Don't Give Up Look Up | Sermon | Mike Prah

Follow Along with the Message

DON'T GIVE UP! LOOK UP!
Christmas Series: The Wonder of Christmas - Pt 2
Mike Prah – December 12, 2021

“O Lord, our Lord … when I LOOK UP into the night skies and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have made. What are mere mortals that you should care for us? And yet you have made us only a little lower than angels and you’ve given us glory and honor. You have put us in charge of everything you made; everything is put under our authority” Psalm 8:3-6 (LB+NLT) 

 “Shout from the mountaintops! announce the good news! “Your God is coming!” Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power … He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry his lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will lead us” Isaiah 40:9-11 (GN+NLT) 

POWER POINT / MAIN IDEA

YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES WILL IMPROVE WHEN YOU STOP LOOKING AT THEM AND START LOOKING AT GOD!

THINGS WILL START LOOKING UP, WHEN YOU START LOOKING UP! 

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DIDN’T START OFF “MERRY” 

• MARY WAS CONFUSED AND WORRIED

"Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel‘s words could mean.” Luke 1:29 (LB) 

• JOSEPH WAS HURT AND HEARTBROKEN

Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publicly; so he made plans to break (off) the engagement privately” Matthew 1:19 (GN) 

• THE SHEPHERDS WERE TERRIFIED

 “There were shepherds out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Luke 2:8-9 (NIV) 

• THE WISE MEN WERE EXHAUSTED

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem.” Matthew 2:1 (NLT) 

WHEN THEIR FOCUS CHANGED, THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED!

 1. EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR MARY WHEN SHE FOCUSED ON GOD’S PROMISES

  (Mary prayed) “God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten!” And Mary said, YES, I SEE IT ALL NOW!  I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve!  So let it be with me just as you say.”  Luke 1:48, 37-38 (SG)

 “Mary’s neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her!” Luke 1:58 (MSG) 

2. EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR JOSEPH WHEN HE FOCUSED ON GOD’S PLAN

 As Joseph lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “Don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. This will fulfill God’s message through His prophets. ‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and He shall be called “Emmanuel” (meaning “God is with us”). When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded and brought Mary home to be his wife” Matthew 1:20-24 (LB)

 3. EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR THE SHEPHERDS WHEN THEY LOOKED UP

 "Do not be afraid; for I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people! The Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born FOR YOU! He is Christ the Lord. And this is what you're to look for. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and singing ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." Luke 2:10-13

 Then the shepherds said to each other, "Let’s Go!  Let’s go to Bethlehem and see for ourselves this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.” Luke 2:13-16

 "When they had seen Jesus, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about Him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.” Luke 2:17-18, 20 (NIV/CEV)

 4. EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR THE WISE MEN WHEN THEY MET JESUS

 (After leaving King Herod) “Then the star appeared to them again guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!  And when they entered the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary. So they bowed down and they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and they gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  Matthew 2:9-11 (GW)

 HUMILTY, WORSHIP, SURRENDER, SERVICE 

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT JESUS OFFERS TO YOU

Jesus said: “COME TO ME, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find relief, refreshment and a blessed quiet for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, gracious, and pleasant, and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP)

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