Galatians 4 19 20 19 My dear children

Galatians 4: 19 -20 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Colossians 1: 25 -29 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness– 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.

Colossians 1: 25 -29 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1: 25 -29 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

It’s A “Christmas” Life: Is Emmanuel? Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church Of Christ – 12/18/16

1. The Calendar Says It’s Christmas Time!

Christmas Decorations

Beautiful decorations

Christmas Parties

2. Is it just the Christmas season or is “Emmanuel”? – Christmas can be special – Emmanuel is essential!

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you. (Galatians 4: 19) We sing about it… “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray. Cast our sins & enter in. Be born in us today. ”

3. How can I make sure Emmanuel (God with us) is a reality for me? – How can Christmas be more than just a story and a season?

I have to make room for Him! 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 5 -6)

Forever this crowded inn that shut Jesus out stands as a symbol of crowded, cluttered lives that still have no room for Him. We Must Value Him Above ALL Else!

A Little Bit of God I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of God to make me love a man of a different culture or to pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. — Wilbur Rees

I want: blessings, not sure I want a cross. forgiveness, but not correction and judgement. salvation, not sure I want to serve. a Savior, not a Lord.

Matthew 13: 45 - 46

We will never experience Emmanuel as long as we have just a casual desire for entering the kingdom of God.

4. The “US” of Emmanuel – All saw Him, › the humble experienced Him.

Through the doors of that stable came cows, sheep & livestock, Mary & Joseph and each of us. We come to: – Connect – Worship – Be saved – Give Him our all

Never let this just be a season: EXPERIENCE “God with us” today!