The Humility in the Cradle, the Cross, and the Tomb

Pastor Ernest L. Williams Sr. • January 18, 2023

The Humility in the Cradle, the Cross, and the Tomb


Luke 1:46–55

December 25, 2022

Ernest L. Williams, Sr.


1. That as Christians, we don't overemphasize the good cheers of Christmas and

overlook Jesus as the king who reigns now. The wise men find the child Jesus, and

they (according to Matt 2:2, 11) fell down and worshipped Jesus.


2. We participate in the excitement of Christmas and neglect the urgent plea for the lost

to be saved.


3. The first two points show the selfishness of man, including us, which is diametrically

opposite of Jesus, who came in the greatest way of humility. What can we learn from

Jesus's birth, death, burial, and resurrection? We can learn about his submission,

dependence, and humility. His birth, his mother's praise, his earthly abode, his death,

and his burial were all acts of humility. This is the only way to please God. To

approach God the way Jesus approached the Father, in complete submission and

humility, is the only way to God. Jesus promised to help us if we ask him. James 4:6-

7, 10.


4. His cradle is our hope, his death, our promise, and his resurrection is for our eternity.

But the promise of eternity was first manifested as a babe lying in a manger wrapped

in swaddling cloth. The prophets of old declared it. Is 9: 6 “For 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.” The angel shouted it from on high to an unworthy group of

individuals: shepherds: “ 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring

you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this

day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign

unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising

God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward

men.


5. After Mary, the mother of our Lord goes to the hill country to visit her cousin

Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John, Mary gets happy and sings a song of praise for

the hope of the child Jesus that she carries in her wound. Notice two things about her

song:

a. God blesses the humble and those who fear him

b. He shatters and brings low the proud at heart.


i. In verse 48, Mary sees herself in a “low estate” of humility. She

worships God by declaring his name is holy. In verse 49, she

recognizes his mercy is for those who fear him. How does God bless

the humble? (v. 53) He fills the hungry with good things. He

remembers his promise to Abraham (v. 55). Even when they did not

deserve it, in verse 54, He has been merciful to Israel.


ii. As for the proud, in verse 51, he scattered the proud in the

imagination of their hearts. The dreams and wishes of prideful, selfish

people will come to nothing. In verse 52, He overthrows kings and

kingdoms and makes them vassals.


c. Did you notice that Mary’s song, similar to Moses’ song, Miriam’s, Deborah’s

and Barak, and Simeon’s songs were words of exhortation set to music? The

Psalms are examples of this mode of communicating God’s message as a

song. In some cultures, today, the preacher changes his/her voice, as it were a

song, toward the end of his/her sermon in this same early Jewish custom.

Mary is rejoicing in God because God has shown her favor because of her

humility.


d. James 4: 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the

proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of

the Lord, and he shall lift you up.


… Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin

Each victory will help you or some others to win

Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue

Look ever to Jesus and He'll carry you through



… Just ask the Savior to help you

To comfort, strengthen and keep you

He is willing to aid you

And He will carry you through

Our Sermons

How do I project Jesus through me in my community?

By Pastor Ernest L. Williams, Sr. • January 20, 2023
How do I project Jesus through me in my community? How to take Jesus to the street? Tuesday, September 6, 2022 A. Be Intentional (Ephesians 4) 1. Start by telling the truth (stop lying), vs. 15. 2. Put off the old man and put on the new man, vv. 22, 24, 25. 3. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, v. 23. 4. Learn how to get angry without sinning, v. 26. 5. Stop being lazy, stealing and get a job, v. 28. 6. If you don’t have anything encouraging to say, shut up! V. 29. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” B. Be Available (Mark 5:18, 19) 1. How to take Jesus to the street? First, we must get him in the home. 2. Booker T. Washington said, “Cast down your bucket where you are!” No need to do anything extra, in the areas where you reside and work or go to school or serve, live for Christ. In Mark 5, the Lord healed a lunatic man who lived among the tombs. This man wanted to be with Jesus. “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mk 5:19). 3. The woman at the well was available. 4. When the Lord got ready to enter into Jerusalem, Jesus told two of his disciples that they would find a colt and its ass tied. Jesus told his disciples to loose him and let him go. The colt was available. A Roman centurion, who had great faith was available. Even the rooster that crowed when Peter denied the Lord, was available. Jesus calmed the waves and the wind one day: even the winds and the sea were availability. 5. Jesus told Peter and John to go into Jerusalem and they would see a man bearing a pitcher of water. The man was available. C. Be Relevant 1. Jesus, the apostles, and the NT writers addressed issues that people were facing and could relate to. Many in our Christian circles are not reaching people because our methods, not message, are out of date. It took a pandemic to force many of our churches to use technology. 2. Why is it that many of our churches are one man shows with just one pastor that is hired by the church. We need to have an elder board with various “paid” pastors on staff to meet the growing needs of our community. Our business model in the church does not work. Here is one reason why it doesn’t work: It's not biblical! 3. Jesus came to die for sinners because that was and still is the current pandemic: sin. However, the church focuses more on the cross and little emphasis is placed on the fact that Jesus will return to receive his church. Our message, if it is to be relevant, must be balanced. Conclusion  Let us learn to pray this prayer before we leave the home: Lord provide the platform for me to let you shine through me. Lord I give my mind, my abilities, my words, and my deeds as service to you in this day. Lord, help me to be available for my spouse, family, pastor, church family, to people in my community, those on my job, school, or to a stranger that I may meet today. Father, I know that no encounter is an accident. So, Lord, help me to be intentional with my words, thoughts, and actions, that I may minister grace to the hearers and so someone will come to know the love of your Son Jesus Christ through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Three Signs of a Joyful Spirit: Live, Give, and Forgive

By Pastor Ernest L. Williams, Sr. • January 20, 2023
The Three Signs of a Joyful Spirit: Live, Give, and Forgive Luke 6:20 – 38 September 4, 2022 Ernest L. Williams, Sr. In some translations, the word in Greek for “blessed” is translated as “happy.” Could Jesus be saying to the crowd in his sermon on the plains to be happy? (See v. 17 compared to Matthew’s sermon on the Mount, Matt 5). True joy contains living, giving, and forgiving. Illustration Proverbs on laughter. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones (Prov 17:22). A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken (Prov 15:13). All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast (Prov 15:15).  Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad (Prov 12:25). Dea. Jacque’s funnies!  Three surprises in heaven! 1. LIVE a. In verses 21 to 26, Jesus speaks to true blessings, but he also balances a happy life with warnings. 2. GIVE a. In verses 28 – 35, Jesus speaks to the nature of giving. b. A true sign of a person’s joy is seen in their giving. c. Paul speaks of allowing yourself to be defrauded in order to win souls for Christ: Luke 6:28, 29; compare with 1 Cor 6:7. i. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? d. The Golden Rule, v. 31. e. Give, looking for nothing in return, vv. 32 – 35. 3. FORGIVE a. Verses 36 – 36. b. One attribute of forgiveness is giving. Conclusion Vv. 22 – 23. We rejoice because our reward is in heaven. Job said, “my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high” (Job 16:19). Jesus told the disciples after they had returned from preaching and healing, that they should rejoice not because of what they could do, but rejoice because their names have been written in heaven. I sing because I am happy, I sing because I am free. His eyes are on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me!
More Posts