Once in Royal David’s city, stood a lowly cattle shed, there a mother laid her baby, in a manger for His bed, Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. Oh, Holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. Hark the herald angels sing glory to the new born King! O, come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!  Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains! Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King, let every heart prepare him, room, and heaven and angels sing! O, come let us adore him, O, come let us adore him, O, come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!

Could you image a child who appeared to be so poor, born in a lowly manger, nothing but swaddling clothes, could become so rich in mercy and grace and love? Many of you were born in hospitals, where you are given your first blanket, your mother was resting comfortably in a bed, you were fussed over, you were fed, you were shown kindness and love, but you have become poor and lonely because you have not shown mercy to others, you have been prideful and arrogant, angry and sinful, and you now find yourself naked, struggling to find a place of rest, but lucky for you, there is room in the inn. God has prepared a mansion for you in glory, and he says come, all ye who are weary come home. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus, born in lonely manger to save the world from sin.

Have you been to Bethlehem, or are on your way to Bethlehem? I have been to Bethlehem, I have seen the Christ Child, and he has sent me on my way rejoicing. Won’t you come with me? Let us rejoice together, we must spread the good news of the Christ Child. Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!

Today is the Fourth and final Sunday of Advent… Advent is not just the beginning of the church year, or preparation for Christmas, but a season of penitence and fasting. As Christians, we should look back to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, and look forward to the future when Christ will come again, while preparing a loving home for Christ in our hearts where he may dwell. Today, a candle is burning, a candle of Love; a candle to point us to heaven above, a baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth; for Jesus is bringing God’s Love to our earth. Thank you Lord, for your Son Jesus, the Savior of the world!

“Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.” Amen!

“Ye children of men attend to thy word, so solemnly uttered by Jesus the Lord, and let not his message to you be in vain, ye must be born again.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, you may have been walking down the broad road which leads to sin and death, you must be tired and weary, come to Jesus, believe him, receive him, let him create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. My brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s time for a new beginning; if you receive Christ today you will become a new person and old things will pass away and you will be born again, you will become a new creation, seeking the things of God. Won’t you accept him today?

“I will never get tired of telling the story of Jesus my King, who left the bright throne of his glory, and came to earth to save us from sin. Oh, the wonderful gift of the gospel, that each in our hearts may receive, it offers to all free salvation, and happy are they who believe. How could we get tired of telling his love to the poor and oppressed; when he is tenderly calling, come, hither, ye weary and rest? We will never get tired of telling, of yonder bright mansions above, where we shall behold our Redeemer, and dwell in the smile of his love.” Praise the Lord!

What a wonderful promise – that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Well then, is it a question of the truth to that promise, or do you think you have time, or you do not feel worthy to call on the Lord? My brothers and sisters in Christ, whosoever will may come. The time to repent is now. The place to begin is here. Today is time accepted for all. Do not delay, for we know not the hour or the day in which Jesus Christ will make his appearance. Do not be caught off guard. Do not be afraid or ashamed. Call on the Lord today, while he may yet be found, tomorrow may be too late.

Many of us are so hard on others. We find it so hard to forgive one another, yet, despite our manifold sins and wickedness, God is saying to us, “repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Who else could love us so much, that he knew of our shortcomings, he knew that we would not be able to redeem ourselves, so he sent his Son Jesus for our redemption. “He died that we might be forgiven, he died to make us good, that we might go at last to heaven, saved by his precious blood.” Come Lord Jesus!

Dear God, many of us are waiting for your kingdom coming, and many are still not ready for your second coming. My prayer this morning is for you to help us to be in a continuous state of readiness, to be always on our guards, being watchful and prayerful for the day in which you will come. This morning Lord, break the tyrannies of sin that has enslaved so many of us for too long, break every stronghold on our lives that is preventing us from faithfully serving you, show us the way of salvation and light, and rekindle in our hearts a longing for you. Make us ready Lord, for thy rule O Christ to begin. Amen!