FBC Christmas Candlelight Service

Thank you, Holly and Lynn for that mother -daughter duet. Prelude music on the piano.

Appreciate that very much. Welcome to our 2020 Candlelight Service.

And it's good to see each one of you here and glad for those who can also join us online for this special service tonight.

And we want to begin tonight with a hymn in our hymnal, number 193,

Angels from the Realms of Glory. We've got a program tonight and you can see many different individuals and groups are participating.

And they will, after we sing and have a word of prayer, then they'll just participate as the order shows.

They'll just come one right after the other without any introduction or intervention.

So let's stand, shall we, as we sing number 193, Angels from the Realms of Glory. Our Father and our

God, we are grateful tonight for the king who was born in this manger years and years ago.

And we're thankful for the significance of this season and of this account in scripture of the birth of our

Lord Jesus. We're also reminded, even in this hymn that we just sang, that there is a coming again.

And he who came the first time as a baby in a manger, even though worshiped rightly as an infant king, will come as the king of kings and the

Lord of lords. And in his temple, he shall appear. We come and we worship him tonight.

We pray that you would bless our time as we reflect upon him and his work and all that he is to us.

And we pray your blessing on this time in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you and you may be seated.

Read some passages of scripture tonight in the program and I'm going to flip the first two that show up in your program.

We begin with passage in Luke chapter 1, picking up the account in verse 39 after Mary, the angel that appeared to Mary and told her she was going to have a child and explained all of that.

And Mary surrendered to that and said, behold, the handmaid of the Lord. We pick up the reading in verse 39.

It says, Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judah and entered into the house of Zechariah and saluted

Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the

Holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voice and said, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the

Lord. And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my

Savior, for he hath regarded the lowest state of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm.

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent away empty. He hath opened his servant

Israel in remembrance of his mercy, as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

And Mary abode with her about three months and returned to her own house. Little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.

The silent stars go by, yet it is not too late to come to us.

Come to us, abide with us, O Lord, amen. Blessings of a long -term pastorate, been here 18 years now.

It's to see how, just to see some of these young people that just sang when we fitted our first candlelight service.

A couple of them were about the size of Bella, you know, the little two -year -old who is down here, and to watch them through the years grow and develop.

When Matthew chapter 1, reading beginning in verse 18, says,

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the

Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee

Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name

Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the

Lord by the prophets, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name

Emmanuel, which is being interpreted, God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the

Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name

Jesus. Now Joseph went to the city of Nazareth, and to Judea, and to the city of David, which is called

Bethlehem, because he was of the house of David.

And he had with him Mary, his espoused wife, being raised with child.

And his wife was in the field, keeping watch over there, which shall be to all people.

Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a

Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And there shall be a sign unto you.

He shall find the babe, wrapped in cloth, and sing,

Glory to God, and it came to pass, that this thing which hath come, that came with hate and famine, and they had to marry

God. Alright, sorry to jump the gun on you there, guys.

Good job, these young people. If we would take your hymnal and turn to number 223.

I'm going to sing another carol. We'll sing just the first and the third stanzas of Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne.

223. Thou didst leave thy throne and thy

As a tall, stately angel rose and walked towards the front of the room, there was a buzz among the cadets.

Gabriel was a living legend. He cleared his throat. I've been asked to speak to you today about what

I've learned throughout my career. Foremost is this, we are servants of the

Most High. This lesson I learned, not during my days here at the academy, but from a human being, a girl.

I've been summoned before God to be briefed on a new mission. He told me, Gabriel, you have a most delicate assignment.

I'm sending my son to redeem the earth. To do this, he must become a human himself.

Your mission is to announce this plan to the young woman I've chosen to be his mother.

Her name is Mary, and she lives in a village of Nazareth in Galilee. She's betrothed to be married.

That means she's already considered a wife, though she's living at home, until the final arrangements can be made a few months from now.

And Gabriel, she's a virgin. He went on to describe my role and brief me on the various contingencies, concluding with these words,

Gabriel, by all means, be gentle. I arrived one spring morning as Mary was climbing the path from the well, and came to where I was sitting on a large boulder.

She's only a child, I thought. Only 12 or 13.

Betrothed at that age? But such were the customs of that place, and I was assured that the father knows what he's doing.

As she approached, I stood dressed as I always dress, long white robe, golden sash, and so forth.

Greetings, Mary, I began. She gasped. Hail, you who are highly favored.

The Lord is with you. All the color drained from her face, and I motioned for her to sit.

She carefully removed the full water jug from her head and set it down, then eased herself onto the far end of the rock.

Mary, you have found favor with God, and I waited a moment for her to calm down.

You were conceived in your womb and bear a son. You are to name him

Jesus. She appeared stunned by these words, but I continued.

Your son will become a great man. He will be called the son of the most high God. What's more, the

Lord God will give him the throne of David as his ancestors, and he will reign with the

Messiah over Israel forever. Of his kingdom and reign, there will be no end.

I paused. The message shocked me. I couldn't imagine the impact it must have had on her.

She was quiet for a time, and she asked in her young teenage voice, how would this happen since I'm not yet married?

I answered, the Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the most high will overshadow you.

Therefore, your son will be born, and he will be holy. He will be called the son of God.

Amazing. The father was prepared to rest his entire Christ enterprise on this young girl.

Her response, her whim, her decision. She used to be the mother of God's own son.

So young. I continued to reassure her, and now your relative

Elizabeth, she in her old age has conceived a son. Elizabeth?

Really? Oh my. I could see just a glimmer of twinkle reach her to her eyes, and yes, they called her barren, but she's already six months pregnant.

Mary was almost gritting for that moment, and then I saw her smile fade. I couldn't read her thoughts, but could only imagine what she must be thinking.

How could she ever explain this to anyone? Who would understand? Who would ever believe her?

Her father would be furious, and her mother, deeply hurt. Joseph, there would not be a wedding now.

Her dreams of marriage and family vanished in an instant, and the town fathers, they would want to stone her.

I had been given one sentence by the father with which to respond. Nothing will be impossible with God.

Nothing. She was quiet a moment longer, lost in her thoughts. Then she looked up at me with clear eyes and said intently, here

I am. I am his handmaid. Let what you have said come to pass.

She stood up as she began to lift the heavy water jug to her shoulder, then hoisted it up to her head.

I reached out to help it. She shook her head no, and as she made her way to the path of the village, her steps were assured, almost a spring -like step to them.

Then she waved to me, and then she was lost from view. That's how

I met Mary. She taught me what it means to be a servant, when it's hard to obey, when there seems to be no hope except God's promise.

Mary took the words for nothing will be impossible with God, and believed them. Whenever I struggle with obedience,

I think of this young girl who began a service journey with the words, I am the servant, the handmaid of the

Lord. Let it be. Let it come. I am his servant. A tall angel touched the corner of his eye.

The step down took his seat. Gabriel had learned servanthood from an even greater servant than himself, a young virgin from Nazareth named

Mary. Now as we come to 2021, I know that we are praying for family and friends, and that God is in control, and believe that there is nothing impossible for the

Lord God. The story continues in Matthew 2, it says,

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,

Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou

Bethlehem and the land of Judah are not the least among the princes of Judah. For out of these shall come a governor that shall rule my people

Israel. Then Herod, when he had privilegedly called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word again that I may come and worship him also.

When they heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him.

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

It says right there,

Jim Stroop after the duet. No, it doesn't say that. That's my message.

Oh, that's a good message, too. Don't you have to wait? Chris, would you come and join your husband up here, please?

Let me read to you what the card says here. Chris, come on up and join your husband, please.

And through the year, your faithfulness.

Let me just read what the card says. Pastor and Chris, as pastor and Chris, as church secretary, you are well appreciated for your work here in many ways.

Though experiencing a nationwide and worldwide pandemic that virtually closed down all the churches around, including ours, you opened up the online services and daily devotions throughout this troubling time, even to this day.

In fact, even now, we're online. You can see the service at home. It helped to keep us connected to each other and greatly encouraged us in the word and in prayer.

And its success is established for years to come. We ask that you please accept this gift of appreciation.

Church is all given from your church family for a faithful service here at Faith Baptist Church.

And may God bless you both as you have been a blessing to us in love, your church family. Thank you very much.

We greatly appreciate that and really appreciate the privilege of serving and ministering here in this place.

What a blessing it's been this year to even with all the struggles, to see people remain faithful and interested in the ongoing work of the ministry and to just to be faithful in connecting and faithful in giving and making sure the ministry can keep on keeping on.

And what a blessing that's been. And it's been our great blessing to serve you through this very challenging time, even as it continues today.

Well, that sure sent my train of thought in a completely different direction.

But have you ever found yourself wondering at the

Christmas time, Christmas season, what in the world does that have to do with Christmas?

I mean, what? Why that? I mean, think about think about some of the stories that have added on to the

Christmas story with its real significance. You got this story about an ugly green guy who steals

Christmas. What does that have to do with the real story of Christmas?

Or you have the story of a snowman who comes to life and he enchants all the boys and girls until he melts away in a watery death.

Or how about a reindeer that can fly and has a blinking red nose that guides through foggy nights to once again save Christmas.

Or a train, a special train that can take all the boys and girls who believe to the

North Pole and they can see firsthand all of Santa's operations. All kinds of stories have been added to the

Christmas story. And what about songs? You know, Christmas songs or songs of the season.

One that really got me perplexed. I'd never heard it until just a few years ago at the

Christmas season, and that was the song My Favorite Things, you know, from The Sound of Music.

And I mean, I've seen that movie and I watched that song and where that song appears in The Sound of Music.

I struggled trying to figure what in the world does that song have to do with Christmas? Is it the brown paper packages tied up with strings?

Or is it the snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes? It's probably the snowflakes,

I don't know. Have you heard the song Dominic the Donkey? If it isn't enough that you've got a reindeer with a red nose, we discovered that the reindeer, even with red noses, can't navigate the mountains.

Even though they can fly everywhere else in the world, they can't navigate the mountains of Italy. So they've got to have a little donkey named

Dominic so that all the boys and girls in Italy can get their Christmas presents.

And then, of course, there's endless songs about love songs, romance songs, breakup songs.

Sometimes you wonder if the worst time to get into a dating relationship of some kind or another is at the

Christmas time, because of all of those kinds of songs. There's even religious add -ons to the

Christmas story. I came across a meme, I think it was yesterday, that goes like this.

Mary, exhausted, having just gotten baby Jesus to sleep, is approached by a young man who thinks to himself, what this girl needs is a drum solo.

Hence, the little drummer boy. Well, there's no doubt that there's all kinds of things that are attached to the

Christmas season that have really little, if anything at all, to do with the real Christmas story and its significance.

But there are some add -ons that actually communicate some deep truth and have a lot to do with the

Christmas story. I'll mention two of them that coincide with our focus during the Sunday morning messages in the last four weeks.

One of them is the tree. The tree. The tree is actually an indispensable focal point at each end of the

Bible. You have the tree showing up in Genesis chapter 3, and I'm thinking particularly of the tree of life.

It shows up at the end of Genesis chapter 3, where that tree, the tree of life, is protected against fallen man, lest he go and illegitimately partake of that tree.

But that same tree of life shows up at the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation, and the

Lord Jesus himself promises in chapter 2, verse 7, that those who conquer,

I will grant, he says, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

And at the end of the book, the end of Revelation, in chapter 22, verses 2 and 3, that tree of life is openly accessible in the

New Jerusalem, and it will be openly accessible for all who are there to eat for eternity.

These two verses, verses 2 and 3, say this. Also on either side of the river flowing from this

New Jerusalem, the tree of life, with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.

The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and the

Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. So here's this tree of life that's openly accessible.

It was, at the end of Genesis 3, it was protected from man accessing it.

But now, at the end of the book, the end of the Bible, the tree of life is freely available for all who are there to eat from it for eternity.

Why? What made the difference to allow the tree of life to be so freely accessible?

And the answer is, another tree. A tree that is actually the focal point of human history.

The tree that yielded lumber for the post and beam that held the crucified

Savior. It was on that tree that Jesus, Emmanuel, born of the

Virgin Mary, bore our sins and became a curse for us.

Galatians 3, verses 13 and 14, say, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for us.

For it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree, so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the

Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith.

So, when you look at that evergreen tree that symbolizes life, ongoing life, you look at that evergreen tree in your living room or your den or wherever it is, let it remind you of two things.

Let it remind you of the everliving tree of life from which you will be sustained through all eternity in paradise if you are in Christ Jesus.

And secondly, as you look at that tree, let it remind you of the everliving

Jesus who was nailed to a tree to bear the curse of your sins so that you could eat of the tree of life forever and ever.

The tree. Well, on every respectable tree, there are lights.

There are lights. And lights also factor large in the biblical record, don't they?

Again, at the beginning and at the end. At the very beginning of the

Bible, in the book of Genesis, the very first chapter. Very early, within the first couple of verses of Genesis chapter 1, the creation account begins on day 1 with the creation of light and then of the light bearers on day 4.

And aren't we fascinated with those light bearers? How many of you, raise your hand, show me, how many of you in the last few days have gone out just after sunset, looked in the southwest sky to find the conjunction of Saturn and Venus?

How many of you have checked to see if you could do that? Yeah, most of us. Why did you do that? Why are you so fascinated with that?

These lights that God has created in the beginning of the

Bible. But at the end of the Bible, again, in Revelation chapter 22, the end of the

Bible promises endless light without those light bearers and the eternal banishment of darkness as well.

Revelation 22 verse 5 says this, And night will be no more.

They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light and they will reign forever and ever.

The Lord God will be our light forever and ever. So there, in that eternal state, there will not only be the enjoyment of the fruit of the tree of life forever and ever, but there will be endless light forever and ever.

Tree and light. But light factors large also in the

Christmas event, doesn't it? Think of Zechariah, the father of John the

Baptist, when he held John in his arms when John was a baby. And Zechariah spoke of the role that John would play as the prophet of the highest.

And what he would do would be to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus yet to be born, that Lord Jesus who will, as Zechariah said, give light to those who sit in darkness.

As we read in the story tonight, the shepherds were out on the hillside and they were stirred from their slumber as the light of God's glory shone around them.

And then there was Simeon. We didn't read it tonight, but did recently in Sunday morning service.

Simeon, the man Simeon who came to the temple at the same time that Joseph and Mary and Jesus did, 40 days after the birth of Jesus.

And Simeon is holding the baby Jesus and he declared that Jesus is a light to lighten the

Gentiles and the glory of God's people Israel. And then after that, the

Magi showed up at the house where the baby Jesus was. And those

Magi were stirred from their dwelling in the east by the light of a miraculous star.

A light that was so miraculous, in fact, it led them to the very specific house where Jesus was.

And so light is prevalent. And it's prevalent because, get this, light is who

Jesus is. Isn't that what he said? In John 8 verse 12, he said,

I am the light of the world. And in the first chapter of John's gospel, we read that as the light, he came to bring the light of salvation.

John 1 verse 1 begins in the beginning was God and the word was

God. Verse 4 says in him that is in the light in him in the word was life.

And the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended or overcame it not.

And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father.

The word was made flesh and dwelt among us. When was he made flesh?

And begin that dwelling among us. He says that we beheld, we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the father.

He was full of grace and truth. And verses 9 to 12 of John 1 says that Jesus was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them he gave the power, the authority to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Jesus is the light. Now Paul pulls all of this together in 2

Corinthians 4 verses 5 and 6 when he says this. He says we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the

Lord. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, first day of creation, he hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So when you look at the tree, think of Christ who died on a tree for your sins so that you might ever live to feast from a tree.

When you look at the lights, think of Christ who brought to you the light of salvation that God so graciously opened your eyes to receive.

Has he? Has he opened your eyes to receive the light that is

Jesus Christ, the savior of all who will turn from their sin and put their trust in him?

I trust that you have done so. I trust that you have turned from your sin, that the light has shined upon you, into your heart, and that you see that Jesus is the son of God who came into the world to die on a tree to pay this penalty of your sins on that tree.

And that he, as the light, shine into your heart and give to you, bring to you, the knowledge of him whom to know is life everlasting.

I trust you know him. Our Father and our God, we thank you so much for sending your son to be the light of the world, the light that shines in the dark heart of sinful man, and the one who gave himself to bear our sins in his own body on the tree to become a curse for us.

Our Father and our God, thank you and praise you for the true, significant

Christmas story. We pray it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Would you join me as we close tonight in singing number 219 and the carol,

Silent Night. 219. And shall we stand as we sing 219.

219. Silent night, holy night.

All the angels sing.

infant so tender and mild. Sleep, sleep in heavenly peace.

And the third. Silent night, son of God, pure light.

Radiant beams from thy holy face.

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Christ the

Savior is born. Express my gratitude to all who participated tonight.

Worked hard on those piano numbers and Lynn working with the boys and girls. And for all who participated, thank you so much.

Makes that a special, special service. Annual, special annual service.

Thank you for your participation. I trust you will have a blessed Christmas. And that this service has helped it to be a

Christ -centered, Christ -focused Christmas. So, God bless you. Have a good night.

Have a wonderful Christmas. And hope to see you on the Lord's Day, God willing.