"WHEN JESUS CAME!"
Written and preached by David P. Nolte

LUKE 2:1-15

1. WHEN JESUS CAME HE MADE RADICAL CHANGES:
1. History records the change, our own experience confirms it, and the Holy Spirit works it!
1. Remember Mary Magdalene. She had been possessed by 7 demons. Likely a prostitute and certainly involved in the occult. Jesus freed her and she became a beloved disciple. Jesus just doesn't leave us like He finds us!
2. Think about Zacchaeus the tax collector. He'd gouged the people beyond reason. But when Jesus came, he restored 4 times as much as he'd extorted and gave half of his goods to the poor. Jesus takes us as we are, but doesn't leave us like that!
3. Consider John Mark. He had gone on a mission journey with Paul and Barnabas and for some reason abandoned his co-workers and left the ministry. Yet later, after growing up some in Jesus, Paul found him to be a useful helper. He has a way of changing losers into winners!
4. My own sister, Helene, went from hating everybody and being as ornery as possible, to being a kind and gracious woman. He truly changes lives.
2. We're not talking about mere reformation, or New Year's Resolutions, or turning over a new leaf here! We're talking about regeneration, conversion, new birth, and being changed from the inside out! Here's how and why a change takes place:
1. Paul puts it like this: "therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17. What we were changes into what we are, and what we are changes into what we can become!
2. It is no longer just sheer grit, our will power or determination. It is not signing pledges, or making commitments. Paul wrote:
1. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.
2. "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.
3. Life becomes a faith-walk, with Christ as our inner guide. It is as Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself up for me." Galatians 2:20.
3. That doesn't mean that there is nothing for the believer to do. We don't become passive or uninvolved in the process. John the baptist said to those coming to him for baptism, "therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance;" Matthew 3:8. We must co-operate with Him, but He works the changes. So, what change has He brought about in your life?
1. Has He helped you deal with your temper?
2. Has He helped you with your language?
3. Has He given you freedom from, and victory over, besetting habits and addictions?
4. Has He set you free from pornography, lust, and other illicit desires, drives and passions?
5. Has He shaped your values to fit His? Your lifestyle to match His? Your ethics to coincide with His? Your walk to be in step with Him?
4. There is hope! Nobody is too bad to be changed, if they want to be! No habit is too binding if you want to be free. No life is so fouled up it can't be redeemed and restored, if you want it to be! The chorus says, "Something's different now, Something's happened to me, since I gave my life to Jesus. Something's different now, what a change! It must be since I gave my life to Him! Things I loved before have passed away, things I love much more have come to stay. Things are different now, Something's happened to me, since I gave my life to Him."

As the baby in the mining camp grew, men were changed. One further thing happened. The diggings that were scant and poor became suddenly productive. Large quantities of gold were extracted. The men of the camp thought it was because the little boy was in their midst, so they named him, "Luck." They considered him the source and cause of their new blessings.  Well, I don't give 2¢ for luck. But I do believe in providence. I do believe in being blessed. Jesus didn't bring us luck when he was born; he brought us something much more wonderful. That baby born 2,000 years ago is still influencing lives He touches; and always for the betterment.

2. WHEN JESUS CAME HE BROUGHT GREAT BLESSINGS:
1. Some folk come into our lives and harm us, abuse us, take advantage of us, and mislead us.
2. Not Jesus! Since He came, benevolent institutions, orphanages, hospitals, schools, the end of slavery, the elevation of women have all taken place. We can thank Him for those things.
3. His intent always has been and always will be for our good! He works in our favor! Listen:
1. "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.
2. "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David." Isaiah 55:1-3.
3. "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." John 10:10.
4. "Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" Romans 2:4.
5. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Romans 8:31, 32.
6. And the angel noted those blessings: There was Good News of Great Joy to all people because the Savior had been born.
4. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." Ephesians 1:3, 4. God will bless your life but not all blessings come in tangible form. We may not have blessings we can take to the bank, or use as collateral in a loan. We may not have fine houses, big luxury cars, or incomes in 6 figures. He has blessed untold lives in terms of:
1. Giving them purpose and meaning.
2. Restoring broken relationships.
3. Setting people free from bondage to fear, guilt, and addictions
4. Giving peace of mind, clear conscience, and assurance.
5. Restoring lost hope, reviving lost innocence, and rebuilding lost character.

When that baby boy was born, roaring camp was turned upside down. Rough men became doting guardians. A few years passed and, tragically, the little fellow named "Luck" was swept away in a flash flood, the victim of a disastrous accident. Jesus came to earth and the tide of events seemed to sweep Him away, But He was in no way the victim of a disastrous accident. All that occurred, all that transpired, all that He experienced was ordained.

3. WHEN JESUS CAME HE VOLUNTARILY GAVE HIS LIFE ON OUR BEHALF:
1. The words of the angel, "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" speak of His death; He became Savior not just by His birth but through the cross. There used to be an old song, "Born To Lose!" Jesus, however, was "born to die!" This was the plan! We consider the Miraculous Birth of Jesus in this season, but that was but the first step toward Calvary and fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.
2. I can't tell you too frequently: Jesus was absolutely in control when they arrested Him. He was in control when they accused Him. He was in control when they judged Him. He was in control when they condemned Him. He was in control when they whipped Him. He was in control when they crucified Him. He wasn't caught up in a flood of circumstances; He was not overwhelmed by the power of His enemies. He gave up His own life, freely, voluntarily, and all the while maintaining perfect control of the whole situation.
3. Jesus chose to be born, He chose to die! But what does that mean to us?
1. It means we are precious in his sight: "for one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:7 - 8.
2. It means that we have access to the Father through Him.
1. "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:13-18.
2. "This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him." Ephesians 3:11-12.
4. Christmas assures us that God wants to be involved in our lives. It confirms that we can have relationship with Him. Calvary tells us that He was willing to give His utmost and best. Christmas verifies us that God has drawn near. Calvary proves that God is in control of the past, the present and the future. Christmas and Calvary together testify that salvation is a reality!

The presence of baby Luck changed the lives of those old miners in a significant, but temporary way. When he died in the flood, things pretty much reverted to former status at Roaring Camp. That Jesus became a baby Who changed history and destiny is a matter of record. But what He did in the past means nothing to you for the future if He is not Lord of your life in the present. He came to change lives for time and eternity. He will change your life, day by day, from the inside out, if and when you allow Him to be enthroned in your heart. You do so by believing in Him, turning from sin, leaving it in the watery grave, and seeking to follow His steps daily. What a change in your life He will work, when He lives in your heart. Come to Him this morning; He will meet you with grace if you come to Him in faith as we sing.

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