Micah 5:2
Preached Christmas Eve, 2010
Introduction:
Micah 5:2 (KJV)
2But 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.
Today, even those who are unfamiliar with the Bible know about the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Bethlehem was not always familiar or famous. It was small and insignificant, yet God made a promise to this little town that it would be the cradle of the of Messiah.
Tonight, as we meditate upon the events of that first Christmas Eve, let us consider the town in which Jesus was born. God used a small and overlooked town to do something great. This is how God works! God uses the weak and humble things to show His faithfulness and strength. Tonight as we reflect on God using this humble little town, we must know that God does not change. If he can use little Bethlehem, He can and will use you. If He can use little Bethlehem, He can and will use Evangelical Baptist Church. Bethlehem, though you are little and insignificant, God has something special for you:
I. As Seen in God’s Purpose for you – revealed in your names
A. Bethlehem = “House of Bread”
John 6:35 (KJV)
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the
bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
1. Jesus is the Bread of Life
2. Those who come to Him will never hunger.
3. Those who believe on Him will never thirst.
B. Ephratah
1. Named after Caleb’s wife (Caleb was a great warrior believing God to take the most challenging people when he was over 80!)
1 Chronicles 2:19
19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.
2. One of the smallest Clans
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (KJV)
27But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the
world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
3. From “Ephrath” = fruitful
Luke 19:10 (KJV)
10For the Son of man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost.
John 15:8 (KJV)
8Herein is my Father glorified, that
ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
II. Seen in God’s Promise
A. The Birthplace of the King of Kings
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
B. This promise was fulfilled
Matthew 2:5 (KJV)
5And they said unto him, In
Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
III. Seen in God’s Eternal Plan
A. God’s plan is eternal
Psalm 90:1-2 (KJV)
1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2Before the
mountains were brought forth, or ever
thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Ephesians 1:3-4 (KJV)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
B. God’s Son is Eternal
John 1:1-2 (KJV)
1In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the
beginning with God.
John 17:5 (KJV)
5And now, O Father, glorify thou me
with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
C. God’s Character is Eternal
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and
to day, and for ever.
è If God can use little Bethlehem to bring us the Eternal Messiah, He will have no trouble making something great out of you. If He can use an insignificant clan to produce the Savior, He can use a relatively small and unknown church like ours to make a world wide eternal impact.