Download... December 25, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
We worship the One who was born, then died, and arose to be our Savior! When God opens your eyes, you began to see all He has done. There have been witnesses then, and their testimonials still reach us today. Who are the witnesses? Who are the followers? Some say that it is all a “big show.” Well, ..it IS a big show, but more importantly, ..it is a real experience! Bro Goble shared that Christ has been even more real to him than ever, this last year.
If you ask… who is Jesus Christ, you would likely get many different answers. We want to strengthen our faith. It is important that we speak of Christ! He is our everything! He is the foundation of every good marriage, and family relationships. So we need to speak respectfully, ..and carefully. Have we made mistakes? Of course. But most importantly, is that we apologize when it is needed, to others. We have His witness, ..because of His sovereignty! What happened 2,000 years ago, is as important today, as it was then! Those in that time knew Jesus as a human infant first. All mothers can likely understand how it is to be in that function.
We speak this morning of how Christ 'then' was understood, and perceived of who He is. It is important this morning that we understand the witness left of Jesus first as a baby, child, and man. Mary must have had the witness of His persona as God. Yet still she had very motherly feelings and instincts toward Him. He had siblings that would know him as a brother. His disciples knew Him also as a Rabbi, and teacher. All of them had a relationship with Christ. The first important witness is of a personal relationship. Your personal relationship may not be that of another.
There are many recorded “witnesses” but the most important is one that is of a personal relationship. Although each of us would have a unique one of Christ birth celebration, those that are saved, all have a commonly known relationship. And yet, God dealt with each of us in a different or unique way, according to the different circumstances of our life. All the saved, though, are brought to the same place of Salvation. Some say that it is difficult to believe…but Truth never changes. Human beliefs often move or change “all over the place.”
The most important thing is to ensure our beliefs “intersect” with Truth. When so, we can walk together in a witness of unity. Again what is more important is that our belief coincides with Truth. Of the written word, those of Christ’s time didn’t have books, but depended on the readings from a scroll as their first witness of God.
TEXT: I JOHN 1:1-5
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
It was important in those earlier times, that those following later, not only had the knowledge of the written word, but actual eye witness accounts of Jesus in the flesh….
Verse 1, ..That which was the beginning, was that which we have heard, and seen, in the birth, life and death, of Christ. The witness is in the flesh, and still today we can have a personal relationship through the change in our heart! No longer on the outside, but on the inside as our witness of Christ personally!
Those that have “forsaken” this witness, are aware that part of them has been “disconnected.” Their “lights are off,” because of their “disconnect.” All “these” will find it hard to escape this everlasting Truth. You might “question” their dedication to prayer, holiness, church attendance, etc., ..but those “therein” know the reality.
Don’t play with sin, for you cannot control it! Ultimately, sin will control you! God, though, has mercifully left each of us with a small part of Him in each soul. A grain of mustard seed faith. Don’t reject it! Any message from the enemy with the belief you can never return…is a lie! Jesus the messenger of mercy and redemption, ..is still alive!
The apostles each had a personal relationship, when Christ returned to heaven. They continued by faith to serve Him. Although as humans, we often do not understand, God is our witness!
Luke 2:16-19 16 nd they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. At the birth of Jesus.. many witnesses here recorded it,…Mary pondered all these in her heart. There was so much going on for Mary as a human mother after the birth of Jesus. Yet in those human feelings after that human delivery, ..she must have had to embrace the humanity within the spirituality. If we miss seeing Jesus as a human being, we will miss the message as a whole, of His witness.
With each saved person, husband, wife, child, etc., there is a personal relationship, as our witness of Christ. If you struggle with Christ being a true witness of God in the flesh, you need to examine whether or not you have a relationship. Without “it”, the gospel will seem gray, dull, and flat. When the hard times come, you will not have a foundation without the witness of a personal relationship. It is inconceivable that Mary ever lost that witness, that Jesus was her human son, in addition to being her Salvation. She kept that knowledge in her heart.
Today all the saved know and keep the witness of their personal relationship anchored in their hearts. An example is, just as in your earlier life, you have there, experiences that you never forget. Those who have been saved originally, never forget if they “leave,” ...that Jesus ‘was’ their Savior. Bro Goble shared that while he was still in bed, (not much sleep), as he often does, he began to pray concerning many burdens on his heart. It is a precious time. It’s not a matter of an opinion, or pride, but a witness of a personal relationship.
John 17:20-23 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. This passage is for me, and all of you that would believe His word. First of those with a personal relationship. Secondly, for all them that believe through His Word, within the experience of real humanity, ..today. How beautiful to realize and consider that there have been multiple witnesses praying for each of us. Even 2,000 years ago, Christ prayed for all of us. How thrilling! He cared “back then,” ...and from the beginning. He left a witness of this reality. A lot of people “believe” this without a heart change. But few actually have a personal relationship. A lot claim a relationship without a heart change. If one does not forsake the dark things of sin, there is No Relationship!
John 4:40-42 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. Verse 42 Many believed because of the witness of hearing the Word themselves.
John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. Jesus said here, that the Father bore “witness” through Himself, the Christ. Look for Christ’s works as a witness in those who claim a belief.
Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Jesus often told of himself as a Son of man, or Adam and humanity. The Son of man is not mere humanity here.
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. We can find many scriptures, that Christ is referred to, as the Son of God, as well as man.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Christ declares here, that it is His Father that reveals or is the witness that He is God. Christ has the understanding (witness), of what we are going through, and the power to give us, to overcome it. He is the witness of the birth, both of the Spirit and the flesh.
John 8:58,59 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Verse 58 Jesus was before Abraham! He is the witness of God, ..as the “I Am!” Many of you have accomplished many things (trades, etc.) in this life. But it is more important knowing the One that is “I Am.” Regardless of the “associations” with the worldly wisdom heights you may have climbed to, it is all vain and tiring. People have many vain boastings of intellect, education, accomplishments, but it is nothing besides a personal relationship with Christ! That is all the really counts!
Bro Goble told of a friend, that he is able to share many similarities with, but not of the deep things of life. The things that really satisfy, gives the ultimate answers of life. To strive for fleshly educated answers, is all “puff.” Christ is the only true witness of foundational answers in reality.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. He is here, right now in the midst of our gathering in fellowship to worship.
If you are not “connected” to Him, this would be a good day to have a “witness” of His birth in your heart, for you to be a Christmas “baby!”
