O Holy Night - The Space Between

2019-12-15 

Charles Billingsley 

We are in the middle of our sermon series entitled “Sing Noel” where we are exploring the powerful messages of a few of our most beloved Christmas Carols. Each song has a unique story, and today’s hymn, O Holy Night, is very unique, indeed. The message of O Holy night is a powerful one. It is full of wonderful, Biblical truths has inspired untold millions through the generations. Today we will explore the lyrics of this great old song and how it’s poetic lyrics tell the Biblical story of Christ’s birth.

Key Verses:  Colossians 1:15-18

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The Space Between

1. He is Holy 

O Holy Night - 

Luke 1:35 New King James Version (NKJV)

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

The word "Holy" means to be “set apart” - and this night above all nights is certainly set apart! This night split time in two! This night is the space between BC and AD.

I think sometimes we forget that this Jesus who was born in a manger, has always been. He was there when God roamed the expanses of the Heavens. He was there when God lit the Sun and the stars with just a spoken word….Let there be Light! And then….That word became flesh….and He was there again…in physical form.

Jesus is the embodiment of holiness itself.

Colossians 1:15-18

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Jesus is Holy!

Yes! It was a holy night because the King of Kings left his throne in glory, and Humbled himself before us so that we might see the face of God.

Phil. 2:5-8

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Hebrews 7:26-27

26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He died once for all when He offered up Himself.

Phil. 2:9-11

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is Holy.

And also….

2. He is Here

“Long Lay the world in sin and Error Pining till He appeared!"

Christmas is not about our presents under the tree. It is about His Presence with us….right now! 

Long lay the world in sin and error pining - till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth 

What is the soul? 

We all have worth! We are worth so much to God that He gave His only son to suffer and die on a cross for your sin and mine.

He is here - And the more time you spend with Him, the more you discover that He is the one who can fill thespace between who you are now, and who He created you to be.

This Christmas, let’s remember that:

1. He is Holy

2. He is Here

and

3. He is Hope!

The story of Christmas is filled with hope.

A thrill of Hope the song says. Not hope for just that moment - but hope for eternity!!!

Jesus is the light we seek.

Jesus is the help we need.

Jesus is the deliverance we long for.

This Hope is thrilling because of the confidence and the salvation that it brings.

Romans 15:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 1:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

vs 3 of the carol says:

"Truly He taught us to love one another.

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name, all oppression shall cease."

Luke 4:16-21

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me [a]to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are [b]oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

So the space between the throes of despair and the thrill of Hope - is Jesus ! 

The space between your reality and your expectations can be filled with the hope of Jesus! 

Our response to Him should be one of hope-filled worship and praise!

Oh that this weary world might some day rejoice in the sweet and precious presence of the Savior - for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn !

He’s Worthy of Our Praise!!

Fall on your knees!!! O hear the angel voices. O night divine!

And let the

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim!!!!

O Holy night has had quite a history and it has blessed the hearts of untold millions. But so much more…infinitely more important ….is the story from which O holy night is written that truly changes lives. We could live without the hymn. We cannot live without Jesus.

The Space between your eternal hope and eternal despair is bridged by Jesus - It is bridged by His cross, His blood, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, His peace, His grace, His mercy.

He is Holy. He is Here. He is our hope. 

And the story of Christmas, in the space between what happened in a lowly manger over 2000 years ago until this morning in Lynchburg, Va….. in that space screams one big loud message -

YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE LOVED!