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[PDF]Christmas Eve 2018 – Ruth 1:1-5 (After video/special...

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Christmas Eve 2018 – Ruth 1:1-5 (After video/special) Welcome to our Christmas Eve service. What a special time to come together, reflect on the birth of Jesus, and worship him as Christ the Lord. We’re glad you’re here. And in the spirit of the season, why don’t you stand up, greet someone, and tell them “Merry Christmas.” ------------ (Worship; Ends with prayer; Garth and Erin to spots) Title Slide (Christmas Eve) Garth (Jn 1:1-9) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. Erin (Lk 1:26-29) 26 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

Erin (Lk 2:8-20) 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Garth (Jn 1:14) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. -------------- (Rob up; Outline Slide) Christmas is such a regular occurrence, and the story such a familiar refrain, it’s easy to slough it off, and take it for granted. You may have even zoned out for that. Which is why it’s important first of all, to apply the Christmas story to your own story. The hope of Jesus and the light of Jesus to your own life.

Garth (Lk 1:30-33) 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And second, in order to keep from taking it for granted, it’s important to know the back story. What God did to ensure we have a Christmas. And even give us the opportunity for hope and life and light.

Erin (Lk 1:34-38) 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

[1] In the days when the judges ruled [certain leaders in Israel at the time] there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab [on the other side of the Dead Sea], he and his wife and his two sons. The time was ~1100 BC, the land was dark, famine stricken, and the people were hopeless. Hopeless.

Erin (Mt 1:18-23) 18 When Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Garth (Lk 2:1-7) 4 And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

It’s found, at least part of the back story, in Ruth 1. So if you have your Bible, turn there with me. Ruth 1:1-5.

[2] The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. Did you catch that? They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. The very place from which the Messiah would come, according to Micah’s prophecy 350 years later. You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah [like Davenport, Iowa], who are too little to be among the clans of Judah [too insignificant] from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. So what we see in Ruth is a foreshadowing. A foreshadowing of something yet to be prophesied, let alone fulfilled. Something being worked out by God, who knows the end from the beginning, before it ever starts. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. [And] they went into the country of Moab and remained there.

[3] But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons [it got even darker]. [4] These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, [5] and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman [Naomi] was left without her two sons and her husband. [It seemed hopeless.] At which point Naomi decided to go back to Israel, and urged Orpah and Ruth to stay in Moab, their homeland.***** But Ruth had other plans. She wanted to go with her; uttering those famous words in Ruth 1:16-17. Erin (Ruth 1:16-17) “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. [17] Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” --------------That’s so illogical and nonsensical, there had to be some-thing or some-one compelling Ruth. So off they went. Back to Judah. And one day, while picking up leftovers in the field of a man named Boaz, Ruth caught his attention. And after showing her kindness . . . She sought his favor in order to meet her and Naomi’s needs. All of which eventually led to their marriage, and a life of “happily ever after.” True. ! But lest you think this is just a nice, “Chicken Soup for the Soul” kind of story, think again. Because God, in his amazing sovereignty . . . Was accomplishing his purpose. You see, Boaz is the great, great, great, great, great, grandson of a man named Judah. One of Jacob’s sons, who God just happened to bless with a promise . . . 400 years earlier, in Gen 49:10. Garth (Gen 49:10) [10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. -------------(Gen 49:10) The scepter [the power] shall not depart from Judah [referring to his linage], nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet [his rightful leadership], until tribute comes to him [aka worship]; and to him [to someone from Judah’s lineage] shall be the obedience of the peoples [the nations; they’ll follow him].

Surely God’s not going to use him. But since when do cracked pots prevent God from making crystal vases? Since when do difficult circumstances prevent God from accomplishing his will? Never. In fact, he often combines the mess of our lives, to reveal his glory all the more. In this case, taking Boaz, the hopeless offspring of a foreign prostitute, and putting him together with Ruth, a helpless foreign widow. And in doing so, they became the great grandparents of King David, 3 generations later. Who ruled just like Jacob had said. Except for the forever part. And the nations. That came 31 generations later, in the birth of Christ. That’s right. Boaz and Ruth are the ancestors of Jesus. The King of all kings, and Lord of all lords. The one referred to in the book of Revelation as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. (Rv 5:5) Fulfilling the prophecy made by Jacob all the way back in Gen 49, through the unlikely marriage of two misfits, at a time when all seemed dark. That’s the back story. And because of it, I hope you never take Christmas for granted again. ! But I also hope you don’t fail to apply it to your life. Because . . . Jesus was born to bring hope to all the hopeless. Not just Ruth and Boaz. But everyone. Matthew 12. Garth (Mt 12:18-21) [18] “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. [19] He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; [20] a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; [21] and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” In his name [believing in who he is and what he’s done] the Gentiles will hope. Rely on. Trust in. Is that you? Do you hope in Jesus? I hope so. Because he’s not only good for it, but it’s why he came. To bring hope to the hopeless. Just like he did Boaz, and Ruth, and countless others through the ages.

God, through Jacob, was saying that someone from the line of Judah would rule and reign over the nations, and receive their worship, forever. It wouldn’t depart.*****

And let’s face it, we need it. More people are taking their lives in our country than ever before. And more people are dying because of hopeless behaviors than ever before. So much so, that our average life expectancy has dropped for the third year in a row. The first time that’s happened since WWI and the Spanish flu pandemic. A hundred years ago.

! Except 8 generations after this prophecy, Boaz is single and growing old. There’s no one to carry on the line. It’s hopeless. And what’s more, he’s the scandalous offspring of a foreign prostitute named Rahab.

And how about the pervasive sense of despair that so many have in our culture? Maybe even you. Where you can’t see past your situation, or a way out of your depression . . Or an end to our cultural mess. Despair abounds.

And there’s nothing like a firm belief in the sovereignty of God to counter it. Trusting that he’s got it. Nothing like a quiet confidence in the one that knows and cares. Nothing like a close relationship with Jesus, who carries your burdens for you. Jesus was born to bring hope to the hopeless. And he’ll bring hope to you, if you hope in him. Believe in him. Trust him. And last . . . Jesus was born to bring light to all our darkness. Unless we really try, we don’t have much darkness these days. Not in a literal sense. Street lamps come on at dusk, security lights come on with movement, nightlights fill our homes, and screens fill our lives. Unless we really try, darkness is kind of lost on us. And the same is true in the spiritual realm. We’re so busy, and so distracted, and so caught up in our work or play or hobbies – we’re blind to the darkness in our lives. From the sin that reigns in our hearts, as we live our way instead of God’s . . . To the cultural cloud that overshadows our lives, affecting everything we experience . . . To the powers of darkness that war against our soul. We’re blind to it. Walking in darkness and don’t even know it. Into which Jesus came (Jn 8:12), and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Whoever follows me, whoever lives my way, for my glory and my purposes, will not grope about through life, or live in fear, or wander aimlessly . . . But will have the light of life. Have the peace, and joy, and purpose, and the very presence of God that Jesus was born to bring.***** Not to mention a future. ! Just like God brought light to Ruth and Boaz, by working in their lives to give them a future . . . And just like the angels brought light to the shepherds that first Christmas night . . . So too, Jesus was born to bring to light our night; our darkness. All of it. The only question is, “Have you seen it? Have you seen the light? Because he still shines. Pray (Worship Team on stage; Becky on stage; Candle Lighters to the front) Oh God, how grateful we are for the birth of Jesus. How thankful we are for the hope he brings, and the light he gives. We believe. We trust. And we worship you for that first Christmas, this Christmas. (Is 60:1)

Candle Lighting 300 years after Boaz, and 750 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah said . . . [1] Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. [2] For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. [3] And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Is 60:1-3) What Isaiah prophesied, we behold, we know – the Light of the World. So that we wouldn’t have to remain in darkness (lights off), but have the light of life. (Light Candle, Pass the flame) Let’s stand and worship (Rob & Becky exit stage) (O Holy Night / Silent Night) Close – (On stage with Becky) From our family to yours, may you indeed sleep in heavenly peace, and have a Merry Christmas. (Blow out candles; Bring up lights) God bless you. You are loved.