"ONCE UPON A BABY!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

LUKE 1:68-75

1. ONCE UPON A BABY, GOD VISITED US IN HUMAN FORM:
1. The word for visited means more than coming by for a cup of coffee and a couple of cookies; it is more than a chat and chew session. The word means to come to see how we are doing, to look in on us with the intent to help and benefit us. It carries with it the concept of concern and involvement.
2. When Jesus visited us, He humbled Himself, gave up His prerogative in heaven, and became one of us, living among us, total deity in human form.
1. John wrote, "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. ... So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us." John 1:1, 14 (NLT).
2. Jesus said to Philip, "Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see Him?" John 14:9 (NLT).
3. Paul wrote, "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God." Colossians 1:15 (NLT).
4. In Hebrews we read, "The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about Him represents God exactly." Hebrews 1:3 (NLT).
3. So, what are the implications of this? So, God sent His Son, the exact representation of Himself, what does that mean?
1. It means that He can know us more perfectly. He walked in our shoes, and is, therefore, acquainted with our weakness and weariness. He experienced suffering and pain. He participated in our humanity. He knows us.
2. It means that we can know Him personally. The God of heaven, too transcendent for the mind of man to comprehend, became imminent in Jesus. What Jesus is, the Father is and vice versa. He reveals what God is.
3. It means that we can know what perfect man should be. He never sinned; He never strayed from God's purposes for Him; He never fell short of His task. He reveals what man would be if man never sinned.
4. A man once saw a flock of birds in the yard pecking for food in the snow. He wanted to herd them into the garage where they could keep warm and find food. He went out and tried to shoo them into the open door, but they scattered and flew away. Each time they returned, he'd try again with the same results. Frustrated, he said, "If only I could become a bird, I'd tell them not to be afraid and then they'd let me help them." And that's why God became man. To reach us as one of us.

2. ONCE UPON A BABY, GOD SENT THE SAVIOR:
1. Not "a Savior," but "the Savior." The very name of Jesus means, "Jehovah is salvation." But what does salvation mean?
1. It means to be delivered or rescued from danger.
2. It means to be freed from bondage, as bondage to sin.
2. Paul wrote, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV). There are 4 aspects of salvation to consider:
1. We are saved from sin and punishment and ultimate death.
2. We are saved for good works and service.
3. We are saved by grace, unearned, unmerited favor on God's part.
4. We are saved through faith, which is belief, trust and obedience on our part.
3. What does that mean to us? What is the outcome of that?
1. We don't have to be sent to hell for our sins. Jesus bore our guilt.
2. We don't have to flee from God in fear. Jesus bids us come near fearlessly. He renewed the relationship of God and believers.
3. We can anticipate a welcome and acceptance in heaven when this earth life is over.
4. We ought to serve Him gladly, consistently, and faithfully.
4. Two construction workers once fell into a deep pit. One said to the other, "Save me! Get me out of here! Please get me out!" The other replied, "You idiot, how can I? I am in the same spot as you." Since they were both in the pit, neither one could help the other. Then they heard a voice from above calling to them to grasp a rope. A third worker had not fallen into the pit, so he was the only one who could save them. He brought help from above. The very best among us could not save us from the pit of sin because he, too, is a sinner just as we are. He landed in the same pit we did. But Jesus is God and is not sinful. He came from above to save us from the pit we are in. Like the two workmen, we cannot save ourselves. Only Jesus Christ can save us. And that's why Jesus came, to be the Savior.

3. ONCE UPON A BABY, GOD FULFILLED HIS PROMISE:
1. His promise began in the Garden of Eden and it continued through the prophets:
1. Isaiah records the promise, "For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7 (NASB).
2. And, "Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot - yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will never judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. He will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked and destroy them with the breath of His mouth. He will be clothed with fairness and truth." Isaiah 11:1-5 (NLT).
3. Jeremiah wrote, "For the time is coming," says the LORD, "when I will place a righteous Branch on King David's throne. He will be a King Who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this is His name: 'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.' In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety." Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NLT).
2. Many people make promises, some keep them, some don't.
1. Some make promises they never intended to keep.
2. Some make promises they can't keep.
3. Some make promises and forget to keep them.
4. Some make promises and change their minds about keeping them.
5. But God always keeps His promises. Abraham found that God was not only able to promise, but to fulfill it. Solomon said, "Blessed be the LORD, Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant." 1 Kings 8:56 (NASB).
3. So what does that mean to us? What confidence does it give?
1. We can trust Him to do what He says. He is ready, willing and able to honor His covenant, and He will.
2. We can take comfort in the many promises that relate to our needs, our weaknesses, our hopes, our fears.
4. A terrible earthquake hit several years ago in Turkey. In one small village lived a man and his son, Armand. On the day of the quake, Armand went off to school. His father told him as he left, "After school today I'll come for you!" When the quake hit, the whole village was demolished, including the school. The entire town began yanking off bricks and other fallen debris. They were desperate to reach the children who were buried there. For 2, 4, 6 hours they labored feverishly. Evening came and they worked; 8, 10, 16 hours. When morning came, some quit toiling and headed home. They argued, "There are no survivors; there is only silence; there is no use in digging any more." A handful stayed and worked, 18, 20, 24 hours. Then, they too left -- but not Armand's father. Others urged him, "You have to quit! Come with us! It's hopeless! Armand is dead; there's nothing you can do!" "No!" he said, "I told Armand I would come for him!" And ignoring them, Armand's father kept pulling off bricks and rubble seeking his son and any other survivors; 30, 32, 34, 36 hours and he kept pulling rubble off the pile. On the 38th hour Armand's father pulled off a piece of the demolished building and looked down and saw a hole, and through the hole he heard a muffled cry and saw two little eyes -- two little eyes looking up appealingly into his! He dug more furiously. And Armand said, "Father, I knew you'd come for me! You said you would come for me!" Armand's father kept pulling rubble away; he saw other children in the hole. He reached down to Armand and said, "Come on, Armand! I'll lift you out!" Armand said, "No, Father, no! Take the other children first; they're afraid. I told them you'd come for me -- and you came! I know you'll come back for me!" He lifted out all the other children, then reached down and took Armand's hand and lifted him out. He had kept his promise.

Once upon a Baby, the tender heart of God reached down to heal the broken and sinful heart of man; the grace and mercy of the Father descended in Jesus to make us His children. The ever faithful God kept His promise. That gives us hope, assurance, peace, joy and eternal life. But only if we come to Jesus. Only if we receive, by faith, the gift He sent once upon a Baby; the gift He goes on offering to all who will receive it. Will you receive it this morning? Then come to Jesus as we sing.

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