{"id":203,"date":"2010-12-20T19:36:27","date_gmt":"2010-12-21T00:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/?p=203"},"modified":"2010-12-20T19:36:27","modified_gmt":"2010-12-21T00:36:27","slug":"the-little-town-of-bethlehem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/?p=203","title":{"rendered":"The Little Town of Bethlehem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Micah 5:2<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Preached Christmas Eve, 2010<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Micah 5:2<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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2<\/span><\/sup><\/em>But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though<\/span> thou be <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

little among the thousands of Judah, yet<\/span> out of <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

thee shall he come forth unto me that is<\/span> to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been<\/span> from of old, from everlasting. <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Today, even those who are unfamiliar with the Bible know about the town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. \u00a0<\/span>Bethlehem was not always familiar or famous.\u00a0 <\/span>It was small and insignificant, yet God made a promise to this little town that it would be the cradle of the of Messiah. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tonight, as we meditate upon the events of that first Christmas Eve, let us consider the town in which Jesus was born.\u00a0 <\/span>God used a small and overlooked town to do something great. \u00a0<\/span>This is how God works!\u00a0 <\/span>God uses the weak and humble things to show His faithfulness and strength. \u00a0<\/span>Tonight as we reflect on God using this humble little town, we must know that God does not change. \u00a0<\/span>If he can use little Bethlehem, He can and will use you. \u00a0<\/span>If He can use little Bethlehem, He can and will use Evangelical Baptist Church.\u00a0 <\/span>Bethlehem, though you are little and insignificant, God has something special for you:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>As Seen in God\u2019s Purpose for you \u2013 revealed in your names<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Bethlehem<\/span> = \u201cHouse of Bread\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John 6:35<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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35<\/span><\/sup><\/em>And Jesus said unto them, I am the <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.<\/span> <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Jesus is the Bread of Life<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those who come to Him will never hunger.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Those who believe on Him will never thirst.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

B.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ephratah<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Named after Caleb\u2019s wife (Caleb was a great warrior believing God to take the most challenging people when he was over 80!)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Chronicles 2:19<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>One of the smallest Clans<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 1:27-28<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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27<\/span><\/sup><\/em>But God hath chosen the foolish <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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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; 28<\/sup>And base things of the <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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world, and things which are <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

despised, hath God chosen, yea<\/span>, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>From \u201cEphrath\u201d = fruitful<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Luke 19:10<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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10<\/span><\/sup><\/em>For the Son of man is come to <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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seek and to save that which was lost.<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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John 15:8<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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8<\/span><\/sup><\/em>Herein is my Father glorified, that <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

II.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Seen in God\u2019s Promise<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Birthplace of the King of Kings<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Isaiah 9:6<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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6<\/span><\/sup><\/em>For unto us a child is born, unto us a <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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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. <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

B.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This promise was fulfilled<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew 2:5<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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5<\/span><\/sup><\/em>And they said unto him, In <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

III.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Seen in God\u2019s Eternal Plan<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>God\u2019s plan is eternal<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 90:1-2 (KJV)<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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1<\/span><\/sup><\/em> Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2<\/sup>Before the <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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mountains were brought forth, or ever <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art<\/span> God. <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Ephesians 1:3-4<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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3<\/span><\/sup><\/em>Blessed be<\/span> the God and Father of our <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places<\/span> in Christ: 4<\/sup>According as he hath <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

B.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>God\u2019s Son is Eternal<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John 1:1-2<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

1<\/span><\/sup><\/em>In the beginning was the Word, and <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2<\/sup>The same was in the <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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beginning with God. <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

John 17:5<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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5<\/span><\/sup><\/em>And now, O Father, glorify thou me <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was<\/span><\/em>.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

C.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>God\u2019s Character is Eternal<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Hebrews 13:8<\/span><\/span><\/em> (KJV)

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8<\/span><\/sup><\/em>Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

to day, and for ever.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e8<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>If God can use little Bethlehem to bring us the Eternal Messiah, He will have no trouble making something great out of you. \u00a0<\/span>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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Micah 5:2 \u00a0 Preached Christmas Eve, 2010 \u00a0 Introduction: \u00a0 Micah 5:2 (KJV) 2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be \u00a0 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. \u00a0 … Continue reading The Little Town of Bethlehem<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holiday-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=203"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204,"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203\/revisions\/204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forum.ebcct.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}