Going from Thanksgiving to ChristmasWell, it’s official! We are now making the turn from Thanksgiving into the Christmas season. How about one more story about Thanksgiving before we leave it entirely:
It was eight days before Thanksgiving. A young Sunday School Teacher named Michelle decided to ask her preschoolers about the upcoming holiday. She thought it would be effective to have the class playfully correct some wrong ideas about Thanksgiving. "Now let me see. Thanksgiving… That's the day when we think about all the stuff we have. And how we want more things than anybody else has. And how we don't care about anybody but ourselves. And-"
"No!" the kids started to yell. "No-o-o!" Then one little guy called out, "That's not Thanksgiving, Miss Michelle, that's Christmas!" (Rubel Shelly, Nashville, Tennessee)
Cure for the Common Christmas
Over these next four weeks together, as we move towards Christmas Day, we will be looking at a series that I have called, “Cure for a Common Christmas.” The last thing that Christmas should be is common, but unfortunately it often is. I want to identify some of the reasons for that, look to the Bible, and have some fun along the way.
Batteries not included
I have called today’s message: “Batteries not included.” You know how frustrating it is when you buy the perfect gift for your son or daughter, they open it on Christmas Day and are so excited about it. They take it out of the box to use it or play with it right away but, there are no batteries, no power. What a downer.
Some of you say, “That’s how I feel all Christmas season. In fact, I feel that way more and more as the season goes along, that I have no batteries. I have no energy, no power. Let’s take a closer look today.
Matthew 1:18-25 (NKJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
The gospel writer Luke tells us of the conversation between Mary and the angel sent from God.
Luke 1:35 (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.
There are two words in this verse, found at the top of your outlines, I would like to emphasize: power and overshadow. These two words are key for us to understand.
Notice the association of the word ‘power’ with the Holy Spirit. Throughout scripture the Holy Spirit is associated with power and especially the power of God.
Before there were Christmas trees, or Christmas cookies, or presents, or stockings hung by the chimney with care… Long before Santa Clause or the Christmas rush… Even before the Wise Men, the shepherds or the manger… was power – the power of God and the Holy Spirit. That’s the beginning of Christmas.
The word there is the Greek word ‘dunamis’, from which we get our word ‘dynamite.’ John 1:1-9 tells us that Jesus came as light into darkness. There was a power shortage, and Jesus came to supply the power – to get the lights back on.
An unbroken power connection.
You know when the power is on but you’re not getting any, you check to see if there has been a break in the connection, in the wire? Not only did the most amazing power of all initiate Christmas, I’m going to show you in a minute that there is an unbroken power connection from that power of God at Christmas to right here, right now.
When the angel came to Mary, she lived in a time of spiritual darkness and was entering into some pretty difficult circumstances. But, the Spirit of God overshadowed these things. Does the Holy Spirit overshadow your Christmas season… or does the busyness of the season overshadow things of the Spirit of God? (This is perhaps the most important question to ask this Christmas season.)
Frustrated shopper lashes out
A woman was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds. She was tired of standing in lines. She was tired of fighting her way down long aisles looking for a gift that had sold out days before. Her arms were full of bulky packages when an elevator door opened. It was full. The occupants of the elevator grudgingly tightened ranks to allow a small space for her and her load. As the doors closed, she blurted out, "Whoever is responsible for this whole Christmas thing ought to be arrested, strung up, and shot!"
A few others nodded theirs heads or grunted in agreement.
Then, from somewhere in the back of the elevator, came a single voice that said: "Don't worry. They already crucified him." (Homiletics (November/December 2006), Volume 18; submitted by Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky)
An unbroken power connection:
We could spend hours on this connection and it would be a whole lot of fun. (For me at least.) I’ve given you many scriptures, though not all, for your own further study.
· The Holy Spirit overshadows Mary. Jesus is born. (Luke 1:35)
· The Holy Spirit descends at Jesus’ baptism. (Matthew 3:16)
· Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. (Luke 4:1)
· Jesus returns in the power of the Spirit. (Luke 4:14)
· Jesus’ ministry purpose is revealed: to baptize in the Holy Spirit. (John the Baptist’s testimony) (John 1:33)
· Jesus reads from Isaiah to initiate His ministry, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”
· Jesus’ miracles are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
· Jesus said to His disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Also write in there Matthew 5:14 “…you are the light of the world…”)
· Jesus’ followers demonstrate power.
· The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is available to dwell in you.
· The promise of the Holy Spirit is for all generations.
Jesus did not just come to bring light by the power of the Holy Spirity into a thirty-three year span two thousand years ago. He came to bring that power to today.
Christmas is not just a historic fact. It is also a on-going spiritual reality. The lasting impact of the Nativity is the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower lives today.
PLUG IN
So, the outlet is ‘hot’. We just have to plug in.
1. Be filled.
The Bible says, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”. Jesus said if you ask for the Holy Spirit you will receive Him, no ‘ifs’, ‘ands’ or ‘buts’. There is no question. Those who were already believing disciples prayed and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
2. Stay focused on spiritual things.
There is a constant, on-going battle to keep you focused off of the Spirit – especially at Christmas time. You’ve got to find ways to stay focused on spiritual things. If you don’t believe me, try this:
Check the focus with a fast
Pick a day, any day, between now and Christmas. Choose not to eat during that one day. The Bible calls that a ‘fast’. (I don’t know why, because the day will go by very slow.) Throughout that day your body will tell you repeatedly, “Focus on the physical… eat!” You will see how determined your body is to keep the focus. But say to your body throughout that day, “Nope, today it is not about you. I will direct my focus on the spiritual.” Be sure and spend time reading the Bible on that day. It will be a very memorable day of your Christmas season.
I’m serious. Even better, get a friend, or spouse, or your small group to pick a day together. Don’t let the spiritual be overshadowed.
3. Keep it fresh.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a one time event, but continuous and on-going. The scripture in Ephesians 5:18 is in the present, passive, imperative not the past tense as a completed action. It means, “Be filling with the spirit” … continuously present.
Couple attends church to recharge phone battery
A young man and woman from South America entered a Catholic church in Milan, Italy each day for about a month and sat before a statue of the Madonna (Mary holding Baby Jesus). The priests assumed they were just like any other devoted Catholics, coming for prayer. Day after day they came, sat for an hour or so, and left. One day the cleaning man noticed an unusual electrical cord leading from the plug used to provide electricity to light up the statue. Upon further examination, it turned out the young couple had been coming to church to charge up their cell phone battery. When asked about it, the parish priest said he didn’t mind at all. ("Couple Hooked on Madonna," Yahoo News, 7-15-02)
You know, that’s not a bad idea at all. This Christmas why not plug in? Why not charge up? Why not use this opportunity to refresh your batteries?
4. Let it flow to others.
Use it or lose it
This was written by Rich McClean of Oakley, California:
“As a general contractor, I frequently visit The Home Depot. Actually, it has become one of my mission fields. I like to help people load their merchandise. Recently I was there and was on my way to my van when I noticed a guy who realized he had left his lights on. He turned them off, expecting a dead battery. I jumped in my car and thought of helping him. Then I thought, No. It had been a bad day. I didn't sleep well the night before and was running behind schedule.
I prayed, Lord, I don't need this right now. You know that I usually would help, but, God, not today! Let someone else do it. Yes, I know I have a set of jumper cables right behind my seat, but not today! I slipped the key in the ignition, gave it a turn and…UUH…mm, UUH…mm, click, click, click. I looked down to see my light switch was on. Guess whose battery was dead now.”
This illustrates an important, biblical understanding: The power that comes, from unbroken connection, to you today is to flow through you to others. It is not just for you. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, imparted by the power of the Holy Spirit, go to individuals for the good of others.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV) 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
1 Corinthians 14:12 (NKJV) 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV) 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and supernatural power so that you can be His power to touch a dark world.
Conclusion
Don’t become a casualty this Christmas. Plug into the power of the Holy Spirit and don’t let other things overshadow His presence in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment