The Christmas Story
Matt 21:33
- Pray
- I want to tell you a Christmas Story, but it’s probably not a Christmas story that you have heard at Christmas
- But it is truly the Christmas Story
- I want to first review the story…to make you aware of the story…it is a parable that Jesus told
- Parables are stories with a spiritual meaning, stories about real people and circumstances
- Stories that people can relate to and hopefully understand
- This particular parable is a story about a vineyard
- I want to take this story and apply it to you and me in what it means to us today
- Read Matt 21:33-34
- The owner had leased the land, made an agreement with the tenants, and now he is trying to collect what is due in rent
- Now verse 35 tells us that the tenants seized the servants; beat one, killed one, and stoned the third
- Now this vineyard owner is probably much more patient than you and I would be.
- Verse 36 said he sent another group of servants but they did the same thing to them.
- Then finally, in verse 37, he sent his son to them saying, "Surely they will respect my son."
- But verse 38-39 says (READ IT)
- So they didn’t respect the son either
- Look at verse 40
- Look what the audience says in verse 41 to the vineyard’s question.
- So here are the main things that are involved in the story
- You have an owner, it’s his land, and he chooses to build on his land a vineyard
- Then you have fruit…he expects as the owner to get a return…
- I will get to the application in just a minute but understand that…
- Land owners expect good stewardship and to get a return on their land
- That’s just the way it is…that’s the way good businessmen operate
- Then you have servants, they come and are mistreated and all they were there to do is collect for the owner
- Then you had the son…the land owner said they haven’t listened to my servants, surely they will listen to my son
- Even if they don’t love him…surely they will respect him because he is my son
- And certainly they won’t hurt him…so he sends his son…then they say that if they kill the son…the vineyard will be theirs
- So they drag him out and they kill him
- So now we see the miserable end…but the question is asked, ’What will the landowner do to the tenants for this travesty?
- The listener’s responded by saying, "these wretched men will be brought to a wretched end."
- Now this is going to be a short message so listen quick…cause I’m going to apply this…it’s Christmas and this is what Christmas is
- You see, God is the owner…
1. God owns you
- Go with me to Col 1:16 (DON’T READ YET)
- God is the owner…you are not an accident…you are His workmanship
- You are not your mother’s and father’s idea…you are God’s idea
- He created you…Ashley, it says in Jeremiah before you were ever formed God designed you and He wrote your members in His book
- And each and everyone of us is created by God, owned by God, and there for God
- Col 1:16 says, "For by him all things were created…"
- Paul then goes on to explain what all things encompass
- I would think all things is all things…but Paul wants you to understand how big all things is
- …things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…
- All things that are large enough to see and even the things that are so tiny we can’t see.
- …whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities…all (say ALL) things were created by Him (but listen to these last words) and for Him
- Each of us was created by Him and For Him…He has ownership over us as the creator
- In Rev 4:11 Song we used to sing "Thou art worthy O Lord, because Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are created…
- So the first thing to understand, we are owned by God, WE are the vineyard
- We are His workmanship
- But then there is a day of stewardship and a day of accountability
- God desires fruit out of our lives…He doesn’t make junk
- There is not a one of us here that He didn’t make…with value and purpose
- Go with me to Eph 2:10 (Don’t READ YET)
- God made all of us and He expects, desires, looks for fruit
- He looks for us to produce something through Him in this life
- I don’t want to stand before God empty handed…I really don’t
- I want to stand before Him, not on my merit or worth, but upon the finished work of Christ
- But I will be held accountable for what I did with my life
- Eph 2:10 (Read)
- Amy was created by God…and when God planned Amy, He planned some good works that Amy was going to do
- 1 Per 4:10 says, Each of us has received a gift and it says we should minister that gift and serve that gift as good stewards
- As those who realize we are special and we have been given something and we are to minister that gift
- First point is then, We are all owned…we belong to Him
- The second point is…
2. He created us for Fruitfulness
- He created us to serve…to serve through Him, other people
- All that you see will pass away but the only thing that will enter eternity is people
- The bible says all this stuff will pass away…even the elements will melt
- If you are living your life for the stuff of this earth…you are really foolish!
- My dodge charger---an idol in my life---lost it---usually what we worship destroys us if it is not God
- Satan dangles the things of this world in front of us like bait on a hook
- That he can get our attention…our loyalty to things…and not God
- But God made you with a purpose to fulfill on this earth…but here’s what we do
- He sends His servants by…maybe it’s a pastor and he preaches ’your life is not your own…
- …Not only did He create you but He bought you and your life is not your own’
- And we rebel…we say bless God…we get stiff necked and we say ’I am going to do it my way’
- So now maybe a Sunday School teacher comes along next or a deacon or another brother or sister in Christ
- And they say, ’Dustin…we have been really praying for you…are you doing okay
- And Dustin replies, "I am doing okay but even if I ain’t, it’s none of your business bucko…I’ll take care of it"
- What happened was this, God sent prophets and you know what they did? They killed every one of them.
- The prophets came and they had the Word of God and they said God is the owner and you’re the vineyard…
- You’re supposed to be bringing forth fruit and your just consuming everything on yourself.
- You know how to tell if you’re a prophet? They kill you…you don’t believe me…let’s look at that.
- Turn to II Chron 36:16
- Has God sent someone to you that cares about you and all you did was spit in their face?
- Read verse
- Now listen, you can get away with that for a season, but the bible says God is not mocked and what you sew you are going to reap
- Whatever you choose to do will bring forth fruit…if we sew to the flesh…we will reap the destruction of the flesh
- But if we sew to the Spirit we will have a life of Spiritual things
- But they wouldn’t listen so the wrath of the Lord arose against His people until there was no remedy
- A punishment that could not be averted
- Over in Acts 7:52, Steven speaking to the Jewish court says, Which one of the prophets did your fathers not kill?
- Ooo! That’s kinda mean.
- So the point is, God sends people by with a message…we get stiff necked…we get haughty…and were gonna do it our way.
- So finally, He sends His Son
3. The Final Offer
- Go with me to Heb 1:1-2, and that’s what Christmas is (DON’T READ)
- God tried to send people…He sent creation…stars and wonders should of brought us to Him…with this marvelous creation is a creator
- But you know what we did…we worshipped the creature instead of the creator
- We worshipped the Sun, we worshipped the moon, we worshipped the seasons
- We made statues of all types of creation and worshipped them
- And then He sent His law…the ten commandments…and many rebelled against them…and others became religious…
- And turned His Ten Commandments into 3,000 + laws…then HE sent prophets…and we killed them
- So now, His last offer…. His highest best appearance…He sent Himself as a man…the man we call THE SON OF GOD.
CONCLUSION
- TELL A STORY: The Story of man and wife -- go to Christmas eve service man not for sure what he believes any more about this Christmas stuff (EXPOUND)
- The man finally understood
- Creation was sent…prophets…the commandments…but we did not understand…finally, God sent His highest messenger…Himself
- The bible says He shall be called "Emmanual" means God with Us
- He will literally be God’s nature itself clothed in a man’s suit, so we can touch it and understand it walking among us
- That’s what Hebrews says in chapter 1:1-2 (READ)
- He is the express Image of God’s nature
- EXAMPLE Ring imprint in clay
- It says Jesus is the highest messenger, but not only the highest…the FINAL one.
- So now the question is, What do you do with HIM?
- Well, they rejected Him…but He’s come now for your life…He came a was born in a manger that He might die to redeem you
- What will you do with Him?
- Close with this verse: John 3:17, 36
- God didn’t come to condemn you…you were already condemned…but He came that the world can be saved.
- Will we receive Him or will we push Him away? This is the true Christmas Story…He is waiting for you…Will you receive Him…Will you come?
- Pray
