GOD MAKES HIMSELF SMALL TO LIVE IN US

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)   Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

• This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 

What is the message of Christmas? 

• God makes Himself small and weak, because He wanted to become one of us, because He wanted to be close to you and me, because He loves us infinitely and eternally.

As Jesus grew up and became a strong man, He did not take upon Himself the infinite power that was His by right, or the glory which He had manifested for all eternity before He became a baby in Bethlehem. 

Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

• but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 

When He began His public preaching ministry, the Heavenly Father sent His wonder working power upon His dear Son and He began to work astonishing miracles.

Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)  When all the people were being baptised  Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." 

Before that, Jesus had lived a perfect life, full of love and goodness but He had not been known for miracles. 

After His baptism, Jesus was released into a supernatural ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:38 (NLT)   And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 

Jesus was an astonishing miracle worker but He was still living as a man, using His faith in the Father in the same way as the Old Testament prophets did.

• He raised the dead, but Elijah and Elisha did the same.

• He stilled the storm but Moses parted the Red Sea.

Jesus was showing us how to live by faith. He was living as our role model.

John 14:12 (NLT)  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 

Jesus is calling us to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, as He was, to grow in holiness and love, to be like him, and to exercise supernatural spiritual gifts from the Father, as He did.

Even on the day of Pentecost, God the Holy Spirit made Himself small to live human bodies. 

The Holy Spirit is the infinite God, whom even the universe cannot contain, yet He chooses to make Himself small to live in you and me and give His unlimited power to us to serve Jesus.