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Message Notes:

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. — Luke 2v51-52 (ESV)

Luke 2 recap

• Pt. 1 - Jesus is born in Bethlehem (v1-7)
• Pt. 2 - Shepherds were found in the field (v8-20) 
• Pt. 3 - Jesus is circumcised at 8 days (v21)
• Pt. 4 - Simeon & Anna encounter Jesus (v22-40)
• Pt. 5 - fast forward to 12-year old Jesus (v41-52)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. — Luke 2v52 (ESV)

INCREASE - advance, proceed or lengthen out by hammer (as a smith forges metal)

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. – Philippians 2v5-7 (NLT)

• To be God is to be infinite but in taking on humanity Jesus took on finiteness.
• To be God is to be eternal but in taking on humanity Jesus took on perishableness.
• To be God is to be spirit but in taking on humanity Jesus took on a body of flesh.
• To be God is to be all-present but in taking on humanity Jesus took on the limited presence of humanity.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. — Luke 2v52 (ESV)

2023 - THE YEAR OF INCREASE

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. – Isaiah 54v2-3 (ESV)

The year of increase:

1. Increase in our faith comes from decreasing our flesh

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. — Galatians 5v17-18 (NKJV)

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. – Proverbs 11v14 (ESV)

John 3v25-28 (ESV)

WITH THE BLESSING OF INCREASE COMES THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DECREASE

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3v30 (ESV)

2. Increase in our family comes from decreasing our distractions

Luke 2v43-45 (ESV)

Distractions:

• Fellowship with darkness
• Worry/Anxiety
• Social media
• The need to be “right”
• Political mini-kingdoms

After three days they found him in the temple… – Luke 2v46 (ESV)