Saturday, December 05, 2015

Sermon Notes: He Became Poor

Sermon/Bulletin Information


Speaker:      O. Kris Widmer
Date:     December 5, 2015
Place:     Antioch, California

Theme:     The Birth of Christ
Title:     “He Became Poor”
Texts:     Romans 1:1-7, Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Love’s simple fact none should ignore
For all our sakes God became “poor”.
The manger babe is heaven’s treasure.
Pesos or dollars?  Impossible to measure!

Today, Pastor Widmer continues a holiday sermon series on the Advent of Jesus. Today’s teaching will center on other verses, besides Matthew and Luke, that reveal the importance of the Advent of Jesus.  Adventists can rightly remember the first advent of the Christ while we anticipate the second advent of “this same Jesus.”

Welcome Phrase:  Welcome to this fellowship of the Adventist church in East Contra Costa County.  If you are looking for a church home, we invite you to join ours.  Fill out a pew card for baptism, profession of faith or transfer of membership.  Welcome. You’re Home!

Bulletin Cover:          Church Photo or See Email
(Please put this phrase, centered, below the picture on the cover.)
“Yet for your sakes, He became poor…”

Baptism:         (None Scheduled)
Baby Dedication:              (None Scheduled)
Scripture Reading: Responsive Reading: The Plan of Salvation    #841

Sermon Synopsis: for Children Story:

Closing Song:     Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne     # 140





Quality Quotation
 “The advent of Christ was the greatest event which had taken place since the creation of the world. The birth of Christ, which gave joy to the angels of Heaven, was not welcome to the kingly powers of the world. …The Jews manifested a stupid indifference to the story of the wise men. But Herod is intensely interested and excited. …The careless indifference and apparent ignorance of the scribes and chief priests, as they turn to their books for the words of prophecy, irritate the fully aroused king. He thinks they are trying to conceal from him the real facts in regard to the birth of the Messiah. He authoritatively commands them to make close search in relation to their expected king.” —   Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, December 24, 1872  (Written just after her 45th birthday, which is November 26), reprinted in Spirit of Prophecy, Vol 2, page 22.

Quality Quotation
 “The advent of Christ was the greatest event which had taken place since the creation of the world. The birth of Christ, which gave joy to the angels of Heaven, was not welcome to the kingly powers of the world. …The Jews manifested a stupid indifference to the story of the wise men. But Herod is intensely interested and excited. …The careless indifference and apparent ignorance of the scribes and chief priests, as they turn to their books for the words of prophecy, irritate the fully aroused king. He thinks they are trying to conceal from him the real facts in regard to the birth of the Messiah. He authoritatively commands them to make close search in relation to their expected king.” —   Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, December 24, 1872  (Written just after her 45th birthday, which is November 26), reprinted in Spirit of Prophecy, Vol 2, page 22.

Introduction
Favorite Quote:   “The advent of Christ was the greatest event which had taken place since the creation of the world. The birth of Christ, which gave joy to the angels of Heaven, was not welcome to the kingly powers of the world…..”  RH 12/24/1872
Ellen is 45 years of age.  November 26.  Happy Birthday.
I am older now than she was then.
November 26, 2015 (Birthday) - Ellen was born.
Last Sabbath…188 years ago.
2019 years ago…Jesus was born (or there abouts…)
4 BC
We don’t know precisely when:
We know what:  Jesus’ birth…in flesh.  God made man.
We know where: Bethlehem
We know who: Mary and Joseph and the other people.
We know why: 
Redemption…motivated by love for man.
The only way to redeem humanity was to become human.
To show us the Father! 
To defeat the works of satan.
Favorite Quote for Several Reasons
Greatest Event
Invites us to not be
Indignant:  like Herod.  Nothing about Christmas should make you mad.
Indifferent or ignorant…
but to make a careful search
Part of my on going “careful search” is this sermon.
Gave Angels Joy….
So Joy to the World
Joy to the Antioch Church
Because…We need Joy….in this Sad world.
Sad World:   Sister Greta:  98 years young.  
Here 2 son, her only sons, died this past weekend…2 days apart.
Say Prayers!
Send a card!
Sad World:  David and Sandra:
Redding Friends: Now in Massachusetts.
Lost Levi: at 33.5 weeks. 
He was to be a Christmas Baby.  His life will resume in heaven…but not here.
Debbie and I sent a sympathy card/note to Grandma-to-be Dorothy.  (a Widow, raised their only son, David to the husband/nurse anesthetist….now her First Grandchild and Grandson is dead.)
There is weeping in Ramah….and Redding and Massachusetts this Christmas.
Sad World:  News: Wednesday:  14 Dead…a stones throw from Loma Linda.  (San Bernardino)
Elementary School - I did a Week of Prayer there.
Academy 9 -12:  Hear their choirs sing at Azure Hills in November.
University Education:  Wife, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Cousins, Aunts.
University:   Employer of my Dad…for years.  Employed me too: mouse cage technician.
Your children at that University RIGHT NOW.
Same road Debbie’s nephew worked… (Former Employee)
One of the Injured:  an Adventist sister:  Amanda Gaspard
Shooting Terrorist Couple:  apartment the other side of a sense from Redlands Adventist Academy.
The dead couple…parents…left their 6 month old daughter with Grandma…before heading off to shoot people!  A parent-less child.
Terrorism …. ISIS.
355th Mass Shooting in America, more than 1 per day.
In fact Wednesday…it was not the only one.  Bullets killed 1 and injured 3 in Savanna, GA.
450 killed in the US this year.  some gang related..
By the way:  45% fatal to law enforcement.  Using the new modality of intervention: 
Go in, gun’s blazing. 
No more stop, assess, isolate, negotiate.  
People are dying.   Go stop it. 
Other’s may die in the process…too bad.  We know others will remain alive because we stopped the bad guys and gals.
Yes…we need Joy.
Jesus brings JOY!

Pause and Pray for San Bernardino and our World.

Shannon Johnson, 45, Los Angeles (DOB: 03/06/70)
Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46, Rialto (DOB: 03/08/69)
Aurora Godoy, 26, San Jacinto (DOB: 02/01/89)
Isaac Amanios, 60, Fontana (DOB: 06/29/55)
Larry Kaufman, 42, Rialto (DOB: 08/12/73)
Harry Bowman, 46, Upland (DOB: 06/08/69)
Yvette Velasco, 27, Fontana (DOB: 04/03/88)
Sierra Clayborn, 27, Moreno Valley (DOB: 06/15/88)
Robert Adams, 40, Yucaipa (DOB: 05/02/75)
Nicholas Thalasinos, 52, Colton (DOB: 10/14/63)
Tin Nguyen, 31, Santa Ana (DOB: 04/06/84)
Juan Espinoza, 50, Highland (DOB: 06/24/65)
Damian Meins, 58, Riverside (DOB: 02/02/57)
Michael Wetzel, 37, Lake Arrowhead (DOB: 04/29/78)

People
Families
Parents
Children
Grandchildren

Transition
The O.T. says “He’s Coming.  Joy is coming!”
The Servant:    The Root!   Nazareth
The Lamb….
The Deliverer Judge
The N.T. says “He Came!”
In Flesh…like us.
Born
Grew
Baptized
Tempted
Lived
Taught
Helped
Healed
Rejected
Suffered
Died
Buried
Risen
Ascended
Interceding
Returning!
Both predict our day -  “He’s coming a second time.”
Adventists:
Can and Must Speak of Both Advents
Second Advent…is going to be great!
First Advent…was great.
Three Sermons This Holiday
The Netzer from Nazareth
Today  “He Became Poor”
“Time for Another Star”  Favorite Holiday sermon…Morris Venden…beloved preacher.  My pastor for a few years…and the pastor who baptized me.
Transition
The Saga of the Savior  - Luke and Matthew
Zacharias in the Temple - Scheduled Duty
Zacharias back home, Elizabeth in Seclusion
Joseph and Mary are Betrothed.
Mary and the Angel
Joseph’s planned unbetrothment
Joseph and the Angel - Marry Her!
Mary at Elizabeth’s House + Magnificat
Elizabeth gives birth, “John”, Zacharias Speaks and Prophecies
Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem - Taxes/Cencus
The Child is Born…laid in a manger.
The Shepherd Incident
Mary and Joseph in Temple: Circumcision
Mary and Joseph in Temple:  Anna and Simeon
The Magi Incident
Joseph and the Angel!   Run!
Herod’s Evil Deed in Bethlehem
In Egypt
Joseph and the Angel.   Return Home!
Nazareth (Luke 2:39, 51) and Nazareth (Matthew 2:23)
Jesus is 12 Years Old
Other Verses Outside The Nativity Stories…about the First Advent/Birth/Incarnation.
Body - Non Birth Advent Verses
Acts 7:54 - Steven’s Defense
“your fathers persecuted and killed many of the prophets who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One…whose betrayers and murders you have now become.”
Weymouth Translation : “the advent of the”
Old Testament Verses of Promise
Genesis 3:15 - the Seed of the woman will stomp on the head of the serpent.
Merry Christmas, Adam and Eve.
Genesis 12:3 - “in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 17:6 - “kings shall come forth from you, Abraham”
Genesis 22:18 - “and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…”
Merry Christmas, Abraham and Sarah!
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 - 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
The Christ and the Anti-Christ
The Prophet and the Anti-Prophet
The Prophet in Type was Joshua
The Prophet in Anti-type was Yeshua, Jesus!
Merry Christmas, Moses and Zipporah
2 Samuel 7:12
vs 4-17 - Natan’s 2nd Response to King David’s desire to build the temple.
First Nathan said “Yes.”
Then God told Nathan to say “No.”
vs 5 - Shall you build me a house?
vs 6 - I’m more of a “tent” God.
vs 7 - Did I ask anyone before you to build a “house.?”
vs 8 - I took you from the sheep!
vs 9 - I’ve been with you
vs 10 - I will appoint a place…
vs 11 - I will give you rest, I will make you a house.
vs 12 - When you die, I will raise up your descendant after you….I will establish his kingdom  and HIS KINGDOM.
vs 13 - He will build a house…  I will establish the throne of HIS KINGDOM forever
vs 14 - I will be a father to him….son to me.
vs 15 - my lovingkindness shall not depart from him…as I took it from Saul.
vs 16 - your house, and your kingdom shall endure before me forever.
Fulfillment - Type:  Solomon and the line of David that continued through the Kingdom of Judah….  The Wisest Earthly King Ever.
Fulfillment - Antitype:  Jesus…the King of the Spiritual Israel.   Even Wiser Still!
Merry Christmas: David and Bathsheba! 
Merry Christmas: Solomon and your 1000 wives and concubines.
Jeremiah 33:14-18
The days are coming I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken….
I will cause the righteous branch of David to spring forth
He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth
Israel shall be saved.
Jerusalem shall dwell in safety.
Spiritual Israel shall be saved
The People
New Jerusalem shall dwell in safety.
Safety for all cities/towns/communities.
Savannah shall dwell in safety (A Wednesday Shooting)
San Bernardino shall dwell in safety
Cairo shall dwell in safety
Paris shall dwell in safety
New York…shall truly be new.
Gaza Strip shall dwell in safety
Richmond shall dwell in safety
Oakland shall dwell in safety
Sycamore Street in Antioch shall dwell in safety.
vs 17 - David will never lack a man on the throne
vs 18 - the Levitical priests shall never lack a man to offer burnt offerings.
for Jesus is the King/Priest…and the Lamb of God.  Jesus is all things!
The Son of God….and Son of Man.
Merry Christmas: Jeremiah
New Testament Verses about Jesus’ Birth/Incarnation (Outside of Matthew and Luke Nativity Stories)
John 1:9 - the true Light, coming into the world, lights every man. - John’s Merry Christmas Message.
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh…dwelling among us.
John 1:15-18 - John’s Witness
for of His fulness - Jesus is the fulness of God.
we have all received - Jesus is heaven’s gift.
grace upon grace.  - full measure of grace.  a heaping helping of grace.
The law through Moses.   Grace and Truth through Jesus.
The only begotten God, in the bosom of the father…HE has explained Him. - Jesus is the explainer of God.
The one to show us the Father…came!
John 1:46 - Q:  Can anything good come out of Nazareth?    A:  Yes, Come and See!
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world…that He gave His only begotten Son….
John 8:56 - “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”  58: “Before Abraham was, I am.”
John 13:3 - Jesus, knowing that…He had come forth from God and was going back to God…rose from Supper. 
Merry Christmas, John!
John 18:36, 37 - My kingdom is not of this world…it was for this that I was born. -
Merry Christmas, John!
Romans 1:1-7
A bondservant of Jesus Christ
An apostle of the Gospel of God - Good News
Which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.
The Birth
The Life
The Ministry
The Death
The Resurrection
The Heavenly Ministry
All promised!
vs 3 - concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David, according to the flesh.
Merry Christmas, Paul!
vs 4 - declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.
Happy Passover (First Fruits), Too!
Romans 8:3 - What the law couldn’t do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH and as an offering for sin…he condemned sin in the flesh…
The body-ness of the Christ is very important.
The Spirit God became flesh…so that we who are flesh…may live in and after the Spirit.
Merry Christmas, Paul!
Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.
The delivery was not just the cross…but it was also the cradle!
The delivery was from the foundation of the world - Yes.
But the delivery of salvation: in earnest…began in Bethlehem!
If He gave you Jesus…don’t you think He will give you everything else you need?  YES!
Merry Christmas, Rome!
Romans 15:12-13   —>  Isaiah 11:1-10  The Shoot!
Galatians 4:4 - when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that he might redeem those under the law…that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Jesus came in the flesh…a human.
So that you could be adopted…he is our “elder brother.”
Oh the joy!  It’s a boy!
God With Us!
The Baby Provided  Immanuel!
Merry Christmas, Galatia!
Philippians 2:5-11
vs 6 existed in the form of God
equal with God
didn’t regard it as something to be grasped.
vs 7 emptied himself
taking the form of a slave
made in the likeness of men, appearing as a man.
Merry Christmas, Paul!
vs 8 - obedient to death
death on a cross
vs 9 highly exalted
name above every name
every knee bow, every tongue speak
Jesus…is KURIOS.  Lord.  Supreme Leader!
Jesus is THE BOSS!
Merry Christmas, Philippi!
Colossians 1:9-20 - READ
Colossians 1:19
It was the the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him.
That God…came here.
Merry Christmas, Colossae!
Colossians 1:22
He reconciled you in his fleshly body
Colossians 1:26
the mystery once hidden (God’s nature)
has no been manifested to His saints (Jesus, here, with us.)
Colossians 2:9
In Him, (Christ) dwells all the fullness of God in bodily form.
2 Corinthians 8:9 -
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Though He was rich
Yet for your sakes, He became poor.
That you through His poverty, might become rich.
Merry Christmas, Corinth!
1 Timothy 3:16 - a common confession - The Mystery of Godliness
He was revealed in the flesh - Birth
He was vindicated in the Spirit - Resurrection
Beheld by Angels - Birth and Resurrection
Proclaimed Among the Nations - Go!  Tell!  Commission. 
Believed on in the World - Results of the Proclamation
Taken Up to Glory - Ascension
     *** These things is what they had witnessed.
AND - Seated at God’s Right Hand - High Priest
AND - Returning in Power and Glory.
Merry Christmas, Timothy!
Hebrews 1:1,2
God spoke to the fathers long ago through prophets…many portions and ways. (books, passages.)
God spoke to us, now in the last days, in His Son.
When the Son of God came…It was God’s last and best Word to humanity.
The Son of God
The One Angels’s Worship
Hebrews 2:9, 10
We see Him….WHO FOR A LITTLE WHILE WAS MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS
vs 11 - he was not ashamed to call the “brethren.”
Hebrews 2:14-18
vs 14 - Since we share flesh and blood
HE (Jesus) partook of the same…flesh and blood.
vs 17 - Therefore…HE had to be made like his brethren in all things….
If there was no incarnation…there could be no salvation through intercession!
vs 18 - (since he was like us in flesh and blood….and since he was tempted (and victorious)…he can come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Jesus is a first responder!   Sin is the problem.  God came personally to respond.
He did not come to negotiate with satan.  He came in… to defeat the devil.
Hebrews 4:15
We don’t have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.
How can He sympathize with us…
He became us!
1 John 1:1ff
From the beginning
We heard
We saw with our eyes…we beheld
We handled
THE WORLD OF LIFE.
THE eternal life that was with the Father, was manifested to us.
John 1:14 - the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…and we beheld His glory…full of grace and truth.
1 John 4:1-6
Don’t believe every spirit
Test the spirits…for there are false prophets.
The Spirit of God:  Jesus has come in the flesh.
The Spirit of Anti-Christ:  Jesus is not from God
2 John 1:7
Many deceivers have gone out.
They do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
Conclusion
God…came in the flesh.

The Birth of Jesus was the start of the fulfillment of the long expected promise.
The plan made in heaven from the foundation of the world….
The plan that had been prophecies and typed out in types to humanity from Adam/Eve…and to Abraham…to Moses, to Isaiah…. WAS NOW FINALLY HAPPENING..
The birth of Jesus is part of the Believer’s Universe View (World View).
Put your hand into that manger…let that little baby wrap his little hand round your finger….so that the man can wrap his arms around your heart.
He became poor…so that you could be rich! 
He went to a hellish death so you could have a heavenly life.
Birth Announcement:  It’s a boy!  Have some Joy.
For you see….

Love was when God became a Man,
Locked in time and space, without rank or place;
Love was God born of Jewish kin;
Just a carpenter with some fishermen.
Love was when Jesus walked in history,
Lovingly He brought a new life that's free,
Love was God nailed to bleed and die
To reach and love one such as I.



Love was when God became a Man,
Down where I could see Love that reached to me;
Love was God dying for my sin
And so trapped was I my whole world caved in.

Love was when Jesus met me, now it's real;
Lovingly He came, I can feel He's real!
Love was God, only He would try
To reach and love one such as I.

Closing Song: Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne.

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