Sermon Tone Analysis

IN THE FULNESS OF TIME

Galatians 4:4; Luke 2:1-14

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law – Galatians 4:4

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This census first took place while kwi-rin-i-us was governing Syria.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! - Luke 2:1-14

I want to take us on a journey in our minds.

I want go back through the portals of time to a distant and dark night in a faraway land.

I want us to imagine being outside of Bethlehem, on the night that Jesus was born.

I want you to imagine seeing and hearing Angels proclaiming a heavenly announcement.

I want you to imagine, being compatriots with shepherds watching sheep.

You are out there, a very mundane and ordinary night.

You are doing what you always do, and out of nowhere an angel of the Lord appeared, and announced the GOOD NEWS, that what Israel was expecting had arrived.

The angel announces that the redeemer the world so desperately need had arrived.

The angel comes and announces that expectations had now been realized, that hope is now actualized, that centuries of anticipation has now been satisfied, salvation is now made manifest!

Can you imagine hearing an angel say; “I bring good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Can you imagine that it got so good that a choir of angels took their places in celestial choir stand loft of clouds and begin to singing praises to God the Father.

What this angelic announcement was really proclaiming is that the fullness of time had come!

In our Galatians text, Paul is relating back to what we call the Christmas story found in the Luke text.

When Jesus was born it was a long awaited and much anticipated event.

However, most of the folk had no idea what was going on!

The same is happening today, God is doing great things, magnificent things, miraculous things and most people are clueless.

You have to be keen to the time and seasons, God is working out his eternal plan, and people are completely clueless as to what is going on.

Every day, every moment, God is fulfilling time.

The fullness of time means that at exactly the right moment, at the most precise time and place, God’s purpose and plan is unfolded and revealed.

It’s the fullness of time that allows you see another day.

It’s the fullness of time, that.

This text tells us that what happened in a moment, that what could seem like an isolated and insignificant event, was something that was planned from eternity.

And so it goes everyday, God’s plan, and God’s purpose is unfolding and there is an exact moment, a fullness of time that is coming that will mean his purpose is now complete.

But what does Paul’s ancient text, about another ancient event do for us today?

We all know the Christmas story that the baby Jesus was born in a manger was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and shepherds and wise men came to worship him.

But the fullness of times goes beyond the little town of Bethlehem, goes beyond the manger, and the silent night.

It reaches back to eternity past, and stretches to eternity future, and arrests us now in this kairos moment, and lets us know that God has something for you and right now and today!

So let us take a look at the fullness of time, then and now.

I.

WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME.

The Promise was kept.

The Old Testament is full of promises or prophesies.

They begin when in Genesis 3:15 God promises us that a redeemer would come, and this redeemer would bruise the head of the serpent Satan, and provide atonement for the sin fallen condition of man.

It was prophesied or promised that this Messiah would be from the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and from the tribe of Judah.

The New Testament is full fulfillments of the promises of the Old Testament.

Like in the first chapter of the gospel according to Matthew, Matthew gives us the genealogy of Christ, and when we look at that family tree confirms, it confirms the fact that Jesus was indeed was the seed of the Patriarchs, and of the tribe of Judah.

It was prophesied or promised that Jesus would be heir to the throne of David.

It was the Old Testament prophet Isaiah that says in Isaiah 9:6-7; for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

The New Testament writer Luke records in Luke 1:31-, 33 “Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

In the fullness of time the promise was kept, the prophecy was fulfilled.

In the Old Testament, Micah 5:2 says that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.

In the New Testament, Luke records; that it came to pass, in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

And Joseph with Mary, pregnant with Jesus went up from Nazareth, into the City of David called Bethlehem.

In the fullness of time, the promise was kept, the prophecy was fulfilled.

It was fulfilled not only in Christ’s birth, but it was fulfilled in His destiny.

Jesus was born as a baby on a mission, with not much time to complete it.

His task, all that He did was to do and complete the will of His Father.

And in doing that He fulfilled the prophecy of the promises that God had made.

Yes, In the Fullness of Time.

In the fullness of time is important today, because God is still busy.

God is still in control, and God still has some appointed times!

Paul in our text is talking about a prophecy that was fulfilled.

Often we miss the blessings and benefits of what God is doing for us now and believing what he will do for us still, simply because we fail to recognize what God has done in times past.

The good news is that because prophecy was fulfilled we can be sure that prophecy will be fulfilled.

What am I saying?

I am saying that because God has kept his promises, we can trust that God will keep his promises!

A promise goes forth into unfilled time.

It reaches ahead of its speaker and its recipient, to mark an appointment between them in the future.

God has made us some promises, and what God has spoken with his mouth God can and will perform with his hand, for his word does not return void.

All the promises of God are confirmed in Jesus.

The promised Word has become flesh.

The new covenant has been inaugurated.

Jesus is its guarantee and the Holy Spirit is the first installment.

God has a track record of making a way out of no way!

What this means is that it doesn’t matter what you are going through, no matter what you are dealing with, God will show up at his appointed time!

That’s what the fullness of time means; at God’s own appointed time.

The old folks used to say that he may not come when you want him, but He is always right on time!

In the fullness of time God sent his Son, he showed up.

And it’s still in the fullness of time that God still shows up!

I think I may have a witness or two here.

Somebody that knows that God will make a way out of no way!

You can testify this morning that God will show up!

You were out of work, but in the fullness of time, God blessed you!

And now you can turn down job offers!

God keeps his promises!

You were down to your last dime, had no where to turn, but in the fullness of time, at just the right time, God stepped in!

They said you wouldn’t make it, said that you would never amount to anything.

And for a while, it looked like they were right, but in the fullness of time, God stepped in and flipped the script, and look at you now!