O Little Town of BethlehemMicah 5:2-5a

O Little Town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie...

The hopes and fears of all the years,

Are met in thee tonight.

I. Little Bethlehem to be the Birthplace of the Savior.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are little among the thousands of Judah"

A. Interesting facts about Bethlehem.John 6:35, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never

hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Isaiah 53:3, 'Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.'

2 Sam. 23:15-17,"Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?"

John 4:14, "But the water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 6:35, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

II. The One Born there will Someday Rule.

A. "Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel"

Revelation 19:15-16: "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

B. Throughout history, men have risen up to make their mark to rule kingdoms, nations and regions.

C. Here is the neglected part of the Christmas Story.

Luke 1:32-33,"And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Psalm 24:7-10: Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

8Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.

III. The Incarnation of the Eternal God Returns!

A. Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2b)

B. An OT description of the Increate One.Phil. 2:5-8, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be

equal with God,7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a

bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself

and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

C. Bethlehem's Babe is our Coming King!

Oh holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend on us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in,

Be born in us today!

John 6:35-40And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.36But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.37All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.40And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.