ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

 

HAGGAI 2:1-9

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD’S READINESS IS APPARENT [Psalm 86:5]

 

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

 

1. He had Been “Getting Ready” over 2500 Years Ago [Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14]

-But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting

-Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel .

 

2. He had Been “Getting Ready” over 3500 Years Ago [Numbers 24:17]

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

 

3. He had Been “Getting Ready” over 3900 Years Ago [Gn. 49:9-10]

Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

 

4. He had Been “Getting Ready” over 6000 Years Ago [Rev. 13:8]

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

II. HOW SHOULD AN UNSAVED PERSON BE READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

 

1. Be Ready to Receive Christ [Jn. 1:12]

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

 

2. Recognize Your Ignorance [Gn. 27:2, Pr. 27:1]

- And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

- Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

 

3. Respond Now [2 Cor. 6:1-2]

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

III. HOW SHOULD A SAVED PERSON BE READY FOR CHRISTMAS?

 

1. Recognize Their Preparation [Lk. 1:17]

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 

2. Realize Jesus is Coming Again & We Have a Job to Do [Lk. 12:40, 14:17]

- Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

- And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

3. Ready Ourselves for the Task [1 Peter 3:15]

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: