  Elizabeth was uniquely in a position to understand Mary’s shame.

Luke 1:38 – Mary says “here I am” use me as you see fit, to God.  This is how we should respond when we are called by God as well.

Luke 1:39 – Mary travels close to 100 miles to Elizabeth’s home, with no indication that anyone travelled with her. If Mary had become pregnant by sinful relations, the last place she would want to go is to the home of a priest, Zechariah.

Elizabeth knew that Mary was with child because she was told her son would be the forerunner of the coming messiah, and when she saw Mary, John leaped in her womb.

Luke 1:56 – Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t tell their family of the new baby until after Johns birth. Mary does not return home until after Johns birth. Meaning she would likely have served as a midwife for Elizabeth, preparing her with an education on childbirth, that would come in very handy 6 months later when she would deliver with no one but her husband to help

Luke 1:13

Zacharias is performing priestly duty in the temple, burning Frankincense when Gabriel appears to him.

Daniel describes Gabriel as wearing a linen robe, as a high priest would, wearing a belt of gold, with a face like lightning, his eyes like red coals, arms and feet like polished bronzed and his voice a low rumble.

Gabriel tells Zacharias what to name his son, John (the grace of God), and indicates the significance that his profession will be – great in the sight of the Lord. However he was strange in the sight of people.

Lev 10 states that priests (like John’s father) are not to drink strong drink when on duty, and so John will not drink ever, being always on duty.

Luke 1:15 – John is consecrated by the Holy Spirit while still in the womb. A picture of the HS who will fill all of those who are born again in Christ.

Luke 1:16 – John will turn the hearts of men back to God, and be the forerunner of Christ, as foretold. John’s ministry will also turn men’s hearts back to their families, and turns the disobedient back to righteousness.

Luke 1:18 – Despite being in the presence of the angel described above, Zacharias’ first words are, “How will I know?” (bringing up the advanced age of his wife and him) He asks for a sign. So he is made mute, representing the state of the Jewish nation, who had become quiet in their pursuit of God. He is unable to speak until the birth of his son.

Matthew 2:1

The present day America Christmas Culture, with 25 days of shopping on the TV, and full parking lots at stores, and movies of red-nosed reindeers,  is very much lacking the message of Jesus’s birth.

Who were the Magi?

Wise men, astrologers, probably not really kings although quite wealthy, who left their homes from the far east (likely Persia) to make a very long journey to visit Jesus and give him gifts. This trip would have taken months by camel, and they probably brought a caravan of servants with them. They saw the unusual light in the sky at are referred to as “His star” that moved and pointed the way for them to Bethleham. When they do see the child, they fall down and worship, despite not being of the Jewish faith (astrologers).

Where did they come from?

After the star, likely between 3 months to 2 years after Jesus’ birth, since Herod ordered all boys under 2 be killed. They did not come the night of Jesus’s birth, most likely, despite how we depict it in our culture. Jesus was born in a cave used for sheltering animals, and shepherds came that night. In Matt 2:11 the verbiage for where Jesus was changes to “in the home” and that is where the Magi visit him. Jesus is referred to as a “child” as well, instead of a new born infant.

What did they bring?

Gold – royalty, Jesus being the new “king of kings”, used by Jesus family to travel later to Egypt, to stay safe from Herods persecution.

Frankensceince – used by priests, this to signify Jesus as the great high priest

Myrrh – a spice used for burial, to foreshadow Christ’s sacrifice on the cross

Today, wise men still worship Jesus Christ.

God was quiet for 400 years. During that dark time, there was much corruption but Malachi announces that the Sun will wise again.

When he spoke again, sending Gabriel, it was a message sent to Elizabeth’s husband Zachariah, announcing the birth of John the Baptist, the one to announce the coming of the savior. Following that was the message to Mary, and then Joseph about the virgin birth of Jesus.

Herod was ruler, claiming the title “King of the Jews.” He was a cruel, jealous and wicked man, killing his sons for fear of losing the throne. He did refurbish the temple with beautiful, expensive details.

Zachariah was a country priest, married to the daughter of a priest, from the line of Aaron. Elizabeth had been barren…which indicated sin to the community, although the Bible, Luke 1:7, describes them as blameless. They were fairly old, in their 80′s, making this news of a coming baby all the more hard to believe.

Zachariah means “God remembers”
Elizabeth means “Promise of God”

For many years they waited and waited for a child, and at a time when they would have given up on the hope of children, one comes.

Luke 1:8, Zachariah is called in to do his duty of watching over the holy place inside the temple. Frankensense would have been offered over the fire, producing a sweet cloud, rising as prayer to God. Same spice offered to Jesus at s birth. This is when God sends Gabriel to speak, telling Zacharias that his son would be coming. John means “the grace of God.”

Mordecai is given the king’s ring in place of Haman, who was hanged for his attempt to exterminate the Jews.

Esther pleas for the king to cancel the edict sent out to kill the Jews.

V11 – Mordecai writes a new decree that gives the Jews the same rights to kill and plunder from anyone who attempts to kill them. This is how he counterbalanced the first edict. (edicts could not be repealed as that would admit that the king was wrong)

Matt 16:24-26
Mark 8:34-36
Luke 9:23-25

11 of 12 disciples martyred for the Gospel

Check out this link: persecution.com

How often do we let stuff get in the way of our pursuit of our Father in Heaven? Christ gave EVERYTHING up for us.

In market downturn at Apple in the nineties, to survive, Steve Jobs paused all charitable donations made by Apple for several years.

How committed are we to others? To Christ? Would we deny ourselves?

There are 168 hours in a week, how many do you spend with (or for) the Lord?