The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is recorded twice in the scripture. It's promised throughout the Old Testament, and it's remembered throughout the New Testament. Remember what we have said about the Old Testament books? This is what the pastor who brought me the gospel said. The Old Testament, someone is coming. and we have many statements made in the Old Testament about this someone coming. We're going to look and find out, we can find out the time of His coming, we can find out the location of His coming, and we can find out the reasons for His coming throughout the Old Testament.

In the book of Luke, we have a wonderful account given. Now, there's nowhere, as I mentioned in the Bible, that we are called on to keep a special day. We are called on to remember the Lord Jesus Christ in all of his work and ministry on our behalf. And part of it is this, that he would come in the flesh, that he would come in a servant's manner. God Almighty come in a servant's manner, in servant's body, a body thou hast prepared for me. And he came for one reason, for the suffering of death. That's why He came. He came to die for the sins of His people.

Well, in Acts chapter 2, beginning with verse 1, we read in a very important passage of Scripture, where it tells us that it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled for taxing, or there should be a census taken for the purpose of taxing. That's what that word means, to be taxed in its original form. It's amazing to me how God rules over all the kings. It is God that moved upon Caesar Augustus to do this.

Now, keep your finger right there, but join me over, if you would, in the book of the Proverbs for just a moment as we see here in the book of the Proverbs that the Holy Spirit left probably Solomon to write these words, but it shares with us in the book of Proverbs chapter 21 And there in verse 1, this statement about what God's authority and His great business of dealing with human kings and other people of authority. And it did not stop. It has not stopped. He continues to deal in this manner. He is the sovereign God in charge of all things.

Here it tells us in the book of the Proverbs, and we keep in mind Caesar Augustus, he is the Roman Caesar. He is many miles away from Bethlehem or Nazareth. His word is law and he is called on to give a decree. This decree, God is going to, has manifested, excuse me, I must get the Virgin Mary at the right place at the right time. If it had not been for this decree, there would have been no reason in this world that a woman far along in her pregnancy would ever have thought about traveling 90 miles to give birth to the Son. God intervened here and moved in this very special way, but He did it through Caesar Augustus in this requirement.

And here in Proverbs it says, ?The king?s heart is in the hand of the Lord.? Put Caesar?s heart is in the hands of the Lord. ?As rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will.? Now, I'm sure that Caesar thought he was doing everything by his own choice. Most people feel that way. But we find out in retrospect that as we look at Caesar Augustus so far away, so interested in only in the monetary things that he could gather from this part of the world as it became a province of Rome, The only thing he's thinking about is the finances. And yet we find that God is intervening here to make sure that there is a person that he has called from eternity to be the mother of the son of God, to get her in the right place at the right time. So the King's heart is in the ways of, is in the hand of the Lord.

And if you will just back up a little bit into the book of Ezra chapter one, in Ezra chapter 1. I just love this verse of Scripture because a pagan king, once again, is called on by God to do what God s bidding is. He moves in these folks. There s no one exempt You know, we were listening this morning to that lesson that Brother Mike was bringing, how valuable it is that God deals with the church as He does, but it is He that moves in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Just like He did Caesar, just like He did Cyrus, only those guys we probably will never find in glory. The church will find in glory, but these folks were just used of God. And here it tells us in the book of Ezra chapter one, now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, Jeremiah was given some words by God and they must come to pass. Not one word of God will fall to the ground. Not one word of God will fail.

So here he is, Cyrus, king of Persia, which the Persians took over the Babylonian empire, that the words of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia. Here he is sitting on a throne and he comes up with this idea. Now, I'm convinced he thought it was his idea. But from God's perspective, he worked in him both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Jeremiah's words must be fulfilled because they were the Lord's words.

And Israel would spend 70 years in Babylonian captivity and then they would be released. And Cyrus is the instrument that God used to release his people from Babylonian captivity after 70 years there. Keep in mind how God rules and overrules through the Old Testament, through the New Testament.

So, as we look over here in the book of Luke, going back to the book of Luke chapter 1, or chapter 2 please, we notice here in Luke chapter 2, These words that they came to pass in those days verse 1 a decree went out From Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed now there seems to be no exemptions to this rule to this decree Because we're going to find a woman very close to giving birth to a child required to go to Bethlehem It must have been an April 15 message. Get over there and pay, get ready for paying your taxes.

It's just beyond me how much force was behind this decree to move the folks to be in the right place at the right time. There seems to be no other reason in this world, humanly speaking, nothing could have brought Mary, a poor woman from Galilee to Bethlehem at this time, in the condition that she was, except God Almighty intervene through this decree.

Now, it goes on to tell us in verse 2, in the taxing that was first made when Serenius was governor of Syria, it all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. Now, the reason for this, we find, is that there was the need for them to go to their ancestral hometown. and be enrolled. And Mary and Joseph both were of the house and lineage of David. And this was his ancestral home. This is where they must go. Now many other people must have gone there too because we're going to find out nobody, there's no room in an inn. So other people are faced with the same issue. Now, we know that it's exactly at the right time that this takes place. Turn with me, if you would, to two verses or two passages in the book of Daniel that share with us that this is at the right time.

God is moving Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at exactly the right time, because God has foretold, He's purposed, He's prophesied what must happen and when it would happen.

In

Daniel 2, verse 44, Daniel 2 and verse 44, we read this, And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom. Now there's going to be four sets of kings, and the last one is the Roman Empire, and during the Roman Empire time, there's going to be a kingdom declared by Almighty God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is King of Kings and He is Lord of Lords. It's a spiritual kingdom that has been from eternity. It has been Diagram laid out and purposed in the Old Testament and those who were saved there were the members of that same kingdom

But here we're going to have the verification by the king of kings coming in his glory lowly Was his birth and lowly was his life and but he is the king of kings." Daniel 2, verse 44, "...but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." This kingdom is going to be more powerful than any kingdom that has ever been on the face of the earth. You know, a spiritual kingdom is an invisible kingdom, and it has more ability and power than any other kingdom that has ever been brought. This kingdom is ruled by the Lord God Almighty out of mercy, grace, and truth. It is not out of power. It is not out of money. It is not out of prestige. It is out of God's eternal love for His people that He rules in this manner.

Verse 45, Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and it breaking pieces of the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, the gold. Who is that stone that has been cut out of the mountain? This is another statement about our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and He has the ability of breaking up every kingdom. You know, we ourselves are our own kingdom. When we're born into this world and we grow up, we think we're pretty powerful. We've got all kinds of might. And even in the worst of conditions, we still think that we are pretty powerful. In fact, we're better than everybody else. And here comes the Word of God like a hammer and breaks the rock to pieces, like a fire consumes God's word comes in its glory, in its invisibility, and takes hold of his people and gives us the new birth.

The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. The dream was certain and the interpretation was sure. The great God has done this.

And then if you'll turn with me into the book of Daniel chapter nine. In Daniel chapter nine, we find these words recorded, verses 24 and 25.

70 weeks now. I know there's a whole lot made about over this But I just love the results and that's what's important if you cannot see the results of These words. I don't understand all I know about it, but I do know this That Jesus Christ when he came and all of this was fulfilled in his glorious time these things were done and All right, 70 weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to finish the transgression, to make the end of sins. Hallelujah, we got a God Almighty going to the cross on our behalf to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness. Who else can do that? This is the Lord, the promised one. to seal up the vision of the prophecy and anoint the most holy. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and three score and two weeks. From the order that Cyrus gave until the coming of the Messiah, we have a time element.

Now we have a record of a man who knew exactly what time it was. Turn with me, if you would, to the book of Luke chapter 2. In the book of Luke chapter 2, here's a man that knew exactly when the Messiah was going to come. He has been given the inside information about this.

In the book of Luke chapter 25, turn there with me as we think about this decree of Caesar Augustus to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem from Nazareth, some 90 miles away, a week or two of travel by foot by a pregnant woman and her fiance. Book of Luke chapter 2, verse 25. And behold, now this man, Simeon, is going to hold his Savior. He tells us that. God the Holy Spirit, through the writer of the book of Luke, gives us this inside information about Simeon.

Now behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout. Now that word just means justified. And what does that mean? Free indeed, free indeed. Great God Almighty, I'm free indeed. I'm free of sin. Sacrifice of the Savior is going to take care of my issue. He said, they're waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Now, he knew when the Savior's coming. It's going to be just before He dies. He has His promise. He's filled with the Holy Ghost. God Almighty has revealed unto Him He'd not see death until He had seen the Lord's Christ. And it was revealed unto Him by the Holy Ghost that He should not see death before He had seen the Lord's Christ. And He came by the Spirit into the temple. Can you just see Him? He got God's finger in His jaw, pulled Him right in the temple at the right time. so that he could have this word given to him fulfilled in his very presence.

He came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms." Now, do you think Mary and Joseph knew Simeon? Do you think Simeon knew Mary and Joseph? I don't think that they were acquainted. I don't think that they had ever met each other. And here this old man comes in and takes this baby out of the arms of his mother and look what he has to say. Mine eyes, verse 29, Lord, now let us thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For my eyes have seen thy salvation. What is he saying? It's fulfilled, the promise that was made to me. Now I can depart in peace because my eyes have seen thy salvation.

Who is he looking at at this time? He's looking directly into the face of the babe Jesus Christ. So He knew the time. It had been revealed to Him, whether many other people knew that or not.

Now Jesus was born in exactly the right place. He needed to be born in Bethlehem. Why? That's what the Old Testament said. The Old Testament prophet Micah said, He is going to be born in Bethlehem. Now turn with me to the book of Matthew, if you would, chapter 2, and we have this as God laid it out in another account of the birth of the Lord Jesus. In Matthew chapter 2, verse 1, we read these wonderful words. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Matthew chapter 2 verse 1, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

Now that's about an eight or nine hundred mile trip that they took from Babylon to Jerusalem to be interviewed, to interview the king to find out where the king was born. Now they've had some things revealed unto them, too. Through the prophets, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and the gospel that was preached during that period of time, we have the fruits continuing on in Babylon because these kings came.

Now, we sing a song, We Three Kings of Orion Are. You know what that, there's three gifts given. It doesn't tell us how many kings. And they did not come to his birth. They came to the house later in Nazareth. He is from zero to at least two years old. That's why Herod wants to know, how old is this? How long have you known about this? So they're coming at a different time than we'll find the shepherds.

But anyway, it says, 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. Why? I'm king. I'm king of the Jews. How dare they come and ask for where is he that is born king of the Jews? And he's troubled.

And when he had gathered the chief priests and the 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, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. So they knew exactly where to go. They knew the place that he was going to be born. We have the time that he was going to be born. We have the place that he was going to be born. And you can read the rest of the story and find out they do go, they do find him and they leave another direction because they didn't bring that report back.

Now, some baby boys paid a dear price for this. There was weeping in Rama. A lot of young boys lost their lives over this very thing. Herod demanded that they kill all the male children from zero to two years of age with the hopes of getting rid of the king. Well, his life was threatened so many times, but when it came to the right time, he laid down his life, a ransom for many.

The chief priests said in Bethlehem, Bethlehem is where the king was to be born and that place 90 miles away by edict from Rome, Joseph and Mary head out. Now it's interesting when we go back to the book of Luke chapter 2, in Luke chapter 2 we find that there's not much time. It says they went in verse 4, and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled for taxation, or to be taxed, with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Now, when he found out that she was pregnant, he said to himself, I'm going to have her put away privately. The law said he could have had her stoned. And you know what? The Lord appeared unto him and says, oh, don't do that. You just go ahead and you be a spouse to her because what she's carrying is the Son of God. and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. So he goes ahead. They're going to face ridicule all their life over this issue.

And now it tells us there, verse 6, And so it was that while they were there, right place, right time, we have something that God has promised in the eternal covenant take place. Bethlehem. Now it's not in a good home, it's not in a fine hotel, it's in a stable. And this is indicative of where we will find the Lord Jesus Christ during his ministry. He is made fun of because he spends his time with publicans and sinners. He spends his time with those outcasts and downcasts. He said himself, I came not to call the righteous to repentance, but I come to call sinners. That was his ministry.

All right, verse six. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes or strips of cloth. and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The inn had been rented out by other people that were doing the same thing, coming up to be enrolled for taxation, other family members, no doubt, aunts and uncles, because they all were related, because they came to the ancestral home of Bethlehem. Bethlehem means house of bread. how indicative that is of the outcome, the Lord Jesus Christ is there and born. She brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now, to me it's just exciting to find out who are the first guys that get to hear of this announcement. It's not anybody over there in Jerusalem. It's not the priests, it's not the clerks, it's not the king, it's not the Sanhedrin, it's a group of shepherds. Tells us in the very next verse that there were in the same country shepherds in the area close to Bethlehem. There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Now they're around a campfire. Can you just see them drinking their coffee and getting ready to roll up in their bedroll and spend the night watching their sheep, taking care of them, very interested in what their sheep are doing. How blessed it is to see our Savior in these shepherds because He is the shepherd of His sheep. He's very interested in them, their welfare, their well-being, their eternity. And he has promised to come to be as a sheep laying down his life, a ransom, a payment price.

And lo, the announcement comes. Now, to me, it is interesting that there's a baby laying in a manger. over here asleep, and we have the Lord, the angel of the Lord. Now, who is that when we go through the Scriptures? Who is the angel of the Lord? Who is the announcer for God Almighty? The Lord Himself.

I don't know how it happened, But I can just see here that the person that is going to be announced is the announcer to the shepherds. I can't explain it. but it is more than just an angel. It's a messenger of the Lord. It goes on to say, the law of the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were scared to death. What is going on? We've never seen anything like this. This raised the hair on the back of their necks.

And the angel said unto them, fear not. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Now that word good tidings is found there, often times that word is translated gospel. I bring you the gospel. Here we have the gospel going to be presented. Who is the gospel? It's not words on a page, it's a person. Good news, this one.

And he gives us the reason for this. Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is the Messiah. That s what that word Christ means, Messiah, Old Testament Messiah. This is the one that was promised in Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15. This is the one that was written about by all the prophets.

There s a Oh, in the book of Acts, would you join me in the book of Acts chapter 3 for just a moment, and then we'll be back right here. Acts chapter 3, there in verse 13, the Scriptures share this. Peter's talking here, he's talking by inspiration, and he shares this in verse 13 of Acts chapter 3. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye have denied the Holy One, the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and have killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses, and his name through faith in this name hath made this man strong, whom ye know, yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now brethren, I want that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets. that Christ the Messiah should suffer He hath so fulfilled."

All the prophets, by the mouth of all the prophets that Christ should suffer, well, before He could suffer He had to get here. He had to come in an appropriate form that when they put those nails through him, he would bleed. In an appropriate form when they put that spear in his side, he would bleed. In an appropriate form that when they took that cat o' nine tails to his back, he would bleed. What does that mean? That Christ, the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel, had to come in the form of His servants, a man. We read about that last week, that God came in the flesh, that He tabernacled among us. He gave up the glory that He had with the Father before the world was and came down to this incursed earth, went through the process that every other individual has gone through except for Adam and Eve. And that was the birth process. He went through that. He's laid in a manger. He's viewed by shepherds. He grows up and is despised by the people, hated for who he is. No good thing can come out of Nazareth. and then on and on it goes until that day when He gives Himself over to the crucifixion team and they take Him out and crucify Him and He becomes the sacrifice for the sins of His people.

Going back over to the book of Acts chapter, excuse me, Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2, let's finish this out. In Luke chapter 2, verse 12, And this shall be a sign unto you, Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Now, I can't help but think that they probably thought that's kind of unusual. You're telling us that the Messiah is born in Bethlehem, and He's the Savior, and He's born in Bethlehem, and He's in a manger? And He's wrapped in Pieces of cloth? He's not in some robe? He's not in fine clothing as a king should be? And the one who spoke to them said, he'll be, here's your sign. You'll find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Well, they didn't have to knock on one hotel or motel door. They just went around to the stables. And lo and behold, led by the Spirit of God, they came to a stable. There was a mother, a brand new mama. There was a dad, Joseph's stepdad. And there was a baby laying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. And their search was over. They went nowhere else.

This shall be a sign. And then it tells us in verse 13 of Luke chapter 2, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. They knew who had announced this. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

What did they announce? The same thing that we find Peter's brother announced. We have found him who the prophets have written about. We have found the Messiah. We have found the Lord of glory. So the announcement went out to the lowly shepherds. You know what Egypt thought about shepherds? We don't like them. We'll put them over here. That's where Israel was put because they were shepherds. You know what the world thinks of the shepherd? We'll put him over here. We won't worry about him. You know what the church thinks about the shepherd? Thank God he came to save sheep. He is the shepherd of my soul.

So the announcement went out. We announce today, just as they did, we give you good tidings of great joy. That's the gospel. Jesus Christ has come in the flesh for laying down His life, a ransom for His people. He is a Savior like no other. He's a Savior that actually saves His people from their sins. He is a Redeemer that actually redeemed His people. He has promised to do exactly, and He will fulfill exactly what He had to say about His people. I shall lose none of them. And the church said, Amen.

Brother Mike, if you'll come.