Extraordinary, pt. 3 | Sermon Notes
Extraordinary: How God uses Normal People
Advent Part 3
Pastor Chris Pletcher
December 22, 2024
Have you been encouraged and challenged by the word of God?
Have you enjoyed looking at these extraordinary people?
Has your prayer life been stimulated by their prayers?
Luke 2:1-7 // In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also 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.
City of David - “House of David” is historically and prophetically NECESSARY, not just significant, because of the Covenant that YHWH made with David.
2 Samuel 7:12-17
Bethlehem - “House of Bread”
Her firstborn SON
Luke 1:26-30
“You shall call His name Jesus” = Yeshua = “I AM SALVATION”
This SON will be GIVEN the Throne, House, and Kingdom.
Throne = Kings, kingdoms, rulers, authorities, dominion, submission
House = God is establishing His eternal family on the earth
Kingdom = His domain of authority will never end, and all other powers and kingdoms will eventually become subservient to HIS Kingdom
2 Samuel 7:12-17 // When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
Luke 1:26-30 // 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 2:8-20 // 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!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
So Gabriel told Mary face to face to name her son Jesus.
In Hebrew culture, there is something called the “two witness rule” - this is a legal principle rooted in Deuteronomy 19:15 //
A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
Jesus actually referenced this rule Himself in John 8 during one of His scuffles with the Pharisees. They challenged His testimony about Himself, and watch how He responded:
John 8:12-18 // Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
Why are two or three witnesses needed in Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15? | GotQuestions.org
“As Jesus went about ministering, the religious leaders questioned the truth of His claims. In His own defense, Christ submitted not two or three witnesses but five: John the Baptist, His own miracles, the Father, the Scriptures, and Moses.”
Have you ever thought that God said something to you, but later questioned it? I think this “two witness rule” is really important for us in really hearing what the Lord is saying, which helps BUILD OUR FAITH, knowing that we didn’t make it up, and then helps us ENDURE WITH FAITH when it takes longer than expected for the word or promise to pass.
Do you treasure it when God speaks to you?
Do you guard His word and store it away like a valuable piece of gold?
Do you ponder His words and stay attentive to further “witness” of what He said?
Luke 2:21-33 // And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
The True Meaning of Christmas // Consolation, Salvation and Redemption
Consolation - paraklēsis (par-ak'-lay-sis)
Connected to the ministry of the Holy Spirit (parakletos) - encouragement, exhortation
Consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment
of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)
Where do you need comfort and refreshment this season?
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 // Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Salvation - sōtērios (so-tay'-ree-os)
Rescue, safety, deliverance, health
Biblical salvation is not just about your spirit being eternally justified before God. It is far more holistic than “Jesus is my ticket into heaven.”
Freedom from the tyranny and bondage of sin
Healing from the damaging effects of sin upon your mind and body
“Deliverance from the molestation (harassment) of enemies”
It’s amazing that this was at the heart of Mary’s song…
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Then it appears in Simeon’s worship as He holds the newborn King in his arms…
“My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.
Where do you need His rescue this season?
Luke 19:8-10 // And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Galatians 1:3-5 // Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:13-14 // He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Redemption - lytrōsis (loo'-tro-sis)
to release on receipt of ransom
to liberate by payment of ransom
to deliver: from evils of every kind, internal and external
Consolation. Salvation. Redemption… but it would all come at a Payment.
“The baby in the manger would become the Sacrificial Lamb;
The Holy Child would grow up to bear the stain of sin;
The curse of our transgressions would be broken on His Cross,
For the Son of God has come to seek and save the lost.
His Name declares salvation, His heart is full of love,
And all who trust are rescued, by the payment of His blood.”